Weddingbee Blog

In my last calligraphy post, I introduced the lovely script that we chose for our invitations (That’s the royal “we”, not that group decision “we”. Mr. Hammy had no preference really). To review, we chose the Formal Script:

And here is the finished product!

I had been searching for a calligrapher for a while and was getting discouraged - many needed to be booked way in advance and were priced by line. At $2/line, a single calligraphed envelope could cost up to $8. That’s when I came across a bright ray of hope known as Carmela.

Working out of her own home, Carmela offers custom calligraphy for envelopes, placecards, table number cards and other paper goods your wedding-planning heart may desire. Her work, as shown above, was simple and elegant. And her price? Wait for it… $0.80 per envelope set. Yes, I placed the decimal point in the right spot. That’s 80 pennies for an inner/outer envelope set. I felt like I had found a leprechaun taking his unicorn for a walk - such beautiful, well-priced calligraphy just couldn’t exist!

A little skeptical, I searched online and sure enough, Carmela got numerous positive reviews. But the real clincher cam when I reviewing the samples she had sent me via email - one of her font styles looked remarkably familiar. On a hunch, I called my sister and asked about her calligrapher for her 2005 wedding. Sure enough, she had used Carmela as well! My sister confirmed the quality of work, responsiveness, and quick turnaround, and I booked Carmela that day.

Carmela books up quickly during the busy season, and she doesn’t have a website. But if you’d like to contact her, she can be reached at: melsinkwell@comcast.net. You won’t regret it!

Looking for a Calligrapher? Here are some tips:

1. Book early

Calligraphers can book up early, so reserve your spot as soon as you can. Additionally, keep in mind that the turnaround time can be a few weeks, so work backwards from when you need to send you invitations out to figure out your timing.

2. Ask about extra charges for dark/lined envelopes and/or metallic ink

Some calligraphers charge extra for dark or lined envelopes (they require more time to address) or metallic ink. If you’re planning to use either of these, ask ahead so there are no hidden surprises.

3. Look outside your geographic area

Living in the big NYC, several calligraphers I researched priced in the “NYC premium”. By looking outside of the immediate area, I was able to find a greater range of prices.

4. Ask for samples

Script is script is script, right? Wrong! Ask for samples to find the font that speaks to you. Whether you are having a super-swanky affair or a down-home celebration, you can find a font that works best for you.

How will you be addressing your invitations?