When To Hire Your Wedding Calligrapher

Photo By: Copperhead Photo and Video

You are engaged…Now What?

So many decisions now have to be made! Maybe you have dreamed about your wedding since you were 5 years old and watching Cinderella. Or maybe you just have focused on school, education, work and haven’t put too much thought into it. You knew you could figure it out once the time came. Regardless of which one you relate more to you have to start making those decisions.

There are some obvious decisions to be made; find a venue, photographer, the dress, and a florist. But some of the decisions get pushed off till later because they aren’t the huge essentials you always dreamed about. You do not want to forget about the smaller details, such as the invitations or wedding decor and signage. The more you push off those decisions the more likely you will be forced into quick decision making and may just go for the lack luster design that someone else has already done before. The invites are your guests very first impressions and the decor helps create the ambiance and aesthetic you are going for during your wedding and reception. So don’t push it off!

Now when do you decide to book a calligrapher?

You need to consider what are you needing from the calligrapher. Are you looking for custom invitations, custom signage and day of details, envelope addressing, or escort cards? Or maybe you also want some unique details'; such as hangers, wine glasses, or a leather jacket that says Mrs.?

Invitations | 6 to 8 Months Minimum

A stationer (someone who will design and create Invites/Save the Dates) or a calligrapher would need to contact a minimum of 6-8 months before to start the design of your invitations. Some things to consider for your invitation design would be if you are wanting any custom artwork like a crest or drawing of the venue to put on the invite. How much custom calligraphy would be placed on your invite. The more custom the longer to give your stationer time to design. This time will account for the time it takes to custom design your invitations and you will probably go through about 3 rounds of proofing before the design is finalized and they send off to have our invitation suites printed.

*Another Invitation option (not a common option but definitely a beautiful option) is to have the whole suite handwritten in calligraphy and not digitally printed or letter pressed. Now if this is what you are wanting for wedding invitations I will warn you now, it is a lengthly process and will most likely cost more because of that. It would be best to contact the calligrapher around 12 months out. This time will account for the time it takes to design, proof, and handwrite all of your invitation suites (probably at least 3 to four pages in the suite, at least 50 to 100 times over… that’s a long time! So definitely plan for that time with your calligrapher)

Envelope Addressing | 3 to 4 Months Minimum

It is recommended to send out your wedding invitations 8 to 10 weeks before your wedding. Calligraphers will need a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks of completion time to address your envelopes. So 3 to 4 months out is a fair time to get them addressed and shipped out.

Also to consider, do you also want your Save the Dates envelopes addressed? Make sure to contact the calligrapher at least a month before you anticipate mailing out your Save the Dates.

Custom Paper Goods | 3 to 4 Months Minimum

Are you wanting custom Menu’s, Programs, or Maps for your wedding? It is best to start the design of these items sooner than later. Maybe some of the final details will not be hammered out till a month before the wedding but the sooner the design process starts the better your paper goods will turn out. Maybe there are elements of your invitation that you would like to incorporate into your menu or program, such as a crest design or venue drawing, but you do not know the exact order of the days events. That’s OK! The design can be started and almost completed till you have all of the final details. Once all the information is confirmed you can give that to the calligrapher and they can finalize the details before getting everything printed.

Day of Details | 4-8 Weeks Minimum

Day of details can be table numbers, seating charts, bar signs, welcome sign, menu’s, etc. Depending on what all you are needing for you wedding decor all of these details can typically take a couple weeks to create so it is best to give your calligrapher a months to get everything prepared.

Place Cards Or Escort Cards | 3-4 Weeks Minimum

Usually place cards and escort cards can be hammered out rather quickly. It is important to remember a calligrapher may have 2 to 3 wedding going on at a time and that giving them extra time to complete your place cards will ensure they do not feel rushed and they will be flawless.

Unique Final Touches | 3 to 4 Weeks Minimum

Some examples of these items may be custom wine glasses, leather jacket that says “Just Married” or “Mrs.” on the back, maybe you would like to add some gift bags for your bridesmaids favors or have matching hanger with everyone’s names for photographs. Whatever it is talk to your calligrapher at least a month before, if not sooner, to get a good idea when they need to be created.

Are you engaged and looking for a calligrapher? I’d Be happy to help!

So Let’s Chat or grab some coffee sometime and go over your vision.