A Simple Guide to Handwritten Wedding Invitations

Your wedding invitations aren’t just a practical way to share the "when and where" of your big day with your guests: They also provide an exciting glimpse of your wedding’s tone, aesthetic, and atmosphere. Adding handwritten elements to your suite—or creating an entirely hand-lettered invitation—is a memorable way to customize this first impression. 

“Handwritten invitations create a wonderful opportunity to infuse a unique and personal touch into your invitation suite,” says Aileen Fretz of Plume Calligraphy. “Incorporating handwriting into a wedding invitation allows the couple’s unique style to shine through. Whether it's a casual and playful script or a formal and sophisticated one, the handwriting style can set the tone for the wedding and reflect the couple's personalities.”

No matter if you'd like to choose handwritten calligraphy or a calligraphy font, work with a stationer or take a hands-on approach, or opt for all-handwritten text or simply highlight a few key elements, we asked Fretz to detail everything you need to know about incorporating this unique element into your papers. Read on for more.

The Difference Between Calligraphy Fonts and Handwritten Calligraphy

Handwritten calligraphy and calligraphy fonts may give you a similar result—”a sense of elegance and personalization,” says Fretz—but they aren’t exactly the same. “Calligraphy fonts provide a consistent and uniform appearance: Each letter maintains the same style and size throughout the invitation, creating a polished look,” she explains. “In contrast, handwritten calligraphy features artistic variations that reflect the artist's creativity and style. Handwritten calligraphy can add a unique, non-uniform touch to an invitation that can be difficult to replicate with a font.” 

Choosing the type of calligraphy that’s right for you means taking into account the aesthetic of your invitation, your timeline, and your budget. “Many invitations combine both, incorporating calligraphy fonts for printed text and leaving specific details, such as guest names and addresses, to be handwritten,” Fretz shares.

Can You Handwrite Your Own Wedding Invitations?

You can certainly handwrite your own wedding invitations if you'd like to take that approach, as you may end up with an incredibly personal invitation suite–a true labor of love. “If a bride or groom has hand-lettering skills and enjoys the craft, writing their own invitations can be a wonderful and meaningful endeavor!” shares Fretz. “If the process aligns with your vision for a personalized and unique invitation suite, it can result in cherished keepsakes for both the couple and their guests.” However, before you start, consider these factors:

The Time Commitment

While you may envision yourself carefully writing out each invitation over the course of your entire engagement period, sometimes life (and the rest of your wedding planning checklist) can get in the way. “Hand-lettering can be time-consuming, so couples should start the process well in advance to avoid rushing and ensure a polished result,” says Fretz. “Hand-lettering may be practical for smaller guest lists, but it could become more time-consuming for larger weddings. A professional calligrapher can complete 50 to 75 addressed envelopes per day, providing valuable time savings for the couple.”

The Timeline

When determining whether or not you’ll be able to calligraph your own invitations, make sure you allow extra time for proofing and test runs. “Couples can easily adjust or experiment with different elements until they achieve a look they are excited about!” notes the calligrapher. “This allows you to refine your technique, ensure consistency, and catch any potential issues before finalizing.”

The Cost

Writing your own invitations is a cost-effective alternative to hiring a calligrapher. “It allows the couple to invest time rather than a significant portion of their budget,” says Fretz. That said, you will need to invest in materials, from pens to paper—with stacks of spares. “Always have plenty of extra cards or envelopes on hand for mistakes and ink spills!” Fretz adds.

Tips for Creating Handwritten Wedding Invitations

Successfully hand-lettering your own invitations starts with the right supplies, including a dip pen, metal nibs, bottled ink, and plenty of paper. You’ll also need to choose a handwriting style, balance the elements of your design, and practice, practice, practice.

Purchase the proper materials and tools.

Traditional dip pens require writers to dip a metal nib into ink before writing; the type of nib you choose determines the thickness of your letter strokes. “Experimenting with different nibs can help you find the one that best suits your style and writing pressure,” shares Fretz. “A wonderful nib for beginners is the Nikko G; it has the ability to hold ink for long periods of writing and glides smoothly across most papers.”

