CALLIGRAPHY WEDDING INVITATIONS
Think of your wedding invitation as your big day’s first impression. You want to announce your wedding with elegance and style. Including gorgeously crafted calligraphy on your wedding invitation adds an artful touch that will wow your guests. Calligraphy inspired invitations communicate that you care about the small details. And when it comes to weddings, the details make all the difference.
Calligraphy-styled wedding invitations are a classic choice. The style of the script that you choose is a great way to communicate what your wedding will be like. There are many different kinds of wedding invitation calligraphy fonts to consider and each has its own feel. Calligraphy that looks handwritten (even when it’s not) can feel very personal, like you’re writing directly to each of your guests. Other styles of calligraphy can feel elegant and formal. But how to decide which style of calligraphy is right for you? Everyone has their own preferences. A great rule of thumb is to go with your first instinct. You may be tempted to overanalyze, but if it just “felt right” when you first saw it, it’s probably the calligraphy style for you.
Remember that script will appear throughout your wedding on everything from the invitation to the place cards at the actual event. You want to be consistent with the script style you choose so that all parts of the event feel tied together to the extent possible. Calligraphy script will elevate the whole experience.
WHY CHOOSE CALLIGRAPHY WEDDING INVITATIONS
Though we now live in the digital age where writing most often appears in type, people have spent thousands of years crafting gorgeous calligraphy by hand. The word calligraphy comes from Greek and is roughly translated to mean “beautiful writing,” which is exactly what it is. Calligraphy was traditionally reserved for the most important script such as when words appeared on wall murals, royal decrees, and holy texts the world over. Many historians credit the Romans with bringing calligraphy to the masses, while others argue that ancient China was the origin of calligraphy. Some calligraphers used brushes while others used quills. It was in the 11th century when calligraphy styles expanded to include less ornate, easier to read (and write!) options.
In more modern history, calligraphy has been used for important invitations such as weddings, births, or religious ceremony announcements. Today, not all your calligraphy text has to be written by hand. While some people choose to master the artform themselves, others rely on printers that create the impression of handwritten calligraphy. Regardless, the idea behind calligraphy has always been the same: you can show that your words matter by making your script look beautiful.
The Many Varieties of Calligraphy Text
Calligraphy ranges in style, composition, and color. As mentioned before, some is done by quill pen, felt pen, brush, or a printer. Here are a few things to consider when deciding what calligraphy style is best for your wedding invitation.
Different styles of calligraphy: We have five suggestions for the types of calligraphy that are used with our alphabet (or what is known as Western script). These are the ones that most often appear on wedding invitations:
- Modern pointed pen: This is most commonly seen on wedding invitations these days. It’s legible but still elegant.
- Traditional pointed pen: This is the most luxe and formal option for calligraphy. If you’re having a very formal or traditional wedding, this may be the right calligraphy style for you.
- Foundation hand/bookhand: This is a simpler choice with fewer flourishes. When beginners learn calligraphy, this is usually where they start. The simple brush strokes make for an uncluttered, charming look.
- Italic hand: Like foundation hand, this is a very legible, simple style. All the letters slant slightly to the right, giving the lettering a sense of motion.
- Copperplate script: Like traditional pointed pen, this is a more formal, elegant calligraphy script that is fitting for formal weddings.
Printed vs. handwritten: Some people love the challenge of learning the artform of calligraphy. They get a lot of joy out of doing it themselves. But when you have a wedding to plan, this can be a lot of work, so others choose to have printed calligraphy. It still has the aesthetic appeal of handwritten variety, but is much less work. The styles that appear on this page give the impression of being handwritten, which creates a sense of intimacy between you and your recipients. It’s almost as if you’ve written the invitation yourself!
Matching wedding theme and colors : You want to think of your wedding invitation as a complete package so make sure whatever script you have on your envelope matches the script of the invitation inside both in terms of style, theme, and color.
Matching Wedding Invitation Suites
While the invitation is the most important part of the package, there is a whole suite of paper items that you’ll want to include with your invitation. Your guests need a lot of information and you don’t want to crowd the invitation. This is especially important if you’ve chosen an elaborate calligraphy text. Save the logistics for the other items in the suite. When choosing a wedding invitation with calligraphy, you want to make sure the whole package matches for the full effect. Here are the other items in our wedding invitation suite that you want to make sure matches your wedding invitation in terms of style and color:
- Envelope - This should match your invitation in color and design. The calligraphy that appears here should also be matched to the invitation.
- RSVP cards - If you’re sending an RSVP card and would like a mailed response back, you should include an RSVP card with a stamped return envelope.
- RSVP online enclosure cards - These days it can be easier to keep track of RSVPs online. Include an RSVP online enclosure so your guests know how to contact you.
- Multi-event rsvp cards - Having a rehearsal dinner? A brunch after? You’ll want to know if guests are coming to that as well. You can either have them mail back their response, or they can reply online.
- Direction cards - Make it easy for your guests to find the locations of your events by including a direction card with relevant details.
- Reception cards - Let guests know about other events occurring around the wedding. You’ll want to include all pertinent information about where and when to gather and what guests should wear.
- Belly bands - If you’re sending a suite of invitations, you’ll want to make sure everything stays neatly together by wrapping it with a belly band.
- Thank you cards - You’re going to get a lot of gifts. And you’ll need to thank people! Having a thank you card that matches the script of the invitation will tie the whole theme together.
Minted’s Matching Stationery
Minted makes it easy to match all of your stationary to the calligraphy script on your wedding invitation. You want to think of your wedding as a cohesive event with a single design that is tied together. Those guests with a discerning eye will notice these thoughtful touches! Don’t forget that you’ll want to incorporate the same calligraphy inspired script into your wedding website. Think of it as your wedding’s personal font. Here are some of the matching stationery items:
- Menus
- Table numbers
- Place Cards
- Wedding Programs
- Wedding favor tags
- Wedding stickers
- Wedding websites
Wedding Invitation Customization
Most people have a very specific image in mind of how they want their wedding details to be. The calligraphy invitation should look exactly like the vision in your mind. Minted makes it easy to customize your wedding invitations with our custom design services. Here’s how you do it in a few quick steps:
- Step 1: Submit an easy to fill out initial request form.
- Step 2: Within 1-2 business days a member of our team will reach out to clarify details.
- Step 3: You’ll receive a quote and be able to schedule an appointment with the designer.
- Step 4: You’ll purchase your design and stationery.
- Step 5: Your designer will get started and work closely with you to make your vision a reality.
Looking for a lighter touch? We also have customizable options within particular invitations. Just click the “Personalize” button when designing your card. You can make these adjustments easily to existing designs without creating a request form:
- Customizations to the placement of text on the front and back of the invitation
- Change the text size on the front and back of the invitation
- Edit the wording of the invitation itself
- Adjust the size, wording, and placement of the envelope text
- Select your own color theme
- Adjust the shape of your invitation (For example, you can round the corners.)
- Add custom foil
