Hiring a Calligrapher to Address Your Wedding Invitation Envelopes

You have many details to plan while preparing for a wedding. One of those tasks is to determine how you are going to send out your wedding invitations. Who will address them? Do you want them to match place cards, programs, or seating charts? If so, then hiring a calligrapher may be just what you need.

What is a calligrapher? A calligrapher is someone who writes letters by hand using pen and ink - either a pointed calligraphy pen or an edged calligraphy pen. Calligraphy comes from the Greek words kallos and graphe which translates to the art of beautiful writing. It takes successful calligraphers many years of practice and study to perfect their letter forms. Be careful of hiring someone who just learned it "last month" as you may be hiring someone with novice calligraphy skills.

How do you find a calligrapher? Check your local wedding publications or wedding sections in newspapers. Go to wedding shows. Look in the yellow pages. Ask friends who have hired a calligrapher in the past. Check to see if there is a local calligraphy guild in your community.

When you first meet with a calligrapher, you may be asked to meet at a local coffee shop to go over your ideas as many calligraphers have home studios only. Be prepared to discuss exactly what you want. Bring color samples if you have them so the calligrapher can match the ink color to your wedding colors. Bring a sample of the envelope, if possible.

When hiring a calligrapher, be sure to ask to see samples. If you want to hire the person to do your invitations as well as place cards, wedding programs, or other items, be sure to see samples of each type of work. Calligraphers will be happy to show you a portfolio during a consultation.

Some envelopes are more difficult to write on as inks may bleed and this can cause the cost of calligraphy service to increase. Your calligraphy should be able to determine if the envelope needs special treatment or not.