As for which ink to use, Fretz recommends pre-mixed bottled ink as it's easy to load into a dip pen—Higgins Eternal and Written Word Calligraphy are her preferred brands. The calligrapher also suggests using stacks of inexpensive practice paper, like Canson Mixed Media, when practicing your handwriting skills. “The ink doesn’t tend to bleed with this paper, and its smooth texture allows the nib to glide easily without catching,” she says. “Using practice sheets or paper with pre-drawn guidelines helps maintain consistent letter height and spacing as you develop your personal style.”

Determine your preferred handwriting style.

Choose a lettering style that matches the formality and atmosphere of your wedding, like a formal script for an evening affair, or a breezier cursive for a beachfront ceremony. “The key is to ensure that the handwriting style enhances the overall aesthetic and effectively communicates the desired mood or sentiment,” shares Fretz. “Formal calligraphy styles, such as Copperplate or Spencerian, add a touch of elegance and formality to the invitation—these carefully crafted and flowing scripts create a sophisticated and timeless aesthetic. More relaxed and informal cursive styles suit a friendly or playful tone; these styles are often chosen for weddings with a dreamy or modern, romantic theme.”

You can also use more than one type of lettering, creating a custom combination that shows off your event’s personality. “Combining different styles or experimenting with custom lettering can create a unique and visually appealing invitation suite,” Fretz explains. Brushstroke calligraphy, which has a “casual, artistic feel,” is especially versatile: “Brush script fonts can be paired with various other font styles; sans-serif or serif fonts can result in a balanced and visually appealing layout that can reflect the relaxed tone of your event,” Fretz highlights.

She further adds, “In many cases, the entire invitation is not necessarily written by hand, but certain elements or parts of the invitation are handwritten to add warmth to the overall presentation,” she says. “The main body of the invitation is dedicated to specific event details like date, time, and venue, which may be printed in sans-serif or serif fonts for clarity and legibility. The key is to balance the personal touch of handwritten elements and the practicality of printed information."

Don't forget to practice.

Once you have your tools collected and your style sorted out, says Fretz, it’s important to devote time and energy to perfecting your technique. “Be patient and persistent as you experiment with different tools and styles,” she advises. “Calligraphy is a skill that improves with practice.”

Consistent practice will also help you refine and solidify your handwriting aesthetic and personality. Though the simple act of writing your invitations imbues them with a unique finish, finding ways to personalize your lettering will make them entirely your own “Handwriting can be a creative expression beyond mere text,” Fretz shares. “Embrace creativity and treat handwriting as an art form; experiment with styles, flourishes, and embellishments that reflect the theme or personalities of the couple.”

Hire a calligrapher.

If you don’t feel comfortable using your own hand-lettering, then loop in a calligrapher who can provide a range of fonts to suit your style. “When working with a calligrapher for wedding invitations, it is important for the couple to ensure that their vision and style align with the calligrapher's style and capabilities,” says Fretz. “Be sure to review their online and social media portfolios to understand their style and body of work. In many cases, you can request samples in order to see and feel the quality of their work in person.”

Additional Handwritten Wedding Invitation Tips

Using calligraphy for your invitation envelopes is often more feasible than a fully calligraphed invitation. “Whether you're going for a classic, elegant look or a more contemporary and playful style, the calligraphy on the outer envelope sets the stage for what guests can expect from the invitation inside,” says Fretz. 

However, the ultimate goal is to make your envelope clear and legible—so the post office can actually deliver it. “While ornate and decorative styles can be beautiful, they shouldn't sacrifice readability, especially when it comes to important information like names and addresses,” says Fretz. “Choose an ink that provides sufficient contrast for easy readability—dark ink on light envelopes or light ink on dark envelopes often works well and helps prevent any loss when traveling through the postal service.” But in the end, as long as your invitations are legible, do what works best for you and your big day.