Hand-Lettered Wedding Invites: Worth The Effort?

Hand-lettered wedding invitations are a unique and memorable way to leave a lasting impression on your guests. While it can be a time-consuming process, couples who are skilled in hand-lettering may find it a meaningful endeavour to DIY their wedding invitations. However, for larger weddings, it is recommended to hire a professional calligrapher to save time and achieve a polished result. Ultimately, the decision to hand-letter wedding invitations depends on personal preference, budget, and the level of formality desired.

The pros and cons of hand-lettered wedding invitations

Hand-lettered wedding invitations can be a beautiful and unique way to invite guests to your wedding. Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to go for hand-lettered wedding invitations:

Pros of Hand-Lettered Wedding Invitations:

• Personal Touch: Handwritten invitations add a personal touch and allow the couple's unique style and personalities to shine through. It creates a warm and inviting impression.
• Elegance and Sophistication: Calligraphy and hand-lettering lend an elegant and sophisticated air to the invitations, elevating the entire presentation.
• Setting the Tone: The style of handwriting can match the formality and atmosphere of the wedding. For instance, a formal script for an evening affair or a breezy cursive for a beachfront ceremony.
• Flexibility: Hand-lettering allows for custom combinations of lettering styles, reflecting the couple's creativity and the event's personality.
• Guest Experience: Receiving a hand-addressed envelope makes guests feel extra cared for and creates a sense of anticipation for the wedding.

Cons of Hand-Lettered Wedding Invitations:

• Time-Consuming: Creating hand-lettered invitations can be very time-consuming, especially for larger guest lists. It requires a significant time investment and a steady hand to achieve a polished result.
• Cost: Hiring a professional calligrapher can be expensive, and even doing it yourself requires purchasing specialised materials like dip pens, metal nibs, bottled ink, and plenty of paper for practice.
• Legibility: While ornate and decorative styles can be beautiful, it's important to ensure that the handwriting is still legible. The post office should be able to deliver the invitations without any issues.
• Stress: With everything else going on during wedding planning, taking on the task of hand-lettering invitations can add more stress and leave less time for other important details.
• Consistency: Achieving consistent lettering throughout the invitations can be challenging, and any mistakes or ink spills can result in wasted materials and further delays.

How to hand-letter your own wedding invitations

Hand-lettering your own wedding invitations is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your special day. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create beautiful hand-lettered wedding invitations:

Understand the Basics:

Before you begin, it's important to understand the difference between calligraphy fonts and handwritten calligraphy. Calligraphy fonts provide a uniform look with each letter maintaining the same style and size. In contrast, handwritten calligraphy offers artistic variations that reflect your unique style and creativity.

Choose your Tools:

For hand-lettering, you will need traditional dip pens with metal nibs and bottled ink. The type of nib you choose will determine the thickness of your letter strokes. Aileen Fretz, a designer and founder of Plume Calligraphy, recommends the Nikko G nib for beginners as it holds ink well and glides smoothly across most papers. For ink, pre-mixed bottled ink like Higgins Eternal or Written Word Calligraphy are good options.

Practice:

Before you start writing your invitations, it's crucial to practice. Get stacks of inexpensive practice paper, such as Canson Mixed Media, to hone your skills. Using paper with pre-drawn guidelines will help you maintain consistent letter height and spacing. Experiment with different nibs and inks to find the combination that suits your style and writing pressure.

Determine your Handwriting Style:

Choose a handwriting style that matches the formality and atmosphere of your wedding. For a formal evening affair, consider a formal script like Copperplate or Spencerian. If you're having a beachfront ceremony, a breezier cursive style might be more suitable. You can also combine different lettering styles to create a unique and visually appealing invitation suite.

Plan your Design:

Decide which elements of your invitation you want to hand-letter. You might choose to hand-letter the entire invitation or just highlight certain key elements. The main body of the invitation, including important details like date, time, and venue, is often printed in a clear font for legibility.

Start Writing:

Once you have your tools and style sorted, start writing your invitations. Remember to be patient and persistent as calligraphy is a skill that improves with practice. Embrace your creativity and treat handwriting as an art form. Experiment with styles, flourishes, and embellishments that reflect your personalities and wedding theme.

Proof and Perfect:

Allow extra time for proofing and test runs. You can easily adjust and experiment with different elements until you achieve the desired look. This process will help you refine your technique and ensure consistency across all your invitations.

Consider Hand-Cancelling:

To protect your hand-lettered invitations from potential damage during mailing, consider "hand-cancelling" your postage. This means requesting that your envelopes be processed by hand at the post office, bypassing the sorting machines that can sometimes damage handmade envelopes.

Remember, hand-lettering your wedding invitations is a labour of love. Start well in advance, practice, and enjoy the process of creating these cherished keepsakes for you and your guests.

The difference between calligraphy fonts and handwritten calligraphy

When it comes to wedding invitations, calligraphy can add a touch of elegance and sophistication. But what exactly is calligraphy, and how is it different from handwritten calligraphy or calligraphy fonts?

Handwritten Calligraphy

Handwritten calligraphy is the art of writing letters by hand, focusing on creating beautiful and elegant letterforms. It is typically created using specific tools such as a pointed nib, a broad-edged nib, or a brush. The calligrapher pays close attention to the shapes and forms of each letter, writing slowly and deliberately. This style of calligraphy can be further divided into traditional and modern calligraphy. Traditional calligraphy follows strict rules and specific scripts, such as Copperplate or Blackletter, while modern calligraphy deviates from these traditional styles and allows for more artistic freedom.

