The trend for human-written wedding stationery in 2027 – and how to find the right calligrapher for you
Bridebook are predicting that handwritten wedding place names will be a major trend for 2027. It’s part of their ‘whimsy’ wedding trend prediction (and honestly I’m not sure where I sit on ‘whimsy’) but I love their mentions of small, joyful, personal details replacing rigid formality with wedding stationery.
So what might the handwritten wedding stationery trend actually look like? It’s always going to be personal, and could begin with a little handwriting on your invitations, or beautifully calligraphed envelopes. For super relaxed couples, it doesn’t have to be formal or follow etiquette – it’s all about the warmth of human touch.
Handwritten wedding stationery? It’s a lovely idea. And for 2027, it’s a trend worth knowing about if you’re planning a wedding. You just have to avoid a few easy mistakes!
As a wedding calligrapher with 21 years of experience, I’ve seen the most beautifully written calligraphy – and also, some of the worst, by people who haven’t practiced nearly enough before launching their business!
The handwritten wedding stationery trend could all go horribly wrong if couples are sold bad calligraphy – and Etsy has its fair share of misshapen letters and poorly written ‘calligraphy’. Here’s what to watch out for and how to find genuinely charming handwritten wedding stationery.
Fine art wedding calligraphy – photo by Lara Rios
Why printed handwriting fonts aren’t the same as handwritten wedding stationery
Having printed wedding invitations with a printed “handwriting” font misses the point entirely. Invites like this are mass produced, cheap and unless you’re a graphic designer with a strong instinct for fonts, it can look really dated. This whole handwritten wedding trend is about the personal touch.
Is the cheapest Etsy calligraphy a good choice?
If you buy handwritten invites from the cheapest Etsy sellers you’ll get inexperience and a finished product that’s neither calligraphy nor handwriting, but an awkward in-between. Don’t risk it!
Is iPad ‘hand’ lettering the same as handwritten wedding stationery?
The whole point of the hand lettered wedding trend is touch: human hand on soft paper. So for me, using an iPad screen just doesn’t feel the same. Plus, you can tell when lettering has been digitally smoothed – and I don’t like it! If you disagree, you might find this Procreate lettering tutorial helpful.
Modern calligraphy – photo credit Lara Rios
What should good wedding hand lettering look like?
Look for confident hand lettering, either in calligraphy or a modern, informal style. If it’s smooth and has character, you’re in the right place.
Only buy hand lettered wedding stationery from a brand with experience, ideally in weddings. Find a wedding stationery designer who understands deadlines, accuracy and customer service in general – backed up by a couple of years in business. Check out genuine Etsy seller reviews – these are essential.
What are the telltale signs of poor wedding calligraphy or low quality hand lettering?
Inconsistency
Spacing that’s uneven and doesn’t look deliberate – either between letters or between lines.
Stop-start marks
Jagged bits on letters where it looks as though the writer’s run out of ink or lifted the pen for some reason, then started again and it hasn’t quite matched up.
Obvious paper issues
Ink that ‘bleeds’ and looks fuzzy close up is a red flag. Also watch out for odd thick bits of letters where paper fibres have caught in a nib. Any lettering professional should make good paper choices so this can’t happen.
Shaky or wobbly letters
These come from nerves or not knowing how to hold the pen properly.
Where to start with handwritten wedding invitations and on-the-day stationery
I watched an episode of The Vendor Table wedding podcast where the presenters ran through US Vogue’s 2027 trend predictions, and Lauren said “calligraphers, it’s your time!” (I love that!) But handwritten in 2027 doesn’t have to mean calligraphy: all kinds of lettering can look gorgeous on wedding invitations now.
Elegant calligraphy – image credit Jessica Reeve
Ask yourselves which aesthetic you prefer:
Straight up handwriting
simple, modern and super legible
Cursive and imperfect
like your grandparents’ lovely handwritten letters
The professional touch
even, flowing, faultless and perhaps flourished modern calligraphy
Where to find a calligrapher or hand lettering artist for your wedding
For relaxed, informal wedding stationery
If you want a really relaxed, personal touch for your wedding, the best you can do is find a close family member whose handwriting you love. (Check your Christmas cards!) Ask them if they’ll help – just don’t pile on the pressure or suddenly become a perfectionist when it comes to alignment or layouts – part of this trend should be “no fuss”.
For pretty lettering with a decent layout
There are plenty of handwriting services on Etsy. My advice if you choose one of these? Check the reviews carefully. How many sales has the writer made? Have they done anything for weddings before? Experience is incredibly important.
For elegant handwritten wedding invitations
If you decide you’d like special hand lettering for your wedding stationery, you’ll need a calligrapher. This is my field of expertise, and back in 2005 I decided to specialise in calligraphy for weddings.
How to choose the wedding calligrapher that’s right for you
The best way to choose a wedding calligrapher is to start with their style, then look at their experience, reviews and recent work.
Search for a calligrapher whose style you love – we’re all different! And find someone approachable, friendly and within your wedding budget. I wrote this article to give you an idea of how much wedding calligraphers cost.
Check websites and Etsy shops, and then instagram – this is where you’ll see more recent work and reels or video where you can watch the calligrapher as they write.
Do you need every single invitation to be handwritten calligraphy?
Do consider this for an intimate wedding – it’s the loveliest touch and feels so personal.
If you’re sending more than 25 invitations (ie for 50+ guests) you can ask your calligrapher if they’ll print invitations for you, or send you a digital file. I offer a digital calligraphy service for couples who want to reprint my hand lettering.
Whether you choose a calligrapher, a friend or a modern hand lettering artist, the beauty of handwritten wedding stationery comes from the personal touch of hand to paper. Your guests will recognise your invitations are special – when something’s written by human hand you can just tell.
Long before we were peering at everything online to work out what was AI, people were poring over beautiful calligraphy to see if it was printed. As weddings fight the rising tide of AI generated speeches, photo sharing apps and planning tools, it’s really heartwarming to see handwritten invites and stationery keeping our celebrations real.
0 Comments