Using Calligraphy to Address Your Wedding Invitations

The ancient art of elegantly curved and curly handwriting, calligraphy, has its root in Greek: kalli, meaning beautiful, and graphia, meaning writing. If you're planning a grand, high-style wedding and want formal, intimate, au courant wedding invitations to match, calligraphy may be the perfect printing technique for you.

What It Costs

Whether you choose sumptuous curves or sophisticated lines, calligraphy adds a personal touch that reflects the tone of your event. Of course, this handcrafted, luxe look may set you back a pretty penny. Artists that painstakingly handcraft each address can charge anywhere from $2 (for less-experienced calligraphers) to $10 (elaborate jobs by seasoned professionals) per envelope. For an entire wedding invitation (inner and outer envelopes, plus return address on response cards), the price jumps significantly.

Selecting A Script

You've got a lot of styles to choose from. While it may seem overwhelming at first, in the end, your final choice should look great with the printed script on your invites and, at the same time, reflect the tone of your wedding. Keep in mind also that most have variations and/or can be customized to complement your invitation typeface. Below are the seven most basic styles. (Find out more about the 18 most popular styles of calligraphy before making a final decision.)