Invitation Style?

[ashleym]

Hi there,
I'm designing an invitation for a regency themed party, and would like it to be as accurate as possible in terms of wording and appearance. I've searched the internet but can't find anything helpful... And none of my books about Jane Austen have anything either.

Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks!

ashleym
www.shopinviting.com

[maudelynn]

Ashley,
Let me do some poking around for you... I know I have that info around here somewhere... my books are a bit daunting in their numbers at times!

[The Major]

Dear Ashleym,

You can check out the Regency Exhibition Ball in Lansing, MI, their website has one or two period invitations, or at least used to. I can't access much of the site from here at work so I can't give you more precise directions. Here is the url for their website: regencyexhibitionball.blogspot.com/index.html

I hope this helps.

You should also introduce yourself in the section "Never without a proper introduction". We would all very much appreciate it.

[Miss Credit]

Ashley,
I have just finished making Regency invitations for a tea I am hosting and I too was just stumped when it came to finding a source to reference. I searched everywhere and the closest thing I could find were 2 etiquette guides, both written in later periods, but from what I understood still used the guides from the Regency era. The first guide "Etiquette" by Emily Post was very helpful www.bartleby.com/95/11.html I found it to be very thorough, giving great examples of invitations for a number of events and circumstances.


I also found a couple examples of actual invitations the years vary but the wording and format seems to be consistent well into the late 1800's. Here is one example: ww2.lafayette.edu/~library/special/marquis/CelebratingLafayette/Ephemera/box2folder09.JPG
Definitely check out the link that the Major provided, it has two Regency invitations of very good quality. Those may give you an idea as well.

I hope these help a bit, I know how difficult it was when I tried to find information about invitations.

[maudelynn]

meezerette said:

Ashley,
I have just finished making Regency invitations for a tea I am hosting and I too was just stumped when it came to finding a source to reference. I searched everywhere and the closest thing I could find were 2 etiquette guides, both written in later periods, but from what I understood still used the guides from the Regency era. The first guide "Etiquette" by Emily Post was very helpful www.bartleby.com/95/11.html I found it to be very thorough, giving great examples of invitations for a number of events and circumstances.


I also found a couple examples of actual invitations the years vary but the wording and format seems to be consistent well into the late 1800's. Here is one example: ww2.lafayette.edu/~library/special/marquis/CelebratingLafayette/Ephemera/box2folder09.JPG
Definitely check out the link that the Major provided, it has two Regency invitations of very good quality. Those may give you an idea as well.

I hope these help a bit, I know how difficult it was when I tried to find information about invitations.

I am glad you could help! I looked through many of my reference books and found nothing explaining an exact invitation.
I do wonder if it was strictly the man's responsibility to write and send such things?
I have never really thought about it, but I wonder if unmarried, young women could give balls on their own. Seems doubtful. I know married, or widowed women could...

[ashleym]

Thanks so much. That image of the invite from the regency ball is going to be very helpful! Whenever I get to working on it, I'll post a link to the pic.

[Mme de Beaufort]