Awesome! I'm super excited to work with you. Please send me an email or submit a proposal request form (found here: https://www.calligraphilly.com/proposal-request).
I'll give you a quick price quote and overview of the process, and we can discuss materials, including paper selection, ink colors and options and other details. Once we're all squared away, a 50% deposit is required to begin work. The remaining 50% is due prior to the work being shipped or picked up.
My availability tends to book up approximately 1-2 months in advance, sometimes more if it's the middle of wedding season!
For invitation envelope calligraphy: please contact me around the time you've started working with your invitation designer (approximately 4-5 months before your wedding).
For place and escort cards: please contact me as soon as you have a rough idea of the number of escort cards you will need calligraphed (approximately 2 months in advance).
For engraving commissions: please contact me as soon as possible, as engraving slots book up quickly, often 1-2 months in advance.
However, I sometimes have lulls in my schedule and am happy to accommodate last minute projects when I'm able! Please don't hesitate to reach out regardless.
Yes, of course! We are based in Philadelphia but have clients all over the country and hopefully, someday all over the world!
Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot accommodate in-person appointments until further notice, but are happy to "meet" with you via Zoom!
The standard turnaround time is 3-4 weeks, with exceptions for both very small projects (1-2 weeks) and very large projects (4-6 weeks). Please contact us for specifics on what category your particular project would fall under. Rush pricing is in effect when the client gives less than the required amount of production time, and can range from 10%-50% of the total project cost. Each application of rush pricing is customized to the project; please contact for more details.
The absolute maximum number of envelopes that can be completed in one day is 15; the maximum number of escort cards is 25; the maximum number of place cards is 35. Next-day orders will incur the largest rush fee percentage.
It depends! Normally if the job in question is envelopes for wedding invitations, your invitation designer will order them for you and have the return address printed on the back. However, I'm happy to order materials on your behalf (usually incurring a small sourcing fee).
Escort cards can go either way! You are welcome to supply them yourself or we can discuss materials and I can order them for you.
For large-scale art commissions such as Quaker marriage certificates, these involve large sheets of archival quality watercolor paper that need to be custom cut- it's usually better for me to handle directly.
For bottles of alcohol that you would like engraved, they must be pre-purchased and delivered to me for engraving. In accordance with state liquor laws I am not able to sell alcoholic products to clients.
Didn't find the answer to your question? Please feel free to contact me at contact@calligraphilly.com.
There is a $50 minimum on all orders.
CalligraPhilly accepts cash, PayPal, and direct bank transfers or credit cards (processed securely through the WAVE invoicing software). Checks are only accepted for deposits for new customers, and are required to clear prior to the start of any work. Checks may be accepted from repeat customers based on the discretion of CalligraPhilly.
No, we do not offer mirror or chalkboard calligraphy/signage.
We can always try! All non-paper materials are subject to an individual surcharge which can vary by material. Most materials like acrylic and marble are subject to a $1.00 per item surcharge: please contact for custom pricing.
Absolutely! Please contact me for more details.
We are currently able to engrave on glass and unplated metal surfaces.
We are not able to engrave on pressure-bottled beverages such as sparkling wine, champagne, and beer, and find that metal engraving looks best when unplated. We are not able to engrave on leather, suede or fabric.
Shipping alcohol by private individuals is prohibited in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All bottles to be engraved must be dropped off and picked up in West Mount Airy, Philadelphia.
Yes! I am happy to act as an on-site calligrapher or engraver for events. Please view the following page for more details: https://www.calligraphilly.com/on-site-calligraphy-and-engraving
In most situations, yes! We have written names onto certificates printed in the early 1800s with success, but each project is different- please contact us with a brief description of your project.
Yes! I would be happy to give you a custom quote for pieces of that size. As a general rule, the pricing structure is $1.00 per word, with headings and decorative elements incurring additional fees.
Unfortunately we are unable to do large projects such as fundraiser invitations for free. However, we occasionally will donate calligraphy packages as auction items to support good causes. These donations are available once or twice a year, please contact for details.
Of course! I participate in a number of styled shoots per year and have a small budget set aside for materials and labor. Please get in touch so that we may discuss details of the collaboration. Please note that I will be unable to complete large and detail-intense pieces or very expensive ($200+) pieces for styled shoots without appropriate compensation.
Every piece from the CalligraPhilly studio is lovingly handmade. However, pieces such as invitations and menus can be designed for print reproduction in mind. This means that one version will be approved and digitized into a high-quality PDF file to send to a printer.