Handwritten Wedding Invitations: Elegant, Personalized Envelope Addressing

Handwritten wedding invitation envelopes add a personal touch to your wedding stationery. While it is considered good etiquette to handwrite addresses on wedding invitation envelopes, it can be time-consuming and impractical, especially for large weddings. Modern printing equipment and digital printing techniques now offer couples custom envelope designs, including calligraphy envelope printing, that look elegant and professional.

Handwritten vs. printed envelopes

The choice between handwritten and printed envelopes for wedding invitations is a matter of personal preference, time constraints, and desired aesthetic. Here are some considerations for both options:

Handwritten Envelopes:

• Personal Touch: Handwriting adds a unique and personal touch to each invitation, reflecting the couple's personalities and style. It can be a labour of love, resulting in cherished keepsakes for both the couple and their guests.
• Customization: Couples can choose from various lettering styles, such as formal scripts for evening affairs or breezier cursive for beachfront ceremonies, to match the formality and atmosphere of their wedding. Combining different lettering styles or adding embellishments further enhances the customization.
• Time Commitment: Handwriting envelopes can be time-consuming, especially for larger weddings. It requires practice and dedication to perfect the technique and achieve consistent results.
• Cost: While hiring a calligrapher can be expensive, handwriting envelopes yourself is a cost-effective alternative. However, it still requires an investment in materials such as pens, paper, and ink.

Printed Envelopes:

• Convenience: Modern printing equipment allows for custom envelope designs, saving time and effort. Couples can choose from various printing techniques, such as digital printing or mail merge, to create elegant and consistent results.
• Aesthetics: Printed envelopes can be designed to complement the wedding invitation's theme, colours, and fonts. Custom stickers or seals add a special touch to the finished product.
• Efficiency: For couples with a large number of invitations, printing ensures uniformity and saves time compared to handwriting each envelope individually.
• Legibility: It is important to choose a clear and legible font for printed envelopes to ensure the invitations are delivered correctly. Ornate or light-coloured fonts may be difficult to read.

Ultimately, the decision between handwritten and printed envelopes depends on the couple's preferences, budget, and time constraints. Both options can result in beautiful and personalized wedding invitations that excite the recipients.

Formality of the wedding

The formality of a wedding is often indicated on the invitation, and this can give guests an idea of what to expect from the event, as well as what to wear. It can also be a clue as to whether or not handwritten invitations are appropriate.

A "black-tie" wedding is a very formal event, usually starting after 6 pm, and including a sit-down dinner. For this type of wedding, men should wear a dark-colored tuxedo, a bow tie, a cummerbund, and dark dress shoes. Women should wear a long evening gown in dark or neutral colors and high heels. Hair and makeup should be formal.

"Black-tie optional" is a slightly more relaxed affair, where a tuxedo is not required for men, but would be considered appropriate. Women can wear a long gown, a dark-colored formal cocktail dress, or a dressy suit. This type of wedding usually includes a sit-down dinner and is likely to be in the evening, but is not as strict as a black-tie event.

A "formal" wedding is another name for a "black-tie optional" wedding. It is slightly less formal than a black-tie event, and there are fewer specifications regarding dress codes. Men do not have to wear tuxedos, and women can wear a cocktail dress.

"Semi-formal" or "cocktail attire" is another step down in formality. The time of day will dictate the color of the outfit, with darker colors for the evening, and lighter colors for ceremonies that start before 5 pm. Men should wear a suit and tie with comfortable dress shoes, and women should wear a cocktail dress, a formal blouse, and a skirt. Hair and makeup can be more casual.

"Beach formal" is similar in formality to "black-tie optional", but the environment should be taken into account when choosing an outfit. Men should wear a light-colored suit with a linen shirt, linen pants, or khakis, and comfortable beach shoes. No tie is required. Women should wear a formal summer dress, which can be knee-length, tea-length, or full-length, with beach sandals. Hair and makeup can be natural, perhaps with beach waves.

A "casual" wedding is a rare occurrence, but for this type of event, comfort is the priority. The emphasis will be on the couple and the celebration rather than the formality of the occasion. Men should wear a button-down shirt and dress pants, and women can wear light-colored dress pants, a longer skirt with a "business casual" blouse, or a summer dress. Hair and makeup should be casual.

The level of formality of a wedding will dictate the type of invitation that is appropriate. For a black-tie wedding, handwritten invitations would not be considered formal enough, whereas for a casual wedding, they would be in keeping with the tone of the event.

Hiring a calligrapher

Cost:

The cost of hiring a calligrapher can vary depending on their level of experience and the local market. On average, envelope addressing can range from $2.50 to $6 per envelope, while place card calligraphy starts at around $2 per card. When requesting quotes, be sure to provide the calligrapher with your wedding date, guest count, wedding style, and the specific services you require.

