No matter what kind of wedding you’re planning – rustic, vintage, DIY, traditional, beach, modern, etc. – monogram details always fit, in my humble opinion. Monograms have an elegance that can match any theme or decor, which is why I think it’s a nice idea to include your new monogram somewhere in your wedding plans!
Have you ever wondered how monograms at weddings originated? Monograms seem like one of those things that have just always been around. So I decided to do a little research on where (and when) they come from, as well as some of the ways you could incorporate them into your wedding for a personal touch.
When I said monograms seem like they’ve been around forever, I wasn’t exaggerating. They first appeared on coins as early as 350 B.C. in Greece. Over time, monograms evolved to be used as Christian symbols or Christograms.
Fast forward through the centuries, and monograms evolved further into what we’re more familiar with today when monarchs began using them as royal cyphers. In those days, royal monograms would appear on currency (often on the image of a crown) and would serve as a sort of national identifying mark to other countries.
So, now we come to modern monograms, like we would use at a wedding. Personal monograms have been used on everything from stationery to artwork to clothing! Traditionally, you’ll recognize them as having two or three letters.
In the standard three-letter monogram, the first initial of the person’s last name is slightly larger and positioned in between the two initials for the first and middle names.
Monogram etiquette for married couples is a little different. Sometimes, the couple just uses a two-letter monogram – both of their initials. Other times, they might adopt the three-letter convention, placing the initial of their married last name in the center, surrounded by the first initials of the bride and groom’s first names.
I created a little example of a three-letter monogram to illustrate my point: our last name is Pitera, and our first names are Tom and Erika. Add in the wedding date, and you have the most basic wedding monogram!
Now that you know a little more about how monograms originated and how they’ve evolved over the millennia, it’s easy to see why they’re still so popular even today.
What I like most about modern wedding monograms is that they can truly be anything you want them to be. If you want a really formal, traditional monogram, go for it! If you’ve dreamed of something a little more whimsical or retro, you can have that, too.
One of the most common places you’ll see a wedding monogram is on the wedding stationery. This is your opportunity to take advantage of your stationer’s design talent and create a unique monogram that represents you as a couple!
However, there are other spots you can subtly incorporate a monogram to keep the theme fresh and interesting. In doing some browsing, I found a variety of unique monogram wedding cake toppers that range from whimsical, swirly letters to classically elegant, Swarovski-crusted letters. Paired with some simple blooms from your floral arrangements, I think monogram cake toppers are the perfect adornment for your wedding cake.
You could stop at just your stationery and wedding cake topper, but you can really round out the monogram theme at your reception with personalized wedding napkins in a matching or accent color. These are ideal if you weren’t planning on using linens. Besides being able to choose any color you’d like, you can often pick an icon or design motif to adorn your monogram. So, let’s say you’re having a beach wedding. Why not have napkins printed with your monogram and a starfish or shell, for example?
By including your monogram in just a few places throughout your wedding, the rest of your decor can be devoted to your wedding’s theme. If you love flowers, go nuts with the florals! If you’re more of a DIY kind of bride, think homemade favors and a unique guest book table.
Regardless, your unique monogrammed pieces will be a wonderful reminder of your wedding day!
Partnered Post with American Bridal. All opinions expressed here are my own.