Has anyone done their own calligraphy for their invitations??

I don't do normal calligraphy, but I use fountain pens. Not only is calligraphy about strokes, but it is about the pen itself. Some use flex nibs and some use chiseled markers. Flex nibs allow for variances of line when writing. It takes practice, but it's quite fun.

Following because I also plan on doing this

I bought a kit from Etsy to try to learn. It will take foooorrrrrreeeeevvvveeerrrrrrrrrrrr to do it myself. So I put that kit in the closet and hired a calligrapher.

Https://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Penmanship-Theory-Book-copybooks/dp/088062096X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467726006&sr=8-1&keywords=spencerian+penmanship+theory+book+plus+five+copybooks

This is a workbook I use. I'm trying to learn to write Spencerian because I'm a nerd who likes pretty handwriting.

I've dabbled with learning it on my own & it isn't that difficult. However, I hold pens with a death grip & you really need to be more flexible. Therefore, I lost my patience with it. You've got plenty of time before your wedding but be aware that this task will be time consuming to complete on your invitations.

I've been practicing. I got a book from Amazon and the pen that came with it is pretty bad quality so my writing has been inconsistent. I think I'm going to get those calligraphy marker-like pens to make it easier. lol

DAK - start writing with fountain pens and you'll see that your grip HAS to slack. That's one reason I only use fountain pens. You barely have to touch the pen and nib to paper and the ink just comes out all lovely.

I did "fake calligraphy"! I printed with big calligraphy looking font in light gray on my envelopes, then I traced with calligraphy pen. It came out beautifully! And it was so easy. This was I didn't need to worry about centering, spacing, whiting crooked, or if everything would fit.

My mom is an artist, so I grew up learning calligraphy and I still don't feel confident in my abilities. Anyone can do it, but it's really difficult to do well...

Hired a calligrapher off etsy! She was amazing!!!

I plan on using a free font off my computer and printing onto the envelopes! Saving tons of money by not hiring a calligrapher.

I used fake calligraphy like @LDwed, except I bought a light box to trace my addresses instead of printing directly on the envelopes. The light box was like $30 at Michaels and was one of the best purchases I've made!

I'm planning on it. I'm teaching myself (though I did have a minor introduction to olde English calligraphy in high school art classes,) with pages I printed myself from my computer. I picked a lovely calligraphic font that I like, bought a calligraphy marker (gold, because we will have deep burgundy/wine colored envelopes) and have traced letters and words, slowly graduating to copying them from my printed sheets to sheets of black cardstock. It's really easy, you just have to remember not to turn the pen/marker as you write to get that thick/thin line look going.

I got some brush calligraphy pens and a kit at Michaels...tried for about an hour and decided it would take me too long to learn. I'm just going to use my best handwriting.

Here are some of my used practice pages.

ETA: I used the "quick brown fox" sentence because it uses every letter of the alphabet.

I was going to suggest doing what @LDwed said. My mom and FMIL are planning to do the fake calligraphy for us because even with assistance FH and I both write horribly.

My husband's cousin was married in 1981. I have been to countless weddings since that time, but I still vividly remember the calligraphy on her invitation's outer envelope, inner envelope, and the envelope for the response card; it was striking and very impressive. She did it herself, but she'd been doing calligraphy for years (even her normal handwriting looks like a font).

If you want to actually check out what you're buying, go to a large bookseller. I've seen the kits with the pens, the attachments, the ink, and very detailed booklets teaching you "how to". In fact, I'm sure someone gave me a set for Christmas a few years back. I think it's in my foyer closet, still in perfect condition (I gave in one shot and realized that it was going to take some dedication to become proficient).

There are also quite a few calligraphy lessons on youtube. You might want to check that out, as well.

Practice, practice, practice! My MOH is currently learning and she has spent hours practicing her strokes. Her style of calligraphy is quite modern and I love it!

Self taught! It just takes passion and practice

FTR these are clearly not real addresses!

Nice, mna! EmilyD, I love that font.