Addressing invitations- calligraphy yes or no?

I can do calligraphy myself (my holiday card envelopes are written out), but just don't have the patience or time to address 100 invites alone with all the other wedding tasks. I'll be using labels because of the type of invitation we are sending. Otherwise, I would suggest printing the envelopes using your home printer. On the receiving end, IMO, I would rather see a neatly printed label than bad handwriting any day. I can appreciate the time saved with labels. We're all pressed for time these days.

@Carole: Thanks so much. When I saw the sample I knew that it was just the ticket for us. Plus, the cake topper place is able to replicate the font style so the monogram will look exactly like the calligraphy. It really is nice to see all the details coming together.

I use labels for Christmas cards. I would NOT use them for wedding invitations. You can use a fancy font and run the envelopes thru your printer.

My mom is really good at calligrahy, so I'm sure she'll be doing mine. She actually loves doing it, she does it on everything, even on like birthday cards and things haha. She does it for a lot of her friends, for weddings and parties, so it would be only logical for her to do her daughter's! I don't know what I'd do if she couldn't though..... I don't think I'd hire someone. Labels might be fine, if your handwriting isn't very nice.

Jessica, that's awesome! I'm jealous.

Sorry I just pulled back this post but I found the wrap around labels by googling. There are some free templates online just try googling and you can also go on etsy.com and buy some off there. Only thing you need to do then if you go with etsy is pull the document up in Word and just type in the recipients address, cut the labels and wrap around the envelopes.

If you have the budget for calligraphy, then go for it. However, there are other more important things that money could be spent on. After all, the envelopes get ripped open and thrown away. Labels or printed addresses is a suitable option also.

Labels for us!

1)im to lazy to write a million names out

2)my writing is worse than a 2 year olds

3)they are just going to be thrown away

4)they are all uniform and we didnt have to worry about if it looked right or not. type it out and click print DONE!

I saw the wrappted label at my invitation store and fell in love. It looks elegant, but love the decorative aspect of it. It makes the envelope look pretty.

FH and I have decided to print directly on the envelopes...that way they will all look the same and I dont have to worry about throwing away a million envelopes bc they dont look perfect. I'm kinda obsessive like that lol

I am hand addressing mine using my own cursive handwriting(since I have legible handwriting), if not using the wrap around labels(an try to find a picnic design or ones with pinwheels on them since we're having an outdoor informal park wedding). Either you can use programs where you can print directly on your envelopes in calligraphy fonts(just make sure you have it all centered). If you have legible handwriting, you can hand address them yourself and not need a Calligrapher.

I was going to suggest the faux calligraphy as someone else already mentioned. I just did the wrap around address labels (I can't find any pics at the moment). I found a tutorial on www.weddingbee.com. BTW, www.weddingbee.com has a ton of great ideas along with tutorials! I heart that website!

I am going to handwrite all of mine. I think that the money can be spent in other places and I know that I have good cursive writing.

Andrene, your envelopes are beautiful and the guests getting those invitations will immediately know this is going to be a beautiful classy wedding. Sorry girls with the labels, but that will be the first impression of your wedding, and it will not be a good one. At least have the addresses printed right on the envelope. It is less expensive than hand calligraphy and looks a lot better.

Don't know if it is a possibility for you, but I simply chose the calligraphic font I wanted (mine matched my invitation font) and printed each recipient address onto regular copy paper, slipped it inside the envelope and copied it using a light box I use for doing blind embossing (cost approximately $6. at Hobby Lobby). Each envelope was backlit so we could see clearly on a flat surface. Once printed, I enlisted my "bridal crew" and made the whopping investment of $60. so we each had a lightbox. We opened wine, played a preview of our favor give-away of the reception c.d. music and giggled the night away. We actually completed 100 (10 each) within an hour. They ALL looked identical since they were pre-printed on the slip inside. Of course, I could have printed the envelopes, but this gave each the look of a more expensive, hand crafted endeavor. I did have to leave one bridesmaid out of the addressing. She just laughed and hung out with us. She's a Dr. (you know who you are! LOL) and has HORRIFIC handwriting...even when copying. Hope this helps and CONGRATS!