Hand-Lettering Wedding Invites: A Beginner's Guide To Calligraphy

Hand-lettered wedding invitations are a great way to add a personalised and unique touch to your big day. Whether you're a skilled calligrapher or just starting out, creating your own invitations can be a meaningful and cost-effective alternative to hiring a professional. In this guide, we will explore the process of hand-lettering wedding invitations, from choosing the right tools and determining your handwriting style to practising your technique and adding those special flourishes. We will also discuss the benefits of hiring a calligrapher and offer tips on how to create elegant and sophisticated invitations that your guests will cherish.

Choosing a lettering style that matches your wedding's formality and atmosphere

When it comes to hand-lettered wedding invitations, the chosen lettering style should complement the wedding's formality and atmosphere. Here are some tips to help you choose the right lettering style:

• Consider the overall theme and style of your wedding. If it's a formal or traditional affair, opt for elegant and sophisticated lettering styles such as script or serif fonts. Serif fonts, with their short lines stemming from the ends of the letters, tend to suit classy and elegant weddings.
• For a more casual, rustic, or whimsical event, handwritten or decorative lettering styles can be a better choice. These can include calligraphy fonts, which add a personal touch and are perfect for envelope addressing.
• Legibility is crucial. While unique and ornate lettering styles are appealing, ensure that the chosen style is clear and easy to read, especially for essential details like names, dates, and venues. Avoid overly intricate or thin lettering styles that may be challenging to read.
• Pair lettering styles thoughtfully. Combining a decorative lettering style with a simpler and more legible one can create contrast and guide your guests' eyes through the invitation. Limit yourself to two or three lettering styles at most to maintain a harmonious and readable design.
• Reflect your personal style and that of your partner. Choose a lettering style that resonates with both of you and evokes the desired emotions. Whether it's romantic, modern, elegant, playful, or vintage-inspired, find a lettering style that captures the essence of your unique love story and wedding vision.
• Test the lettering style with sample text before finalising it. Use actual names, dates, and venue details to see how the lettering style looks in context. This will help ensure that the chosen style complements your wedding's formality and atmosphere.

Selecting the right tools and materials

Paper

Choose a paper that complements your handwriting style and wedding aesthetic. Opt for a smooth paper texture that allows your nib to glide easily without catching. Canson Mixed Media paper is an excellent option, as it doesn't bleed and provides a smooth writing surface. Additionally, consider using paper with pre-drawn guidelines to help you maintain consistent letter height and spacing.

Pens and Nibs

Traditional dip pens require the use of metal nibs, which determine the thickness of your letter strokes. Experiment with different nibs to find the one that suits your style and writing pressure. The Nikko G nib is an excellent option for beginners, as it holds ink for extended periods and writes smoothly.

Ink

Pre-mixed bottled ink is recommended for ease of use with dip pens. Higgins Eternal and Written Word Calligraphy are trusted brands that offer high-quality ink. It's also important to consider the colour of the ink. Choose an option that provides sufficient contrast with your envelope colour for easy readability. Dark ink on light envelopes or light ink on dark envelopes is often a safe choice.

Practice Sheets

Invest in practice sheets or paper to refine your handwriting skills and develop your personal style. This will help you maintain consistency and accuracy in your lettering.

Envelopes

Select envelopes that complement the overall design of your invitation suite. Consider the size, colour, and material of the envelopes. Remember that if your envelopes are too thick or bulky due to embellishments, they may require hand-cancelling at the post office to avoid damage by mail sorting machines.

Wax Seals

Wax seals can add a touch of elegance and tradition to your invitations. However, keep in mind that they can increase the bulk of your envelopes, potentially requiring hand-cancelling.

Extras

Enhance your invitations with extras such as ribbons or other adornments. Just be mindful that adding too much bulk or weight to your envelopes may require additional postage or special handling.

Remember to purchase extra quantities of all your materials to allow for mistakes and experiments.

