A century ago, in the era of Edith Wharton and Henry James, decorum was manifested in the tiny details that supported the social order. A little of that world lives on today in the refined practice of wedding calligraphy.

An ancient art that has always been used for ceremonial purposes, calligraphy is the ornamental, stylized writing that has come to be associated with the most romantic and dramatic of ceremonies -- the wedding. It is most notably used to address the invitation, but the simple lines, delicate curves, and elegant flourishes of calligraphy make it perfect for many other elements of the festivities as well.

"The envelope for the wedding invitation gives guests their first impression," says Gail Brill, an invitation designer and calligrapher in Greenwich, Connecticut, "and sets the tone for everything to come." That includes menus, place and table cards, and table numbers that are often written out in a calligrapher's hand.

Calligraphers can also make decorative maps to help guests find their way from the religious service to the reception, service booklets for the ceremony, the title page for a guest book, cards for wedding favors, or gift baskets for out-of-town guests. Some couples ask a calligrapher to write invitations to such other events as the rehearsal dinner or bridal luncheon -- or even the wedding invitation itself -- then have them printed.

Although most articles that bear calligraphy, like a wedding booklet, can be saved, most are evanescent. So why this explosion of fine -- and typically expensive -- writing? Perhaps it's a reaction to the age of e-mail. This isn't the first time technology has created a handwriting backlash. In sixteenth-century Europe, when people first began to acquire printed books, some of the aristocracy reacted by having their books handwritten.

The handwritten message sets a wedding apart as a distinctively personal occasion. And long after the wedding, the frenzy of glorious writing can spill over into the bride and groom's new life. A calligrapher can write the title page and captions in a couple's wedding photo album, and design the monograms for writing paper and bookplates for their new library.

The Elements
The foundation for calligraphy is the same: pen, ink, and paper. But what each calligrapher creates with these materials is inherently different, depending on individual style. Often, a calligrapher will add to the basics and use special pen tips, brushes, even paint to achieve desired effects. Colored inks and papers can also tie calligraphy to a theme or reflect the season of a wedding.