Coat of Arms

Some of the most distinctive wedding invitations feature a coat of arms. If your family has one, it may be used on your wedding invitations. When used, the coat of arms is always blind embossed at the top of the invitations. It is never proper to engrave it in color on wedding invitations.

Because it is blind embossed, an engraving die is needed. If your family does not already have a die, one needs to be made. That will take additional time so you will need to order your invitations early.

What is a coat of arms?

Originally, a coat of arms was the armor a knight wore into battle. To identify him as a friend or foe, an insignia was emblazed on the front. This insignia was transformed into what we now think of as a coat of arms: a small symbol, unique to each family that has one.

A full coat of arms is made up of the crest, the helmet, the shield, and the motto. Mantling may also be added. The coat of arms "belongs" to the men in the family and may be used on invitations issued by a man or by a man and his wife. Since, historically, women did not go into battle, they do not use a full coat of arms when issuing invitations themselves. Instead, women use their husband's crests or another device called a lozenge, which is a diamond shaped symbol in which her family's coat of arms is combined with her husband's.

Is our coat of arms blind embossed on our reception cards as well?

The use of a coat of arms is reserved for the invitation. It is not properly used on enclosure cards.

My fiance and I are issuing our own wedding invitations. Whose coat of arms do we use?

A coat of arms is not used when the bride and groom issue their own wedding invitation.

My fiance's parents are issuing our wedding invitations. Is it proper to use their coat of arms?

Your fiance's family is entitled to use their coat of arms whenever they issue invitations.