Calligraphy Fonts

On the other hand, calligraphy fonts are digital representations of calligraphy. These fonts are computer-generated and consist of an assortment of type or characters in a specific style and size. Each letter in a calligraphy font is identical, with no imperfections or variations. Calligraphy fonts are often created by skilled type designers, who initially sketch the letterforms on paper before digitizing and polishing them to perfection. This process can take months or even years to complete.

Differences

The main difference between handwritten calligraphy and calligraphy fonts lies in the process of creation and the level of personalization. Handwritten calligraphy is a slow and deliberate process, requiring precision and an artistic eye. Each calligrapher's style is unique, and even when following the same script, there will be subtle differences in the final product. In contrast, calligraphy fonts offer consistency and perfection, with each letter being identical regardless of the computer used. While calligraphy fonts may be inspired by a particular calligrapher's style, they lack the human touch and individuality of handwritten calligraphy.

How to choose a calligrapher

Wedding calligraphy is a beautiful, traditional style of writing that brings an elegant, formal look to wedding stationery. It is an art form that takes time and practice to master, so it is important to choose a calligrapher who is skilled in their craft and who can create the style of calligraphy that you desire. Here are some tips on how to choose a calligrapher:

• Start with recommendations: Ask newlyweds whose wedding invitations you admired, or your stationery designer, for recommendations. Most stationery boutiques have a list of trusted calligraphers they work with and can match you with an artist who suits your needs and style.
• Research local calligraphers: Look for a local calligraphy guild or association, as these often have listings of local calligraphers or can put you in touch with their members.
• Browse portfolios: Take the time to review a variety of portfolios and styles to determine the type of calligraphy that you prefer. Each calligrapher is different, with some leaning towards a traditional style and others working in a more contemporary style.
• Consider the cost: The cost of calligraphy services can vary widely depending on factors such as the calligrapher's experience, the time it will take to complete the order, and the materials used. Be sure to get quotes from several calligraphers before making a decision.
• Ask about availability: Client lists for popular calligraphers can fill up quickly, so be sure to book your calligrapher as early as possible. Provide them with your wedding date, guest count, wedding style, and the services you require to help them provide an accurate quote and timeline.
• Review their process: Before hiring a calligrapher, ask about their process and any requirements they may have. For example, they may need your guest list and addresses in a specific format, so it's important to understand their needs before committing.

Etiquette for addressing and assembling wedding invitations

There are many nuances to consider when addressing and assembling wedding invitations. Here is an etiquette guide to help you navigate the process:

Outer and Inner Envelopes:

The outer envelope contains all the information required by the postal service for delivery. Traditionally, it is formal and includes the recipient's full name and title. For married couples, use "Mr." and "Mrs." followed by the husband's full name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first. If the couple has different last names, write their names on the same line with the woman's name first.

The inner envelope is more informal and includes the names of the invited guests in the household, including children. You can use first names only or a combination of titles and last names. For unmarried couples living at the same address, list both people on one line, with the person you are closest to first.

Full Names and Titles:

Use guests' full names on the outer envelopes and avoid nicknames or initials. Use appropriate titles such as "Ms." for unmarried women, "Miss" for girls under 18, and "Mr." for unmarried men or boys over 16. For distinguished titles like doctors, lawyers, or military personnel, use their professional titles.

Address Format:

Spell out all words in the address, including "Street," "Post Office Box," and "Apartment." Write out the city and state names as well. For house numbers smaller than 20, spell them out.

Return Address:

The preferred place for the return address is on the envelope's back flap. Traditionally, blind embossing or colorless raised lettering was used, but today, most couples print the return address in the same style as their invitations.

Assembling the Invitation Suite:

Place the invitation at the bottom, print side up. You can include a sheet of tissue paper over it to prevent smearing. Stack all other inserts, such as a map, reception card, and reply card, on top of the invitation in order of size, with the smallest on top. The reply card should be under its envelope's flap, with the mailing address and stamp already added.

Insert everything into the inner envelope with the print side up, so guests see the lettering when they open it. Finally, slip the unsealed inner envelope into the outer envelope with the names facing the back flap.

Postage and Handling:

Take a completed invitation to the post office to have it weighed, as it may require more postage than a standard stamp. You can also request hand-canceling to prevent damage caused by machines.

Timing:

It is recommended to send out wedding invitations about six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests adequate time to respond and allows you to get a reliable headcount.

Handwriting vs. Printing:

While individually addressing invitations by hand is a nice touch, it is not necessary. You can print guest address labels at home, buy pre-printed envelopes, or hire a local calligrapher for a more elegant and traditional look.

Plus-Ones and Children:

If a guest has a plus-one, reserve the "and guest" language for the inner envelope only. When inviting a family with children, list only the parents' names on the outer envelope. Include the children's names on the inner envelope, using "Miss" for girls under 18. If you do not include children's names, it implies that they are not invited.

Casual Weddings:

If your wedding is casual, you may use first names or first and last names without titles on the invitations. However, consider using more formal wording for older or more conservative guests.

Frequently asked questions