RETAINER

Before services are rendered, a $100 non-refundable retainer is required upon placement of your order and will be applied to your final payment.  If your order is cancelled at a later date, the retainer will act as a cancellation fee. I try to be flexible, but do get booked up quickly.  

SHIPPING

All orders are shipped via UPS Ground, unless expedited shipping is requested.  All orders include a tracking number.  Please know that I cannot guarantee delivery dates, nor can I be held responsible for delays.  Additionally, I am not responsible for lost orders or packages damaged in transit.

REFUND POLICY

Calligraphy is an art form, so no two handlettered pieces are identical.  All custom orders are final, due to their specific nature. I will hold a few extra envelopes (if enough are provided) in case you have additions or find errors once your order has been returned.  I am always happy to  immediately correct any mistakes on my behalf and will mail them back within two business days.

PAYMENT

Full payment is due upon receipt of your completed order.  Out of town clients will be responsible for shipping fees (at cost).  I will email your invoice with complete charges and delivery status the same day that your order ships.

PAPER CONSIDERATIONS

My pricing is based on the client providing all paper goods and products.  Please remember to provide at least 15% overage.  If you have difficulty finding the perfect paper/materials for your event, please let me know.  I do have access to a local vendor who can provide paper stock in a variety of colors, sizes and textures.  As all paper responds differently to ink, additional charges may apply.

INK

All of my calligraphy is done with hand-dipped nibs in ink.  I use bottled inks, powders and gouache to create the perfect color for you.  If you have a specific Pantone color, please let me know and I’ll custom mix your ink to match.

AVAILABILITY

My typical turnaround is 3 weeks from the date that I receive BOTH your envelopes and guest list.  I am very deadline oriented and schedule jobs on a first-come, first-served basis.  I often book my calendar up to 6 months in advance, so please contact me to see if we can reserve a spot for you. I hope we can!!

GUEST LIST

Please review your list carefully before sending to me.   If you have created your list in an Excel spreadsheet or Google doc, please make sure it has the following headers; Formal Name(s), Street Address, City, State, Zip, Country (only other than USA), Inner Envelope.  The only thing I need in the Inner Envelope column are children’s names or “and guest”.

Children’s names are listed only on the inner envelope, by first name only (or the name they go by) and in birth order. 

If you are allowing your single guests to bring an unknown escort, address the inner envelope with your friend’s name followed by “and guest”.  If you know your friend’s guest, include his/her name on the outer envelope and the inner envelope, as opposed to “and guest”. 

Do not write “and family”, as this can be open to interpretation.  

If there is no inner envelope, it’s perfectly acceptable to include “and guest”  on the outer envelope.  Children will be listed on the 2nd line under their parents.

Properly Addressed Outer Envelope with children

Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Smith

Tommy, Bobby and Susan

100 Main Street

New York, New York 10022

Properly Addressed Inner Envelope with Children

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Tommy, Bobby and Susan

ETIQUETTE 

As a professional calligrapher, I follow proper etiquette guidelines, such as:

• Spelling out all components of the address (city, state, Street, Avenue, etc.)
• Spelling out all one word numbers (one, five, fourteen, forty, etc.)
• Traditional use of surnames (Mr., Mrs., Miss) on inner envelopes
• Spelling out designations and professional titles (junior, senior, Doctor, Reverend, Colonel, etc.)
• Use of 5 digit zip code (no zip + 4 until required by USPS)
• I can also help you answer questions, like:
  • How do you address children in the household?
  • What is the proper way to invite an escort for my single guests?
  • How do I address 2 unmarried guests living together?
  • What about married couples with different last names?
  • How do I address doctors who are married?

Envelope Examples:

Married couples with the same last name are listed as:

     Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Smith 

     Mr. and Mrs. Smith – inner envelope

Couples with different last names:

     Ms. Mary Ellen Smith

     Mr. Paul Oscar Brown

     Ms. Smith and Mr. Brown – inner envelope

Married Doctors:

     Doctor Mary Ellen Smith

     Doctor John Henry Smith

     The Doctors Smith – inner envelope

If you are unsure about other etiquette questions, please ask before completing your list.

PHOTO SHOOTS

If you are a photographer or planner interested in having calligraphy paper products in your next shoot, please contact me!  I love working with designers and artists around the country and sharing the work of other vendors on my site.