Envelope addressing is one of my favorite things to do as a calligrapher. It’s the cherry on top of an already gorgeous invitation. It is also a practice that is sadly not done enough so it truly feels magical and unique, especially in this day and age when cursive isn’t even being taught in schools anymore. I can just imagine how a guest must feel when they open their mailbox and see a beautifully calligraphed envelope addressed to them. Don’t we all want to feel that special?
So how does this process work? Let me walk you through the steps to get your very own invitations calligraphed!
STEP ONE: GET IN TOUCH WITH ME!
The first step is to reach out to me. Often I will address envelopes for couples that I am already working with for wedding invitations but that’s not always the case. Even if you had your invitations done elsewhere, we can still work together for your envelope addressing. You just fill out this form and I will reach back out with a couple more specific questions. Some of the things I need to know are:
- When is your event?
- When do you need the envelopes in-hand?
- How many envelopes are we working with?
- Do you want a specific ink color?
- Are we doing just guest addressing or full envelope addressing?
- What is your budget?
STEP TWO: PROPOSAL + RETAINER
I will gather your info and send over a proposal. Once you approve the proposal, you will sign a contract and then pay a 50% non-refundable retainer.
STEP THREE: ENVELOPES + GUEST LIST
Once all that’s taken care of, you will send me your envelopes. I ask for 15-20% extra to account for any mistakes. If you’d like, I can purchase the envelopes and have them sent directly to my studio. You will also fill out an excel spreadsheet with all the info I need to address the envelopes. It’s very important that you fill this out carefully so there are no spelling mistakes. I will address the envelope exactly as you have written the names and addresses so, pay extra special attention to this part!
STEP FOUR: THE FUN PART
Now the fun begins! If you have chosen a specific ink color, I will mix that up by hand to achieve the perfect color. I pull out my special calligraphy-addressing pen with a fresh nib so everything looks perfect! We use a drying rack to decrease the chance of ink smudges. We also leave the envelopes to dry for at least 24 hours.
STEP FIVE: SHIPPING TO YOU
Once I’m all done with your envelopes, I will email your final invoice and arrange to have the envelopes shipped back to you. The invoice will have to be paid in full before I ship anything out.
STEP SIX: ENJOY!
You will get your gorgeous envelopes in the mail and they will be ready for you to stuff and send out to your friends and family!
If you are interested in having envelopes addressed for your event, reach out to me by clicking here. I’d love to hear from you!
