Written for English Wedding by UK wedding calligrapher Claire: By Moon & Tide Calligraphy
with images by Lake District wedding photographer Hannah Hall Photography
(full credits at the end of the article)


I’m almost hoping that you’ll scoff at the title of this little article – does calligraphy really work for any wedding budget?! Well, I’m here to tell you that yes, it does. The beautiful art that may once have been the province of the aristocracy can be really affordable. You can hire a calligrapher no matter how much you have to spend on your wedding. It’s just a matter of choosing how and where to include calligraphy in your day. Let me explain!

Discover lots of gorgeous wedding place names at sale prices on Etsy this summer!

These lovely place names are from By Moon & Tide, all handwritten in calligraphy and on sale (also on Etsy) this August.

Place names from L-R, top row first:

  1. Circular wedding place names with calligraphy, made in the UK from almond colour sustainable recycled card
  2. Ribbon wedding place names
  3. Natural green wedding place names with hand calligraphy, made in the UK from sustainable recycled card
  4. Elegant navy blue luxury wedding place names
  5. Elegant sage green wedding place names

When I’m not writing English Wedding, I’m writing place name cards and table plans! I’m Claire, and I’m a calligrapher. I’m also the editor of English Wedding (and I don’t show my face often on here!) But today I wanted to share some of the lovely wedding stationery and calligraphy I’ve been sending out to grooms and brides this spring.

It doesn’t feel like summer yet… but it must be just around the corner, right?

Morning lovelies! I wanted to quickly show you these beauties from my Etsy shop. Lovely Jessica Reeve Photography sent me a handful of photos which I’m over the moon with (thank you Jess!) and I couldn’t wait to show you! This wedding invitation set is sustainable, made from recycled card and doesn’t cost the earth. I can also address your envelopes by hand in modern calligraphy – it’s an optional extra I love to provide for my couples.

Rustic elegance sustainable wedding stationery from By Moon and Tide Calligraphy, photography credit Jess Reeve (1)

These elegant rustic wedding invitations come fully personalised with your names, wedding date and time, venue and rsvp address. They’re designed in a simple, minimal style with our fave calligraphy font, and printed on recycled kraft card.

I’m missing writing calligraphy so much! Here are some of my favourite wedding calligraphy ideas for all of you 2021 couples out there. If you haven’t seen this side of me, as well as writing English Wedding I love to pick up my dippy ink pots and nibs and write handcrafted wedding stationery. I’ve been incredibly lucky over the last few years to work alongside some incredible creatives: photographers, stylists and of course my super talented illustrator friend, lovely Amy Swann.