Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Katherine121 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:09 PM

Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

In a perfect world, I would love to spend upwards of $300 to have my envelopes addressed by a calligrapher. But I can't bring myself to incur this expense. I've got to get my invites out soon, so I'm too late for Inkspun.com. I worked out a pretty enough font (in my opinion) to be printed on to clear labels. This is my one DIY project.

I'm curious - what did you guys do (or are you doing) for your invitation envelopes?

prncssrachel Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:11 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

I'm getting them printed from the computer. I just didn't think it was worth it. And it allowed me to spend a little more on invitations, which is the important part anyway.

Marisa M Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:14 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

The lowest price I got for calligraphy was $1.50/ envelope. Which would tack $225 on to my invitations. - Personally, I think it's a beautiful touch, but not absolutely necessary. I don't think anyone would get the invitation and notice if it was NOT handwritten calligraphy. I'm looking to have someone print them. I don't think I have the patience to put 300 (150 inner and outer) envelopes through my crappy printer !!

Katherine121 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:17 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Posted by Marisa M

The lowest price I got for calligraphy was $1.50/ envelope. Which would tack $225 on to my invitations. - Personally, I think it's a beautiful touch, but not absolutely necessary. I don't think anyone would get the invitation and notice if it was NOT handwritten calligraphy. I'm looking to have someone print them. I don't think I have the patience to put 300 (150 inner and outer) envelopes through my crappy printer !!

I'm with you! The only calligraphy I saw that was fancy enough for me to even think about spending extra money was SO fancy that it was going to be like $4.00 an envelope. Not in this lifetime.

Bunnymonkey Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:21 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

There are other places like inkspun - have you tried any other printing services?

I do not think calligraphy is neccesary either...

And if your handwriting is good - GO FOR IT!

randella Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:28 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Can you print on the actual envelopes? I think that would look better than the labels..

I am a fan of calligraphy-- but it is a matter of opinion.

HappyLady05 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:39 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

You can print directly onto the envelope. that might look alittle more formal than clear labels. IMHO, most people dont' spend all that much time looking at the addressing and probably wont' notice the clear label unless they are brides to be like us

Katherine121 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:40 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Posted by randella

Can you print on the actual envelopes? I think that would look better than the labels..

I am a fan of calligraphy-- but it is a matter of opinion.

I'm a fan of calligraphy too, believe me. Especially 'The Calligraphy Lady' - her work is AMAZING. In order for me to print them right on the envelopes I'd have to give them to my creative services department to do because or local printers in my office don't have color cartridges. (You see my jam?) I can't ask them to do that amount of personal work for me. I just did manage to get them to agree to print my clear labels in color.

KimberlyBride Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:44 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

We are doing calligraphy also. At first I wasn't going to get it and said what the heck. I just love the way it looks.

randella Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:55 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Posted by Katherine121

Posted by randella

Can you print on the actual envelopes? I think that would look better than the labels..

I am a fan of calligraphy-- but it is a matter of opinion.

I'm a fan of calligraphy too, believe me. Especially 'The Calligraphy Lady' - her work is AMAZING. In order for me to print them right on the envelopes I'd have to give them to my creative services department to do because or local printers in my office don't have color cartridges. (You see my jam?) I can't ask them to do that amount of personal work for me. I just did manage to get them to agree to print my clear labels in color.

I really wouldn't do the labels though.. Maybe price it out if you did it at kinkos on the envelopes using a nice font in word- that will be cheaper than hiring someone and you still get the look.

CubanBride Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:57 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

It's best to print them in a calligraphy style font yourself. I don't think it's worth the added expense. Honestly, I have seen a lot of calligraphy in person and some posted on here and in my personal opinion, it doesn't look anywhere near as nice as the printed ones.

bluesashbride Posted: Feb 25, 2005 01:58 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Posted by KimberlyBride

We are doing calligraphy also. At first I wasn't going to get it and said what the heck. I just love the way it looks.

same here, i said what the heck! plus i had to use white ink-i have dark blue envelopes so computer printed calligraphy like inkspun was not an option. i can't wait to get my envelopes-they're on their way back as of yesterday!

nj42305 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 02:00 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

I had calligraphy done for my invites and am so pleased with the results. I paid like $1.05 or something for outer envelope only - this included my return address on the flap of the invite, my guest's name and address and my information on the reponse envelope. I had the calligraphy done by the manufacturer. Good luck in whatever you decide

Azrael27 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 02:17 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

I used my own printer and printed out the envelopes myself, directly onto the envelopes. I think it looks great - and it didnt take that long to do. If you have a couple of hours to spend, I think it's def worth it.

Katherine121 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 02:38 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the feedback.

AnniesSS Posted: Feb 25, 2005 02:42 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

I think the calligraphy is very nice, but not worth the extra expense. I will print them onto clear labels and put them on the outer envelopes. For the inner ones, I will hand write them myself as I'm pretty good doing it, but just couldn't handle doing 100 invites by hand

o17range Posted: Feb 25, 2005 02:56 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

I do think Calligraphy is a nice touch...and I'm fortunate enough that I have a very generous and patient Aunt who does it and has agreed to address my envelopes. If it weren't for her, though, I'd have done either a nice computer script or hand written them. I'm not really a fan of labels...but that might just be because I feel like all I do at work is label envelopes. I like to label label.

jimmysgrl Posted: Feb 25, 2005 04:15 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

Posted by prncssrachel

I'm getting them printed from the computer. I just didn't think it was worth it. And it allowed me to spend a little more on invitations, which is the important part anyway.

Yea, me too. Its a great touch for people who are doing it and can afford it but for me, its unfortunately the first thing that usually goes in the trash and I just keep the inner envelope.

M&LSept1606 Posted: Feb 25, 2005 04:42 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

microsoft word works well too, and it's free with the right printer setting.

lilacwine Posted: Feb 25, 2005 05:00 PM

Re: Calligraphy or not to Calligraphy...that is the Question!!

My calligrapher fell through and I didn't feel comfortable mailing my envelopes somewhere like inkspun, so I wrote them all out myself. Mom, FMIL and a few others offered to help, but I'm picky about handwriting.

We received an invite recently that was printed by computer on the envelope. It was a little crooked and the inside envelope was handwritten.