How soon in advance should I book services with a calligrapher?
As soon as possible… or right around the same time you order your invitations so that we can reserve the appropriate amount of time for your envelopes. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to book your calligraphy services because you may experience one of two scenarios:
- The calligrapher is booked and does not have the availability to meet your tight deadline or
- An additional Rush Fee may apply which typically ranges between 15 – 30% of the total order depending on the calligrapher
A few things to keep in mind:
- According to wedding experts, invitations should be mailed to guest 6-8 weeks before your wedding date.
- Typical turnaround for 100 envelopes is approximately 5-7 business days, plus shipping if applicable.
- Average turnaround for custom wedding vows is approximately 1-2 weeks depending on the length and amount of details.
What if I know that I want to work with you but I don’t have my finalized guest list or I haven’t received my envelopes/place cards?
No worries – you can secure your spot on my calendar by signing the contract and paying the non-refundable retainer fee. I will start with the names that you already have and then you can send the remaining guest names as soon as you have them.
Do you require that the guest list be submitted in a specific format?
Yes, please download the template here and copy/paste your guest names and addresses. Your list must be in alphabetical order (this makes it easier for me in the event that you have last minute changes or additions to the original list). Because the calligraphy will be written exactly how it was submitted on the list, please be sure to double check all spelling, salutations, and abbreviations. If you wish to have all words written without abbreviations, make sure that the addresses are fully typed as so. For example, if you want Street, Apartment, or Post Office Box to be written out fully instead of St. Apt. or P.O., be sure to do so on the list.
Handwritten lists will not be accepted.
Can you help me with questions regarding etiquette for envelope addressing?
Sure! Please refer to the Envelope Addressing Etiquette Guide. If you have further questions, just let me know & if I don’t know the answer, I will do my best to find it for you!
What is your typical turnaround for an envelope addressing order?
Typical turnaround is 5-7 business days per 100 envelopes depending on the amount of detailed work the project entails and the current number of jobs on my desk at the time. Please contact me as soon as possible to check availability.
Note: delays in receipt of materials or final guest list will result in a delay of order completion or may incur a rush fee in order to keep the original completion date.
How many extra envelopes should I order?
Please order at least 20% additional envelopes in the event of mistakes or additional guests. For example, if there are 100 invitations being mailed, you would order 20 additional (120 total).
Do you provide the envelopes?
I do not typically provide envelopes. If you would like for me to purchase your envelopes, please let me know in your initial inquiry. The cost of materials will be included on the invoice.
Can you match the ink color on my invitation?
Yes, just send me an invitation with your envelopes and I will do my best to match the color. Please view the pricing for envelope addressing with custom ink.
Will you keep my address list private?
Definitely! Your guest names and addresses will be used only to complete your project. The list will be deleted/destroyed 3 months after the project completion.
What if I need my order in less than 10 business days? Do you offer rush services?
Rush orders can be accommodated based on availability. A rush job is considered as any order with a due date of less than 10 business days (excluding Saturday & Sunday) from the date that all information and materials are received by Captivating Calligraphy. The rush time period may vary depending on the size and scope of the project. The rush fee is 30% of the total invoice. Contact me today to check for availability.
Shipping Costs
The client is responsible for all shipping costs. Once I have completed your order, I will send you the final invoice including the return shipping costs. Unless rush shipping is specifically requested, the most economical method will be selected and you will receive a tracking number.
Can I have the stationer ship my envelopes directly to you?
Most certainly, just give them my mailing address and be sure to have them include your full name and return address on the packing slip.
Mailing Address:
Captivating Calligraphy
6555 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite 307-237
Duluth, GA 30097
Do you offer invitation stuffing services?
I currently do not offer stuffing services at this time.
I just received my completed order but I found a couple corrections that need to be made. What should I do?
Please notify me via email within 48 hours of receiving your order if you find mistakes. Any mistakes on my part will be re-worked at no additional charge and other mistakes due to incorrect information being provided (i.e. misspellings, wrong address, etc.) will be charged at the original rate. Corrected or additional envelopes will be mailed to you via USPS once completed.
Mistakes or additional envelopes needed after the 48-hour window will be re-worked at the original rate plus a $25 setup fee.
How soon in advance should I book services with a calligrapher for invitation design?
As soon as possible! You don’t want to wait until the last minute to book your calligraphy services because you may experience one of two scenarios:
- the calligrapher is booked and does not have the availability to meet your tight deadline or
- additional Rush Fee which typically range between 15 – 30% of the total order depending on the calligrapher.
It is also important to take into consideration how soon before the wedding date your invitations should be mailed as well as the amount of time needed for designing the proof, approval and printing. Contact me today to check for availability to meet your desired completion date.
When should I mail my invitations?
Standard etiquette is to mail your wedding invitations 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding date. Please keep this in mind when booking calligraphy services to ensure you have enough time for the calligraphy to be completed before the 6-8-week mark.
Can you provide me with a proof of the invitation design before I pay the non-refundable retainer fee?
Unfortunately, I cannot, as a signed contract and non-refundable retainer fee must be received prior to any work being done, this includes designing of a proof.
How many proof revisions are included?
The price of the design includes up to two changes. If you still need additional changes after the second edit, an additional design fee will apply.
Do you mail physical proof designs?
All proofs are digital and will be sent to you via email.
What is your turnaround for invitation design?
You can expect to receive the first design proof within 5 business days of your project start date (contract and non-refundable retainer fee must be received prior to any work being done). You will have 1-2 business days to approve the design or provide a request for revisions. Please allow 5-7 business days for the final digital files to be sent to you.
Do you offer invitation stuffing services?
I currently do not offer stuffing services at this time.
Do you have a minimum order requirement?
Yes, the minimum order is $135.
Is a signed contract required?
Yes. A signed contract is required before the start of any job. This is to ensure that expectations for both parties involved are spelled out.
What payment methods do you accept?
Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
What is your cancellation policy?
If for any reason you need to cancel your order, please notify me immediately. Your non-refundable retainer fee will be forfeited and will not be refunded due to other projects that were turned down in order to complete your project. If the work already completed at the time of cancellation exceeds the value of the retainer fee, you will be responsible for those charges.
Where are you located?
I am located in Duluth, GA (20 minutes from downtown Atlanta).
Can I meet you in-person to give you the envelopes?
Yes! I actually prefer to meet my clients in person – that’s one of my favorite parts about running my business and it helps to make things more relational and less transactional!
What if I need extra envelopes addressed after I receive my completed order?
Just send me the additional guest names/addresses in the same format as before and I will complete them. There is a setup fee of $25. Once the additional envelopes are completed, they will be mailed to you via USPS.
Will I receive any unused items back?
Yes, after 48 hours of delivering the completed order, any unused envelopes will be mailed to you via USPS.
What if I need my order in less than 10 business days? Do you offer rush services?
Rush orders can be accommodated based on availability. A rush job is considered as any order with a due date of less than 10 business days (excluding Saturday & Sunday) from the date that all information and materials are received by Captivating Calligraphy. The rush time period may vary depending on the size and scope of the project. The rush fee is 30% of the total invoice. Contact me today to check for availability.
Do you offer stuffing, stamping and mailing services?
I currently do not offer these services at this time.
Do you offer calligraphy workshops or one-on-one private lessons?
I do! You can view upcoming learning opportunities here.