Calligraphy Know-How for Your Chicago Wedding

Hand-lettered wedding invitations have long been a staple among wedding preparations. It is believed, in fact, that the first calligraphic wedding invitations were commissioned of monks, expert in the art of calligraphy, during the Middle Ages. This was an expensive and time-consuming process affordable only by royalty and aristocracy. The wedding invitation has undergone several innovations since the Middle Ages and today's invitations are thermographically printed, an art that allows for raised lettering and sophisticated designs. Your elegantly designed and printed wedding invitation is likely to be the first impression that you'll make on your guests.

 

Many elements of the classic wedding invitation have survived throughout the ages. In the 1600's, metal plate engraving allowed inked print to be stamped on paper. To protect the print from smudging, a sheet of tissue was included in the invitation. Because invitations were hand-delivered, a second outer envelope was used to protect the invitation and it's expensively hand-lettered envelope, a practice that survives today. And the wax seal, still commonly used among today's high society, originated in the Middle Ages as a way to readily identify the family of the engaged couple; the family's Coat of Arms, sealed in wax, was a necessity as most of society was illiterate. Today, this practice survives not as a necessity, but as a nod toward history and tradition. And so survives the practice of calligraphy, the art of hand-lettering the wedding invitation.

 

Calligraphy can be used to adorn everything from the actual wedding invitation to the invitation envelope, outer mailing envelope, table cards, place cards, wedding programs, personalized wedding favors, seating charts and more. Generally, most couples order machine printed invitation sets and elect to have their invitation envelope and/or outer envelope hand-addressed by a calligrapher. Some things to consider when choosing a calligrapher are your budget, time constraints, and the style of your wedding.

 

The cost of calligraphy services can vary greately depending on location, the experience of the calligrapher, the style of handlettering offered, products used, and more. Consider interviewing several calligraphers before committing to one. Be sure to ask about their years of experience, training, the lettering choices they offer, what services they provide (lettering only, envelope stuffing, sealing, etc...), if they require a minimum number of pieces, how much time they will need to complete your order, what their payment terms and return policies are and, of course, how much they charge for particular services. Asking for references and to see samples of their work is a must. Also, before interviewing calligraphers, have some idea in mind of style of invitation you want and the type of lettering you envision. Having some idea of what you want will help both you and your calligrapher to come up with a style and package that suits both your needs.