The process of planning your wedding takes a lot of time since there are a lot of little aspects that need your particular attention. The good news is, however, that…
Wedding Calligraphy can be delegated!
Why should you hire a professional calligrapher?
Calligraphers that work professionally deal with high-quality wedding stationery on a regular basis and are adept at properly addressing envelopes. They are able to provide you with a wide selection of writing styles to pick from, are knowledgeable about which inks provide the best results on fine papers, and can provide answers to any queries you may have about the appropriate protocol for your address list.
If you are considering using the services of a calligrapher, the ideal time to do it is several months before you want to send out invitations. This will allow you to guarantee that the calligrapher of your choice is accessible. In order to confirm their availability for your mailings, most of them will demand a deposit.
If you have never hired a calligrapher before, you probably have a lot of questions about what they are capable of doing, how they operate, and what you can anticipate after you make the decision to do so.
Some characteristics of (most) professional calligraphers include:
- They work out of home studios, which typically contain vast quantities of books, magazines, and newsletters related to the art of fine lettering, penmanship, illumination, gilding, drawing, bookbinding, painting, collage, printing, and pretty much anything else that has to do with paper. Some of the characteristics of professional calligraphers include the following: They work out of home studios. Some of the characteristics of professional calligraphers include the following: They have an eye for detail.
- They have an impressive collection of gorgeous papers, pens, writing tools, inks, and paints, and they are willing to write with almost any instrument or material they can get their hands on.
- They are members of both regional guilds and national organisations such as the Association for the Calligraphic Arts and the International Association of Master Penmen and Educators of the Hand (IAMPETH) (International Association of Master Penman, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting). They also participate in email groups with other calligraphers from all around the globe, where they may exchange ideas and get feedback.
- They go to yearly conventions where they learn from regionally and globally famous instructors and network with other people who are interested in calligraphy. They never cease enhancing their artistic abilities by attending seminars and workshops.
How do calligraphers charge for their work?
Calligraphers get paid for their work in a variety of ways.
It seems that every calligrapher has a somewhat unique approach to the process of pricing their services. The following is a list of the many methods in which they charge:
- By the line
- By the envelope or place card
- By the writing style
Additional costs may be incurred by some for:
- Envelopes with lining
- Having to work on letterpress paper, which is difficult to write on, or using paper of poor quality are also options.
- Inks with colours outside black, as well as metallic inks
- Places throughout the world with addresses
- Putting addresses in the centre of envelopes
- Having to deal with lists that are either handwritten or inadequately prepared
The following is a list of advice and suggestions that can assist you and your calligrapher in “being on the same page:”
- Make a reservation with the calligrapher as soon as you can. In most cases, the best ones are reserved for many months in advance. You may locate them by getting in touch with the local calligraphy guild in your area, or you can inquire about references from local wedding planners, reception places, or stationers. The majority of them have websites that allow you to check their samples and prices online, as well as submit a quotation request.
- It is a good idea to inquire with your calligrapher about whether or not they have examples of their work accessible in locations other than their studio. This will allow you to browse their samples at your leisure without interfering with the calligrapher’s schedule (or having the calligrapher looking over your shoulder).
- You do not need to restrict your search to calligraphers in your immediate area. It is possible to locate many brilliant individuals in other cities or states. The vast majority of calligraphers who provide their services over the internet are used to dealing with long-distance brides. Just remember to factor in a few additional weeks for sending back and forth, if at all feasible, so that you don’t end up having to pay extra for overnight delivery.
- Try to plan the deadline for addressing your envelopes so that there is at least a week or two for filling and stamping them. You will then have time to have the envelopes repaired if there are any mistakes printed on them, which will allow the envelopes to be sent out on time.
- Inquire with your calligrapher on the correct layout for the address list. Be sure to include the inner envelope information with the addresses if you have inner envelopes. This will save the calligrapher the time of having to decipher this information from your addresses. If you absolutely must offer a list written by hand, do your best to avoid doing so, and if you do so, ensure that it is legible, written in both capital and lowercase characters, and numbered.
- When you pick up your place cards or envelopes from the calligrapher, be sure to leave behind a few extras of each in case there are any mistakes. Verify the accuracy of everything by doing thorough proofreading as soon as you can. Make a list of any corrections or alterations that need to be made, and if at all feasible, provide this list to your calligrapher all at once.
- You should request that your calligrapher notify you as soon as possible if they come across any problems with the paper that you have selected since these problems might potentially delay the process or result in additional costs to resolve.
- Please don’t expect that the calligrapher will instantly stop what they’re doing and begin working on your envelopes if you are able to send them to them earlier than the specified time. If you are able to do so, the calligraphy will appreciate the early delivery of your envelopes. It’s possible that they have other customers booked ahead of you who want their attention before they can get to you.
- You are free to ask them when they intend to begin working on your envelopes, and you and need to arrive at an understanding about the deadline. But contacting your calligrapher every other day by phone or email to inquire about the project’s progress won’t make much of a difference in terms of how quickly it will be finished!
- Some calligraphers may address all of the outer envelopes first, then each of the interior envelopes individually if you have double envelopes (outer and inner) to send out. Some people handle both the exterior and the inner aspects at the same time. If you have a large number of envelopes and wish to plan pick-up times before the deadline for the project, you should inquire in advance with your calligrapher as to whether or not this is acceptable.
- Please keep in mind that a calligraphy is an art form that requires a lot of hard work on the part of the artist. It is possible for the calligrapher to go behind schedule by a few days if there are problems with the size or texture of the paper, or if it is difficult to find an ink colour that is an exact match. You may want to give the calligrapher a call or send them an email a few days before the due date for the finished envelopes so that you can inquire about whether or not they still intend to have your envelopes ready on time. In the event that they respond with a “no,” you should ask them in a respectful manner to pick up the envelopes that are finished by the date that was originally due, and you should make plans to pick up the envelopes that are still incomplete a few days later. Because of this, it is a good idea to provide some wiggle room between the date that the envelopes need to be sent and the date that you want to ship them. After all, unexpected things may and will occur in real life.
- Make sure you don’t forget to send an invitation to yourself! In addition to being a wonderful memento to have, it will provide you with all the information you need to determine when your visitors may expect to get their invites in the mail.
Which calligraphy style should you choose?
Styles of writing that use a pointed pen, such as Copperplate and Spencerian, are appropriate for formal weddings at any time. You could want to think about using Contemporary Pointed Pen or an Italic style for more laid-back weddings. You may also use one of these formats when designing a one-of-a-kind invitation for someone.
You may want to select one of our Monoline designs as an alternative to writing done with a pointed pen if you are seeking a less costly choice.
You may also add a unique and personal touch by hand-painting watercolour flowers and attaching them to your envelopes.