Calligraphy Wedding Vows Completed

I do calligraphy personalized art gifts mostly for happy occasions: weddings, anniversary gifts, birthday and other occasions. However, on occasion I do write a memorial, and that can be sad.

Satisfied clients who write back to me when they open their package are among my highest rewards. I can feel myself smiling upon reading the lovely, heartfelt notes. I feel like I'm part of the happiness of the occasion; and maybe I'm building "good karma"!

I was so pleased to get this happy email this morning:
Hi Lianda, I just got the piece and am thrilled with it!  Thanks so much!!


Here's the completed calligraphy piece where you saw the layout in the previous post. I hope you like it!

The design was inspired by the couple's wedding invitation and theme. Although the birds weren't in the original invitation, they are both bird watchers, and Whitney asked to add them to the piece. I think it worked out nicely. Custom calligraphy and artwork can make the piece original and special just for you. 

December is coming up quickly! Don't be late ordering your Christmas and Hanukah gifts!

Calligraphy Wedding Vows

Wedding Vows written in beautiful calligraphy is a wonderful anniversary gift. Traditional first year anniversary is paper, so calligraphy is a perfect gift. It can also make a unique Christmas gift.

This couple decided to have their personalized calligraphy marriage vows reflect their beautiful wedding invitation. They sent their original invitation so I can match the colors, and design inspiration. Many people are comfortable ordering based upon a description of what the calligraphy layout will be. This time, I took a photo of how I first layout the writing with the design.

You can see their invitation in the top left corner. The size of the calligraphy art piece will be around 11 x 14. It's very hard to "make" calligraphy fit into standard size frames. Luckily, this couple was understanding about the need for personalized artwork to "breathe" with space around it, so I'm leaving extra border.

I'll post the finished piece after it's done.  Remember, you can have any poem, quote or text personalized in beautiful calligraphy. It's a gift that is always the right size, and sure to please!

Christmas Holiday Orders for Calligraphy Gifts

Starting in November, people start thinking about Christmas and holiday gifts. The holidays are times when people really put a lot of thought into getting a really special unique gift for the people they love. Sometimes you can feel overwhelmed with the focus on BUY, BUY, BUY. But if not else reflects the philosophy of the birth of Jesus during this over-commercialized holiday season, thinking about another person's preferences is pure, imo.

Gift giving, SHOULD be about buying, making, giving something that your RECIPIENT will appreciate. It's not about what your preferences are - the colors you like, the type of quote YOU think is great, the style of the artwork; this time is about thinking about them!

So, how do you do that? You think about what their home looks like; the colors there; the colors they wear.  Does the person tend to be more conservative, or contemporary in their attitudes. What kind of books do they read; what are the kind of movies they watch, what's their favorite song? Are they more sentimental; or less emotional, more down to business?  Do they enjoy humor, or are they more serious?

With regards to calligraphy, there are so many sites where you can find quotes, have poems written about the person, find inspirational words. Or if you are really great friends and have wonderful photographs of you and your friend, you might consider having them incorporated into a mat with a quote about friendship.  If you are making this purchase for the person you love, there are so many romantic love poems and quotes available!

Now there are terrific options to have these choices digitally printed on a variety of different items from mouse pads, coffee cups, calendars, T shirts and other items to the traditional framed item for your wall or desk.

So, think about what your loved one will like - and if YOU are interested in some unique calligraphy quote, start dropping hints!  Christmas and the holiday season are just around the corner!

Calligraphy Decorative Baby BIrth Certificates

When a new baby enters this world, there is most often such joy. And of course you hear about it because the parents are someone you know!  It's gift time; but what is an original and personalized baby gift? A decorated, personalized birth certificate. They baby never grows out of it, and as the baby grows up, they enjoy seeing it in their rooms.

My favorite poem is from "The Prophet" by Khalil Gibran. I have incorporated this amazing poem with the important information about the baby: Name, birthdate and weight, parents names, and when there are siblings, I put their names as well.  I guess I could also add astrological sign if the parents wanted that as well.

If you are looking for a unique baby gift, consider calligraphy. I can also write baby name definitions, incorporate photography with calligraphy, and anything else you can think of! But get your order in soon, because the Christmas season is starting now!