Practising your technique

Practising your hand-lettering technique is key to achieving a polished result for your wedding invitations. Here are some tips to help you refine your skills:

• Choose the right tools: Select a dip pen, metal nibs, bottled ink, and high-quality paper. The Nikko G nib is a great option for beginners, as it holds ink well and glides smoothly across most papers. Pre-mixed bottled ink, such as Higgins Eternal or Written Word Calligraphy, is easy to load into a dip pen. Use practice paper, such as Canson Mixed Media, to improve your skills without wasting expensive materials.
• Determine your style: Choose a lettering style that matches the tone and atmosphere of your wedding. For a formal evening affair, consider a traditional script, while a beachfront ceremony might call for a breezier, more casual cursive. You can also combine different styles or create custom lettering to add a unique touch to your invitations.
• Practice consistently: Devote time to perfecting your technique. Patience and persistence are important as you experiment with different tools and styles. Consistent practice will help you refine your handwriting aesthetic and ensure a cohesive look across all your invitations.
• Embrace creativity: Don't be afraid to add your personal touch to your lettering. Try experimenting with styles, flourishes, and embellishments that reflect the theme of your wedding or your personality. Handwriting can be more than just text—it can be a creative expression.
• Seek inspiration: If you're unsure where to start, draw inspiration from online portfolios of professional calligraphers or browse wedding invitation suites on sites like Etsy. This can help you find your style and gain ideas for unique touches.
• Practice on practice paper: Before putting pen to your final invitation paper, perfect your technique on practice paper. This will allow you to make mistakes and refine your lettering without wasting expensive materials. Trace over guidelines to help you maintain consistent letter height and spacing.

Hiring a calligrapher

Finding a Calligrapher

Start your search by asking for recommendations from friends or family who have recently tied the knot. You can also look for local calligraphers online or through your area's calligraphy guild or association. Many of these organizations have listings of local calligraphers or can put you in touch with their members.

The Cost

The cost of hiring a calligrapher can vary depending on their level of experience and your location. Typically, calligraphy services are priced per piece, with envelopes priced per envelope. According to Leah Sachs, a full-time calligrapher and wedding invitation designer, "The price tends to range widely and often depends on the calligrapher's level of experience and the local market... For envelope addressing, most calligraphers seem to fall within the $3.50 to $5.50 apiece range."

Booking Timeline

It is recommended to book your calligrapher early in the process, ideally when you book your invitations. While the actual calligraphy work may not take too long, client lists can fill up quickly, and there is a limit to the amount of work a calligrapher can take on.

Choosing a Style

Calligraphy offers a range of styles to choose from, including pointed pen, broad-edge pen, chisel-tip pen, or ink brush. Pointed pen varieties are particularly popular for wedding invitations, offering a range of options from ultra-flourished and traditional to organic, feminine, and whimsical designs. Be sure to discuss your preferred style with your calligrapher to ensure their capabilities align with your vision.

Additional Tips

• If you're looking for other ways to incorporate calligraphy into your wedding, consider using it on non-traditional surfaces such as tiles, stones, shells, or bottles.
• Any "high-touch" points that your guests will interact with are also great opportunities for calligraphy, such as place cards, programs, personalized menus, or a seating chart.
• When choosing an ink color for your envelopes, opt for dark ink on light envelopes or light ink on dark envelopes to ensure readability and prevent any issues during postal delivery.
• Most importantly, don't sacrifice readability for style. While ornate and decorative styles can be beautiful, it's crucial that important information like names and addresses are easy to read.

Knowing when to DIY or outsource

Hand-lettered wedding invitations are a beautiful, personal touch to add to your wedding. But when it comes to creating them, should you DIY or outsource? Here are some things to consider:

The Benefits of DIY

There are several benefits to DIY-ing your wedding invitations. Firstly, it can be more cost-effective. Weddings are expensive, and creating your own invitations can help you save money and stick to your budget. DIY-ing also allows you to customize your invites. You can play with different design elements, such as the colour palette, font, and layout, to create a unique invitation that reflects your personal style. Additionally, the DIY route is often faster. Printed invites can take weeks or even months to be delivered, while DIY invitations can be ready in days.

The Benefits of Outsourcing

Outsourcing your wedding invitations can also have its advantages. One of the main benefits is saving time and effort. Creating handmade invitations can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large guest list. Outsourcing allows you to focus on other wedding planning tasks. Additionally, if you want your invitations to look polished and professional, outsourcing may be the better option. Unless you're a crafting whizz, your DIY invitations may not have the same level of finesse as those created by professionals.

Factors to Consider

When deciding whether to DIY or outsource, consider your skill set and the complexity of the design. Be realistic about your abilities and the time you can dedicate to this project. Practising your design beforehand is essential, and remember that creating invitations in bulk will take significantly longer than creating a single invitation. Another factor to consider is cost. While DIY can be more affordable, don't assume it will always be cheaper. The cost of materials, tools, and supplies can add up, especially if you make mistakes or need to start over. Finally, take into account how you want your invitations to travel. If you're posting them, choose designs that won't easily be squashed or damaged during transit.

Frequently asked questions