The Stationers Guild

Just received a Blog posting from Paper Emporium in Coral Gables, Florida informing me that they will be hosting calligraphy classes during November.   Calligraphy remains an art form and for those anxious to delve more closely into the secrets of fine calligraphy, attending one (or more) of Paper Emporium’s calligraphy classes might prove useful.  If you are thinking of addressing your wedding invitations, brushing-up on your penmanship skills with modern-day calligraphy techniques may prove useful and save you a few dollars at the same time.

Paper Emporium has been a fixture in Coral Gables community since 1984.  Friends and now owners, Bonnie Pato and Lisa DeNunzio,  purchased Paper Emporium in 2006 and have both added their personal touches to this lovely store.  Call Lisa or Bonnie at Paper Emporium (305-445-7090) to register for your calligraphy class.  Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more about  the fine art of calligraphy.

We are occasionally asked whether it is “proper” to use adhesive-backed mailing labels to address your wedding invitations.  The simple answer is that mailing labels tend to “cheapen” the appearance of your wedding invitation.   In general, the mailing label strikes one as ”too commercial” and “out of place” since the color of the mailing label does not match the color of the envelope.  Printed envelopes are certainly recommended.

There are several printing options available to address your invitation envelope(s).  While hand calligraphy is certainly the best choice, it is often beyond the financial reach of many bridal couples.  Hand calligraphy prices vary significantly and addressing double envelopes could cost anywhere from $3.00 a set upwards.

Many Guild member stores offer machine calligraphy services to address your invitations.  You simply supply your stationer with a list of your guests in a spreadsheet or text file and the stationer will print the inner and outer envelope in the ink color and font of your choosing.   Again, the cost of machine calligraphy varies, but generally costs no more than half the price of hand-calligraphy.  It is wise to consult with an experienced stationer since the quality of the paper and the thickness of the envelope (particularly if it is lined) will affect printing options. 

Julie Holcomb Wedding Handbook

If you or one of your family or friends have good writing skills, there is no reason why you can’t address the envelopes by hand.  I would strongly recommend that you purchase a copy of Julie Holcomb’s The Wedding Invitation Handbook  to learn the proper etiquette if you are planning to address your invitations.  In fact, Julie’s excellent handbook has some great advice on planning your wedding and will help make sure that all the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed.