Guest Post: Wedding Calligraphy 101

Hi there! My name is Courtney and I am the owner and calligrapher of POPPYjack Shop.
Calligraphy is such a fun art and one that many brides and grooms choose to have as a part of their special day. From escort cards to menus and invitations, calligraphy can set the tone of an event and show guests what to expect at your wedding. If you decide to use a calligrapher, here are a few tips to help the process go smoothly: Be Organized A huge part of being a calligrapher is organization. Spreadsheets are going to be your best friend! If you can give your calligrapher a spreadsheet with all of the info, exactly as you want it printed, there will be much less back and forth and time needed. This means first name, last name, table number, meal preference, etc.
Ink and Paper The quality of the paper is the most important piece of the puzzle. Calligraphy ink can bleed if a paper is too thin or low quality. There are tricks to help with this problem, but at the end of the day, there’s much less stress (on both ends) if the paper is quality from the get go. If I am the one providing the paper, I always buy from Paper Source. While it might seem a bit more expensive than other places, trust me…it’s always worth it! I have never had an issue with paper from there.
Know Your Style There are many different styles of calligraphy out there. Most calligraphers offer a more formal style that is pretty uniform but with modern calligraphy, anything goes. Do your research to find a calligrapher whose style really speaks to you! My favorite thing is to hear a bride say that I can do whatever I want with their order because they trust me and love my work. I want my customer to be happy and when I know she loves my personal style of calligraphy, it gives me confidence that the end product is going to be exactly what she’s looking for
Give Enough Time Don’t forget the work that goes into these items! Give your calligrapher plenty of time to get everything done, and done well! Depending on the size of the order, I usually ask for about a month. This not only allows plenty of time to work on the items, but also to make any changes that might come up. I prefer to deliver my finished products about a week before the wedding if possible, just to free up any last minute delivery stresses before the big day.
If you have any more questions or are interested in pricing for POPPYjack Shop, email me! I would love to hear from you and be a part of your big day!