Timing:

It's important to book your calligrapher early, as client lists tend to fill up quickly. Calligraphy is a time-consuming process, so give your calligrapher ample notice to ensure they have enough time to complete the work without being rushed. As a general rule, wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding, so plan accordingly.

Style:

Calligraphers offer a range of styles, from traditional copperplate and Spencerian to more modern and contemporary designs. Spend time reviewing different portfolios and styles to find a calligrapher whose work aligns with your taste and the style of your wedding. If you're working with a stationery designer, they may have a list of trusted calligraphers they can recommend.

Finding a Calligrapher:

Start your search by asking for recommendations from friends or family who have recently been married. You can also look for local calligraphy guilds or associations, which often have listings of local calligraphers for hire. Online marketplaces, such as The Knot Vendor Marketplace, can also be a great resource for finding calligraphers near you and viewing samples of their work.

Preparation:

Once you've chosen your calligrapher, you'll need to spend time preparing and formatting your guest list, including names, addresses, and any other relevant information. Most calligraphers will request this information in a specific format, such as a spreadsheet or table, to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Choosing the right pen and ink

When addressing wedding invitation envelopes, it is important to choose the right pen and ink to ensure your envelopes look neat and legible. Here are some factors to consider when making your selection:

Type of Pen

The type of pen you choose can significantly impact your writing experience and the overall appearance of the envelopes. Some popular options include:

• Gel Pens: Gelly Roll pens, in particular, are known for their smooth ink flow, creating a bolder line with less resistance. They are comfortable to write with and ideal for dark-coloured envelopes as they can be found in light colours like white and pink. However, they dry slower and are more prone to smudging.
• Ballpoint Pens: These are the most common and widely available pens. They are suitable for quick writing and can be used if you have neat handwriting. However, they may not create the desired impact on the envelopes.
• Calligraphy Pens: If you want to add a touch of elegance and style to your handwriting, calligraphy pens or markers are a great option. They feature an angled tip that makes it easier to achieve a calligraphy look without prior experience. They are also less prone to smudging and drying time is reduced.
• Brush Pens: Brush pens, such as the popular Tombow brush pens, are excellent for modern calligraphy or brush lettering. They offer more control over thin upstrokes and create a flowy, elegant look.

Ink Colour

The ink colour you choose can either complement or contrast the colour of your envelopes. Here are some tips:

• Dark Envelopes: Opt for light-coloured inks like white, pink, or gold to ensure the addresses are visible and stand out.
• Light Envelopes: Any ink colour will work on light-coloured envelopes. However, black, dark blue, or dark grey inks are traditional choices for formal weddings.
• Metallic Envelopes: Gel pens with light-coloured inks or calligraphy pens with metallic gold or silver ink are recommended for metallic envelopes.

Other Considerations

When choosing a pen and ink, it is essential to consider the finish of your envelopes. Some pens may not work well on certain finishes:

• Matte Finish: Most pens work well on matte envelopes, including gel pens and calligraphy pens.
• Metallic Finish: Gel pens, especially Gelly Roll pens, are recommended for metallic envelopes as they provide better ink flow and coverage.
• Shimmer Finish: Avoid using gel pens on envelopes with a shimmer finish as the ink may smear. Opt for a different type of pen and always do a test run to ensure compatibility.

In conclusion, when choosing the right pen and ink for your wedding invitation envelopes, consider the overall look you want to achieve, the colour and finish of your envelopes, and your handwriting style. With the right tools and a bit of practice, you can create beautiful and legible envelopes that set the tone for your special day.

Inner envelopes

The inner envelope is where you can be more informal and include the names of everyone invited to the wedding. This is especially useful for an adults-only wedding, where older teenagers' names would be listed on the invitation, but not any small children. The inner envelope is also a good place to include a plus-one, by adding "and Guest" to the name of the person you are inviting.

The inner envelope is more flexible in terms of etiquette. You can use personal titles and last names, or just first names. You can also use familiar names for close family, such as "Aunt Martha and Uncle Bill".

If you are inviting a family with young children, the inner envelope is where you would list each child by name. If you don't include each child's name, it implies that children are not invited. If you are inviting a family with children over 18, they should each receive their own invitation.

If you are inviting a married couple, both names should be included on the inner envelope. If they have different last names, list the person you are closest with first, or go in alphabetical order. If one person has taken the other's name, you can reflect that in the inner envelope.

For unmarried couples living together, both names should be included on the inner envelope, with each name on a separate line. Again, list the person you are closest with first, or go in alphabetical order.

If you are inviting someone with a distinguished title, such as a doctor, lawyer, judge, or military personnel, it is proper etiquette to address them by that title on the inner envelope.

When using two envelopes, the inner envelope is placed inside the outer envelope unsealed, so that when the outer envelope flap is lifted, the names of the guests are visible.

Frequently asked questions