Holidays are around the corner

For a few weeks I've been seeing Christmas decorations up in the big box stores. It seems that they start advertising earlier and earlier every year!  Then I realized, that MY busiest season is coming along as well.  Calligraphy art gifts that are personalized are favorite gifts for both the giver and receiver. They are never out of season.
I'm finding that people love inspirational quotes for gifts. I combine the quote with photography and personalize the piece as well. Here's an example of a recent calligraphy art gift I did. It's the very famous inspirational quote by Lao Tzu: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

So if you have a favorite inspiration or motivational quote that you'd like to give for a holiday gift, get in touch with me soon!  Every year I have to turn away clients because I get too busy, and a hand calligrapher can only do so much!

RSVP on time PLEASE!

Have you been invited to a wedding? Being a guest is a wonderful honor, and should provide you a happy occasion  to take part in with your friends and relatives.

If you are married, you must remember all the many details the bride has to take care of to make certain that her wedding will be wonderful. One of the most important details, is knowing who is coming to the wedding so that seating arrangements can be completed.

In the past, an invited guest was expected to write back on their own engraved personal stationery to congratulate the mother of the bride, and let her know whether the guest was going to attend. Unfortunately, etiquette being very different, and few people owning their own engraved stationery, invitation companies started including RSVP cards and envelopes for guests. Now the engaged couple always encloses a stamped envelope, so it is really easy to write your name, and the number of people who will or will not attend.

BTW, make sure you put your name on the RSVP or the bride won't know who is coming to her wedding! I always tell them a little trick just in case their guest forgets. Lightly in pencil, assign a number to the back of the rsvp that corresponds to the invitation list. That way, if your guest forgets, you'll still know who is coming!

RSVP's literally mean: répondez s'il vous plait. Please respond to the invitation, within the requested date by which you are asked to respond!

I cannot tell you how many brides are given extra work with their limited time when people are not courteous enough to respond to the RSVP!  Brides end up having to spend so much time to make phone calls to find out if their guest will attend; or if they will be bringing a guest!  I have even heard stories of people saying they were coming and then asking if they could bring a guest (they weren't invited with a guest) OR a child(!!), and then not showing up.  That is very poor manners imo!

As the calligrapher who must write out table cards last minute, it's extra effort for my job as well.  Be a real friend to the bride, make sure you RSVP on time!

For original wedding gifts of personalized love poems, please visit Beautiful Calligraphy.

Wedding Certificates To Remember Your Happiest Day

Contemporary Design Wedding Certificate

Are you getting married? Congratulations! So much planning goes into making your wedding perfect. From choosing the perfect  ring, to the invitations, the parties, there are so many details to consider!  One thing that many couples neglect to consider is having a commemorative wedding certificate designed. Although not a legal document, the wedding certificate can be a beautiful document that incorporates your marriage vows, decorated with elements from the wedding itself, such as the flowers, or theme. Because the wedding certificate is a custom design, you can choose whether you prefer a traditional type of decoration, or a more contemporary design. 

Jewish Marriage Certificate
Ketubah

I've done many marriage certificates. Some religious traditions have wedding certificates as part of the ceremony. Jewish marriages certificates are called Ketubah (Ketobot) and are a very important part of the ceremony. There is interesting history involved with it as well!

Quaker wedding certificates are also an intrinsic part of the ceremony, with places for not only the bride and groom and officiant to sign, but places for the witnesses and guests as well.

I'm happy to say that I have done Gay marriage certificates for couples who live in states where they have been able to get married. I also design commitment certificates as well.

Quaker Wedding Certificate 

Gay Marriage Certificate

Many couples enjoy framing this beautiful document and putting it over their bed. It's a nice thing to glance at before you go to sleep next to your husband or wife.

And if you have forgotten to order your wedding certificate at the time of your marriage, just remember, 1st year traditional gift is paper!  There's another opportunity to have your wedding certificate completed!

If you are on a limited budget, I have some really beautiful designs available in more store, where you can choose your text from a variety of love poems, and have the rest personalized with your names and dates. Because it's a print, the price is substantially lower than a totally custom designed wedding certificate.  

Best of Luck and Happiness from,

Lianda