Product Description

Wedding Calligraphy is a comprehensive instructional book on using calligraphy to create various styles of invitations needed by brides for weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers, thank yous, etc. Five chapters (Modern, Romantic, Classic, Elegant, Artistic) present a particular wedding style and step-by-step calligraphy and "layout" information for getting the look on your invitations, announcements, place cards, etc. Traceable lettering templates open each chapter while finished invites show end results. Sidebars and tip boxes help with phrasing (the best way to say it) and advice on the wedding style (modern, romantic, classic, etc.) while calligraphy shortcuts and fast fixes (if you make a mistake) help you with the process. Also included is information on various papers and decorative elements, plus "tricky situations" etiquette advice (related to invites, place cards, and the like).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #619481 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-28
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Event consultant, stylist, and writer, Bette Matthews is the author of several books on weddings, including The Wedding Workbook, Cakes (For Your Wedding series), and Wedding Toasts and Vows. A cum laude Bachelor of Arts, she puts her dual major of theater and art to good use when coordinating the details of an event. Working with calligraphers, stationers, floral designers, and lighting specialists to harmonize decor, style, and food service, Bette enjoys bringing to life a dramatic vision of fully integrated celebration.

Customer Reviews

Superior!!
If you want to learn calligraphy than this is the book, providing details of pen strokes and usable examples. If you are a well practised calligrapher then this is the book to have in your reference libary. Outstanding and well worth the money.

Wedding Calligraphy

Wedding calligraphy.

After reading this book on wedding calligraphy, I have a new-found passion for beautiful handwriting.

Many step-by-step photographs help the beginner, and yet there are projects for the more experienced artist, too. This book on wedding calligraphy is well photographed and easy to browse through. I enjoyed picking up the information about wedding calligraphy intuitively, without much effort.

Calligraphy shortcuts and fast fixes help to correct novice's mistakes. Wedding etiquette helps with `tricky' family circumstances for today's bride. This wedding calligraphy book teaches everything from inkwells to laptops: Simple computing can aid your calligraphy layout, saving hassle.

Projects cover almost all forms of wedding stationery.

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Contents


Introduction to calligraphy (p1-17) is a good summary and not too overwhelming.

The book is split into 5 chapters. Each of these five chapters is about a different style of calligraphy. Each chapter has a few traceable alphabets and step-by-step projects. Each chapter has descriptions of the font style used, capturing the feel evoked, whether it conjures a sense of formality, history and sanctity; of elegance, delicacy and understatement; or of passion, opulence and frills.

Classic calligraphy (p18-33), including the italic and uncial (uhn-shal) scripts, is the easiest for beginners and can be managed with a cheap calligraphic felt pen. The author succeeds in devising fresh, appealing projects for the modern bride. Chapter ends with wedding etiquette (p34-35) a concise, yet thorough, summary of wedding invitation wording.

Elegant calligraphy (p36-51) contains beautiful, vintage scripts. Alphabets and projects are for more advanced calligraphers with the necessary tools and the time to practise. A bride (or her nominated family member) who has some calligraphy training can learn these Elegant scripts to create end results that are heartstoppingly pretty. Chapter ends with advice on using a professional calligrapher (p52-53) for brides who don't have the time, tools or inclination.

Romantic calligraphy (p54-69) contains ornate alphabets with many flourishes. Romantic calligraphy, such as embellished italics and Copperplate, is for the bride with an artistic leaning or some previous calligraphy experience. Chapter ends with a guide to adding Romantic style to your stationery (p70-71) exuding luxury, opulence and romance, while maintaining a feel of grace, taste and class.

Modern calligraphy (p72-83) incorporates twentieth century alphabets and is suitable for beginners. Chapter ends with advice on simple computer calligraphy (P84-85) with an easy computer project that is worthy becoming a framed keepsake.

Artistic calligraphy (p86-101) encourages using special papers and craft embellishments, and the creation of your own typeface. We are permitted to free ourselves from limitations and apply our imagination. Chapter ends with more wedding etiquette (p102-105)

The book ends with the following: A photographic gallery of wedding calligraphy (p106-123); resources of suppliers and artists in America, with some online resources for those outside the States - particularly useful for the websites that supply fonts; about the author, etc (p124-127)

Projects throughout the book include: Place cards, wedding reading keepsake, favour tags, engagement party invitation, wedding invitation envelopes, reception table numbers, wedding announcement, scroll invitation, guest table numbers, menu card, post-wedding brunch invitation, petal cones, bridesmaids' tea invitation and guest book.

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Suitable for vs not suitable for...


Not suitable for:-
* Not suited to complete novices with no time to practise.
* Not suitable for professionals needing to see dozens of styles of invitations.


Suitable for:-
* those wanting to handwrite their wedding stationery
* those needing a refresher course on calligraphy or some inspiration
* papercrafters who want to develop their calligraphy

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