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Mono or Duo?
You can never go wrong by embellishing your invitation with a traditional monogram, or a duogram made up of your two first initials. Always classic, or give it a modern touch with fun typestyles and colors.
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What Exactly is a Monogram?
mon·o·gram /ˈmänəˌɡram/ noun a motif of two or more letters, typically a person’s initials, usually interwoven or otherwise combined in a decorative design, used as a logo or to identify a personal possession. So what exactly defines a monogram? The word “mono” is derived from the Greek root “monos” meaning single, alone, or only. Thus, a monogram consists of the letters from a single person, most often three letters with the first letter of the last name larger and flanked by the first letter of the first and middle names if single, and the first and maiden name if married. Today monograms can be used on anything – clothing, accessories, table linens, silver…
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Meet the 21st Century Duogram
Never heard of a duogram? Meet the close cousin of the monogram. And think of Amal and George Clooney when they set the wedding world on fire with their gorgeous AG duogram emblazoned everywhere in Venice for their wedding festivities in 2014. As you might have guessed, a duo-gram means two different people’s initials create the design, as opposed to a mono-gram when only a single person’s initials are used. So if you wish to use a design of the bride and groom’s initials before the wedding (such as on the wedding invitation or thank you notes for gifts received prior to the wedding), you should consider having a duogram design made of just the first initials of the bride and…
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How to Royally Monogram Your Feet
Monogram news from the folks at GQ.com: “At a recent London event which recognizes the courage of seriously ill children, Prince Harry knelt down to talk to one of the award winners and flashed a monogrammed article of clothing accidentally. It was not a showy signet ring or a preppy, embroidered shirt sleeve but a boss-as-hell monogram made from brass shoe tacks on the bottom of his oxfords. Let this be a lesson to us all: Not all monograms need to be in-your-face three-letter motifs. An almost hidden, single-letter monogram speaks just as loudly. Also, your shoe-repair guy could stand to step it up a notch. (For the record, he can do this…
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Nicolas Verrien: Father of French Monograms
Nicolas Verrien was an 18th century French Master artist and designer who drew les chiffres or monograms. His elaborate calligraphic writing inspired countless wedding invitation emblems and set the stage for the now infamous ‘interlocked’ 3 initial monogram. He worked and lived in the Paris of Louis XIV and Louis XV between 1685 – 1724, at the height of the French monarchy and Enlightenment. His exquisitely detailed monograms were typically used by artists ranging from goldsmiths, painters, locksmiths to sculptors. If you are in New York City, it is worth a trip to visit some of his work at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum.
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Staying Single or Getting Married? Time to Learn Monogram Etiquette
Wedding and registry trends may come and go, but the monogram—from elaborately scribed icons bordering on art to relatively austere single-letter imprints—has been a constant for generations. From Kimberly Whitman’s wonderful book, Monograms for the Home: “In the nineteenth century, monograms were a sign of wealth. Fast-forward to the fifties, and technology and the sewing machine increased the popularity of monograms, as it was easy to add a mark of personalization to everything. In a time when so much of what we have is mass-produced, a monogram can make something unique while adding a touch of artistry.” While some traditional “rules” of monograms (the husband’s monogram should grace the barware, while the…
