One idea for the invitation is to run the letterpress…
To Do: Learn Calligraphy
I had a wave of wedding panic last night. It was brought on by the reappearance of a couple whose very lavish, very expensive wedding we are going to photograph in May. My little, homegrown wedding ideas suddenly seemed to be very dinky compared to their upcoming grand affair.
I’ve learned that when wedding panic strikes, it’s best to take some action. One thing on my excel planning to-do list is to try calligraphy.
So I busted out my pen (from an LAC party) and a bottle of ink and gave it a shot. First off, it’s really hard. Second, sort of relaxing too! I’m not terrible at it. There’s a slight chance that this could work for our invitations.
It was interesting to discover that there’s a real reason for cursive handwriting. You need the swooshes to stop ink from splattering all over the place. I had never really considered that before.
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I just went to a calligraphy class last night!
When I got married a lot of girls I knew were having theirs done and I just felt like that was so impersonal. So I decided to give it a try (calligraphy, that is) and I wasn’t so bad at it (although, definitely not professional level by any means). So I did them all. And you know, as time consuming as it was, I’m really glad I did it.
I had mine done by a professional (just didn’t have the time or patience to do it myself after putting together the invitations myself), but I see that Paper Source in SF offers classes…something to think about if your handwriting is as sloppy as mine!
I think that you are making it way too hard by trying to use the pen with bottled ink. Try a pen with the ink cartridge inside OR better yet, go to the craft store and look for the calligraphy markers that come in varying widths. MUCH, MUCH easier, and still looks good!
I’m trying to teach third graders to write in cursive right now… a frustrating endevor.
I’m quite sure your “homegrown wedding” will be just perfect and not dinky at all!
Don’t let other weddings get to you, yours is going to be gorgeous!
I have also heard that cursive is good for the brain. Continuing from letter to letter, without picking up the pen creates forward thinking abilities and connectedness. Can’t remember where I heard that. Calligraphy is hard, but so worth it.
i’ve been trying to learn calligraphy for my wedding, too! i tried the sharpie calligraphy pen (it had the same appearance as the sharpies you use on mailing boxes!) so then i moved onto the quill & ink pens (idk what they’re really called) and omg! it’s HARD. but it’s getting better with practice!
is the picture one that you wrote? b/c i think it looks great! good luck with it and i’m sure your wedding will be wonderful :o)