When to Book Your Wedding Calligrapher

WHAT IS WEDDING CALLIGRAPHY?

Wedding calligraphy can be as simple as escort cards and addresses on envelopes, up to the key design element tying together your wedding design.  

Calligraphy adds custom and timeless elements to your wedding day and are easy to incorporate on just one item - a monogram, coasters, a welcome sign - or throughout the entire wedding design.

Let’s discuss what do you need to know about booking wedding calligraphers and other elements of the design process.

WHEN TO BOOK YOUR CHICAGO CALLIGRAPHER

Because Chicago’s wedding season - traditionally May through October - is on the shorter side given our winters, Chicago calligraphers can book up quickly during prime wedding season. I recommend booking your calligrapher as soon as you have a wedding date set to ensure the calligrapher you prefer is still available. If you are planning to incorporate a wedding calligraphy monogram into your save the dates, you may want to book your calligrapher as soon as you are engaged.

For envelopes, I recommend at least a month before your invitations need to be in the mail and for place cards and escort cards a month before your wedding.

HOW LONG DOES CALLIGRAPHY TAKE?

Calligraphy is an art and the time it takes to write a calligraphy envelope or create a custom bar sign on a chalkboard depends on so many factors. Different inks and papers require different tools and effort. For example gold metallic ink is more difficult to use as it requires constant mixing, dries differently and may need additives to properly flow from the ink pen. This all adds time and effort to a project. Some envelopes may have more texture than a traditional envelope, requiring a slower more methodical writing approach to keep the fine lines in calligraphy as smooth as possible. A normal, smooth envelope with easy to use ink can take between three to five minutes to properly address. Thus, an order of 100 envelopes with front address only takes about three to five business days to address and spell check.

SHOULD I USE TRADITIONAL OR MODERN CALLIGRAPHY?

This all depends on your style and wedding design. Is your wedding more traditional or modern? Classic calligraphy, or what you most likely think of as calligraphy, is traditional, simple and elegant. Modern calligraphy incorporates more angles, options and shifts. Either style works great and takes the same amount of time to write.

HOW MUCH DOES CALLIGRAPHY COST?

Calligraphy pricing varies depending on the materials, calligrapher experience and requested timelines. Escort cards start at $1.50 and envelopes with front calligraphy start at $2.50. More details on starting calligraphy prices can be found here.

WHERE SHOULD I INCORPORATE WEDDING CALLIGRAPHY?

Wedding calligraphy can be used across every event leading up to and on your wedding day. A calligraphy monogram can be featured on a save the date, a sign at a bridal shower or bachelorette party, invitations, signs and stir sticks at the wedding.

Lively House & Home is a calligraphy and event design company based in Chicago, offering elegant, modern calligraphy and day of details for your unique wedding day. From envelope calligraphy, wedding invitations, reception signs and place cards to hand painted table numbers and menus, we love making your wedding and event special and one of a kind.