Would you pay for calligraphy for placecards?

[RaydensMama]

I wouldnt waste the money.I would spend it on something you and your FI would enjoy on your wedding, not placecards that most people dont even keep. But thats JMO!

[Carolyn]

Love the idea. I would have your aunt or a friend try it out first. Hopefully that works out for you. I wouldn't pay $90 to have someone to write on them. Good luck

[Hartyt509]

I wouldn't do it - I'd give it a shot myself and if it didn't work i just wouldn't write on them - they are nice enough anyway

[Yari]

I thought $90 sounded like a good price. LOL! It really depends how important to you it is.

[Birdie07]

First, the writing on the picture is not calligraphy. Second, no I wouldn't spend almost 100 dollars on writing. I would go to your aunt and have her test a few. I would just take a permanent sharpie pen (not marker) and do it very neatly. I think it'll turn out fine.

[Erica053009]

I would first ask your aunt to try...How much would it cost to buy a few extra sand dollars in case she does mess up (probably less then $90)? If it is more then $90 then pay the lady to do it.

I was thinking of doing this as my place cards as well my BF mom said she will write on them for me but I am scared she will feel the same way. So I have been thinking of ways to make them look nice since I have the worst handwriting ever. I thought about the scratch on letters but that will probably break them. So I am looking for stencils

[kerryjbrown]

How about a computere generated calig. label tied with a pretty ribbon? then they could display the sand dollar in their house?

[Mrs. Martin]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!! There are too many of you to reply to, so I will try to respond to everyone's comments/questions at once!

 

I wasn't planning on using that same font as on the picture, but I didn't want handwriting either (it will look too formal). I just wanted really nice writing (like monotype corsiva font) and not just anyone can do that.

 

I went to a few craft stores today and tried different things as alternatives. Stencils won't work because of the way the sand dollar is curved. It actually made it more difficult to do. I looked into different sorts of label/papers (rice paper, etc.) and it won't work on the shell because of the texture. I tried outlining a name myself with a pencil (very lightly) and then erased it. This may work, however, when erasing it leaves a dark stain (even if it is a clean eraser) and you have to be very careful because the shell is so thin. I would have to use a semi-thin, Sharpie-type pen to outline the names because other types of pens/markers leaked and spread beyond the lettering.

 

I only had 7 extra sand dollars incase I made a mistake and now I'm down to 3. So, I think what I'm going to do is order more to have a few extra and MAKE my aunt at least try with a pencil and then outline the names with the pen. It will still be cheaper for me to order extra than to get them professionally done. I would rather spend the $90 on clothes for my trip or ANYTHING ELSE other than calligraphy.

 

Sorry this is so long, but I hope it helps anyone who wants to do this in the future! Thank you all for your suggestions because I really was having a hard time with this! I know this is such a petty thing to stress about, but I just kept imagining me looking at my wedding pics and seeing everything looking great with the exception of my sloppy-looking sand dollars!!! I'll post pics when we're done with them!

[sumrdream]

I guess I'm the odd one out but I would so pay for this. Calligraphy is an art form and not just "handwriting". If you want it to look nice, hire a professional they are used to dealing with unusual surfaces and wierd angles. That's why you pay them! Sand dollars are very porous and you can't just write on them with anything and they have to be sealed. $2.00 does not seem like a lot to me! But that's my two cents! I'm a member of a calligraphy club so maybe I'm biased! But there just isn't anything that beats beautiful professionally written calligraphy, IMO. But I would have your aunt try it first and then make your decision. Good luck!

[NotYourAverageDW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yari I thought $90 sounded like a good price. LOL! It really depends how important to you it is.

Same here. lol. I think its a great idea, and I think that $90 is a steal for calligraphy work.