When she was not working with "RUSH ORDER BRIDES," Katy of KisforCalligraphy.etsy.com found the time to write this piece for the Handmade Wedding Series so that couples attempting calligraphy on their invites are well-informed! And for those who want to leave the pen and ink to the experts, her piece will help you target the type of calligrapher you want and how to get on track with a custom calligraphy order through Alchemy. The art of Calligraphy is ancient and unique — and what could be more handmade than hand lettering?

It always brings a smile to my face when I think about all the times I have been asked about what I do for a living and I say, '" am a Calligrapher," and the look of puzzlement and confusion follows.  So I explain that I am a lettering artist. You know, handwriting. The next questions are equally amusing, "What do you do, I mean, who do you work for? Can you make money?"  I usually answer, "I work for anyone who desires a calligrapher…Mainly I work with many wonderful brides (and grooms too!).  And yes, calligraphers can make money; I just have yet to figure out how!"
 
I have been a professional calligrapher since March 2002.  I definitely have my own style of calligraphy — partly due to the fact I only use one style and brand of pointed pen nib (trade secret!), gouache and acrylic.  And I have created at least 8 fonts I can call my own.  But I truly feel that my calligraphy attempts to capture the spirit of my client; it is imperfectly, genuinely handmade!
 
Your wedding invitation is the first glimpse of your big day that your guests will see.  Your invitation allows them to be part of your events, all the more reason to personalize your invitations with handmade elements that speak from your heart. Don't be afraid to push the envelope and make your invitation your own!  A custom monogram, a favorite pattern (a fabric remnant), a theme or your favorite color(s) are a few ideas to get you started.  I advocate incorporating a personal element through the entire event. 

Hand addressed envelopes are a necessity; I stand firm on this rule.  Hand addressing separates your invitation from the hoards of junk mail people receive.  At the very least, hand address your envelopes yourself or have your niece or nephew address them!  If you budget permits, hiring a professional calligrapher will give any invitation the special handmade flair. Calligraphers on Etsy often have their own unique style, so take a look at the options and figure out the look you are going for. You could also peruse the flickr search results for photos of real wedding calligraphy and see what strikes you. MyFonts will give you some ideas. Ask yourself if you are responding to:

• script
• italic
• handwriting
• whimsical
• formal
• informal

This will help out a calligrapher or entice the right one to your Alchemy request.

As for pricing...there is no set price, much like any art form. The Graphic Arts Handbook for Pricing is the standard for pricing but it covers quite a span! I have seen ranges from $1.25 an envelope to $3 per address line. The types of mediums, quality, experience, font choice and colors all go into pricing.  For buyers who want to make an Alchemy request, I would say on average between $1.75 and $3.00 per envelope and $150 to $200 per invitation design.

 
 
Some more tips:

• Order your printed matter at least 16 to 20 weeks (4 to 5 months) in advance of your event.
• IMPORTANT: order extra envelopes at least 15 to 20 extra per 100 envelopes!!!! Human error is inevitable!
• Also, be sure to take into consideration that most invitations will be for couples and/or families. (A wedding of 200 guests often requires only 100-150 invitations)
• Choose your reply by date on your RSVP accordingly.  You want to give your guests enough time to respond but not too much time!
• Hire your calligrapher as soon as possible.  Most calligraphers require 2 weeks in advance to finish your envelope addressing depending on their style and their mediums.
• An invitation to a formal event should be in the mail preferably 6 to 8 weeks before the event (8 to 12 weeks if you did not send 'save the dates').
• Keep your guest list in order and updated!  Remember to include a column for their proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc) for each guest. I highly recommend including a column for preferred first names of all your guests so you will be in the know when it comes time to think about the seating chart.
• Usually a calligrapher will automatically spell out abbreviations, but some require everything to be typed out exactly the way you want it!  Guest lists are not easy and can be stressful so never hesitate to ask questions!
• The Crane’s Blue Book of Stationery is a great reference book to answer all your social etiquette questions.  It can usually be checked out at your local library.
• One common etiquette mistake I see all the time is the separation of the man's first name from his surname when informally addressing a couple.  For example, the correct address should read 'Jane and John Etsy' not 'John and Jane Etsy'!
  
•  If you are unsure of a zip code, an address (or lack there of), the United States Postal Service offers two free services for you to find the correct information. You can either call 1-800-275-8777 and use the automated zip code retrieval system or you can go to www.usps.com and click on "find a zipcode."
• It is ABSOLUTELY critical to have your complete & assembled invitation weighed (preferably by a postal worker) to determine the exact postage needed for each invitation. Everything changed in 2007.  The postage amount is now determined first by size then by weight!  Remember postage goes up again on May 12, 2008.
•  If you are planning to have your invitations hand canceled be sure to check with your post office first.  Some branches do not have time to hand cancel envelopes.  Some postal branches have recently warned their employees not to hand cancel. 

Take care with these important tips and reminders before you order your wedding invitation, your calligrapher and before you take that last and final step to mail your invitation! And in case you were wondering, K is for Calligraphy, well sort of.  K is for Katy (that's me!) and for Kalligraphie!
Indelibly Yours, Katy

Further Resources:
Katy is available for custom calligraphy orders directly through her Alchemy page.

www.calligraphicarts.org/
www.usps.com/
www.zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
www.zipcodeworld.com/worldpostalcodeaddressing.htm
www.verseit.com/VerseIt_AddressingEnvelopes.cfm
www.zazzle.com/kjamison/product/172574293534092122
www.paper-source.com/

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