“I now pronounce you…”

Beautifully handwritten invitations and ‘save the dates’ are part and parcel of the very fabric of British weddings, according to new research.

Our latest study of wedding guests and brides and grooms past and present reveals that receiving a physical copy of an invitation through the post is still the preferred method of communication for all milestones in the wedding planning process.

When asked why they prefer to receive a physical copy of invitations, guests mainly cited tradition (45%), that they find it helpful (31%), etiquette (45%), and even that they like to keep beautifully designed invitations on display in their home (28%).

Wedding and etiquette expert Jo Bryant said it’s clear to see why the written word is still everyone’s favourite method of communication for such a milestone event.

‘In our fast-paced digital age, beautifully designed and worded invitations and letters received by post have never made more of an impact.

‘Whether it is a nod to tradition or a contemporary design, there is something unique about receiving a wedding invitation – a named card and handwritten envelope provides a rewarding sense of personalisation that makes us feel considered, special and welcome.”

We have partnered Jo Bryant to produce a series of tips on ‘Modern Written Wedding Etiquette’, which can be viewed here: www.royalmail.com/writtenweddingetiquette.