With the ability of printers today to give you pretty much anything you want, a lot of people wonder why they would still consider hiring a professional calligrapher for their wedding invitations. Well, we would like to pipe in on that subject. We still believe in hiring a calligrapher and we have some very good reasons for doing so. Keep in mind that your invitation sets the tone for your wedding day. Think about it, your invited guests will open up their mailbox only to find an exquisite invitation with the most beautiful hand writing that they have ever seen. They will feel like a special guest who has been invited to a ball at Buckingham Palace. Yes, chivalry is not dead and neither is the niceties of hand written communication. Also, we realize how busy you are and the last thing that you want to do is to spend several hours writing out invitations and addressing them. Also, a professional calligrapher understands the etiquette that surrounds invitations. And of course, using labels is the ultimate in terms of doing something that is tacky. So, at this point, we hope we have changed your mind and you are considering finding a professional calligrapher to create the most amazing invitations that you have ever seen. This guide will help you find some very strong candidates in the Portland area and it will also help you in narrowing your search down to the one calligrapher who will completely satisfy your invitation needs.
So, what are the best options in terms of finding quality calligraphers in the Portland area. Well, one of the best avenues that you could pursue is the world wide web. Do a Google search for “calligraphers in the Portland area.” Start clicking on all of the links that you get back and especially check out their portfolio of designs. Do the designs look like something that meshes with your style and would you want any of them on your wedding invitation? If you can answer yes, write their name down on the list that you are accumulating. Have you ever thought about asking any of the wedding vendors that you have a relationship with? They are usually well connected and informed in terms of the wedding industry. You also should ask your family, friends and coworkers about any calligraphers that they may have hired. Once you have a good list to work off of, start calling up each candidate and setup interviews with each one.
There are a few questions that you will want to be sure and ask each candidate that you interview. Find out how long they have been doing calligraphy. How did they learn the craft? Are they a member of any associations? How will the process work? How much say will you have in the design of the calligraphy? Can you have new designs made just for you or can you just make a choice from their portfolio? How much will it cost you? What will the turnaround time be? Will they need extra envelopes? Usually this is the case because mistakes will be made. When you find a candidate that strikes you as the perfect professional, ask them for a contract and make sure it states everything you want from them. When it looks kosher, have both parties sign on the dotted line.