Lets Talk Calligraphy

(Vender Featured in video Blog: Opal Artistry Calligraphy)

Hi everyone! I hope you are all having a great year and everything is going well! As a former bride I was always so lost at what I needed to do and what realistically everything cost! I feel like Planning a wedding is like the first day of work… that never ends. No matter how much research and training we have we still have no idea what’s going on or how its all going to work… the only thing we know is why we are there and what we are planning! This blog series is for you! I am going to walk you through planning a wedding and hopefully take some stress of your shoulders!! I am not in anyway a wedding planner; I am a Wedding Photographer and a former bride dedicated to taking care of my clients!

Having a calligrapher part of your wedding puts that extra umph to the style of your wedding! While traditionally calligraphy is reserved for the inner and outer envelopes of invitations, you can incorporate it elsewhere. Use handwritten calligraphy on the escort cards, menu cards, ceremony programs and even the favor tags. While calligraphy isn't typically used on the entire invitation (it can be difficult to read—and expensive), spot calligraphy, which highlights important items like your names, is an increasingly popular option.

Most calligraphers schedule two-week turnarounds, but it really depends on the size and type of the project. Keep in mind that much like a popular wedding venue, experienced calligraphers book up fast, so don't leave hiring one to the last minute—or you could end up paying a rush fee.

When thinking about Pricing, keep in mind how many you want, what you want, and what style you want! Calligraphy can range anywhere from $2 to $5 per envelope -- or higher for special requests. Many calligraphers price their work with a few factors in mind: the style, turnaround time, special materials like custom ink colors or metallics and the type of paper or materials that they're writing on.

Prices listed below are estimates for calligraphy only, and do not include cardstock or other supplies. Do not hold your Calligrapher to these prices, they will range!

OUTER ENVELOPE: $ 4.50 ea. INNER ENVELOPE: $ 2.50 ea. ESCORT CARD: $ 3.00 ea. ESCORT CARD + MINI ENV SET: $ 3.25 ea. PLACE CARD: $ 2.75 ea.

When looking for the perfect calligrapher, Ask how long they've been doing calligraphy. Quality comes with experience and a younger calligrapher's work may not have confidence of stroke, however thats not always the case. You'll also want to ask for samples (especially if you're going custom) before you make any final decisions. The key to good calligraphy is consistency: Shape, stroke, weight, spacing and rhythm are all factors in letter perfection. So be sure to survey as many samples of lettering designs as possible from each calligrapher. If your not sure where to start, try starting with stationery boutiques; most boutiques have a list of tried and trusted calligraphers they work with and can match you with an artist who's in-tune with your style to ensure your suite has a cohesive look (you don't want whimsical lettering paired with a traditional invitation). Some larger stationers have in-house calligraphers or will outsource it for you so you don't have to add another to-do to your list. Reach out to your friends and ask about the calligraphers they used for their weddings, especially if you admired the style. Every calligrapher has their own style—some specialize in very traditional styles, while others create and hone their own custom scripts. Look at your calligrapher's portfolio and decide on the style you're most drawn to. You could even request a new script that combines characteristics from multiple styles.

When choosing your style of your wedding keep in mind that other scripts will fit better with your theme while others wont. If your wedding is more traditional, a more ornate script will fit, while a more casual handwritten script without many flourishes would pair well with a laid-back affair.

Once you've narrowed down your list of calligraphers to a few, email them to ask for basic details and a quote. Include your wedding date, approximate guest count and a general description of your wedding style, as well as the services you're interested in (envelope addressing, escort card labeling), so your calligrapher can give you a more accurate quote and timeline.

Give your self two weeks to review all the work you’ve asked your calligrapher to preform. Yes, your calligrapher will go over their work, but it never hurts to have a second pair of eyes to make sure its absolutely perfect before sending out the invitations. Also give your self more time to stuff and seal your envelopes. You could ask your calligrapher to do this for you but that's not customary and will probably be an additional cost. Finally, before you drop them all off at the post office, be sure to hold on to one or two invites as a keepsake.

I really hope something here as helped you plan or better budget for you wedding! I am so excited see how beautiful it all turns out!!

Cheers,

Hannah Judd

Preferred Calligraphy venders

Shelbi Ghaderi – Opal.artistryslc

Venders Involved

Photographer – Hannah Judd Weddings, Videographer – Cayly Bascom Photography, MUAH –- Elena Ochoa ECKO Beauty, Florets – Kaytee Stice – Roots floral design , Venue – Rush on Metro, Dress – Bitsy Bridal, Dress 2 - Gateway Bridal, Cake Designer – Annie Pugmire - Annie Cakes, Calligraphy - Dinner Menu’s and Ceremony back drop Shelbi Ghaderi – Opal.artistryslc, Suit – Allen’s Tux, Wedding Invitations – Shine wedding invitations, Model #1: Chau and Eric Merkley , Model #2: Katie and Luke Terry