Did you choose her because she has credentials for the work, or just because she's a family friend?
Does $100 for the written poem seem reasonable to you?
Haha, um, I don't know what you mean by credentials. I know her work well enough to think she does great work. (I'll post a picture when I get it picked up, although its not scheduled for delivery until mid next year).
To be honest, I haven't the slightest idea if $100 is reasonable, as far as caligraphy goes. I won't divulge the poem, but it was 14 lines long, roughly 100 words. I simply emailed her with it and offered $100. Don't know if she was cutting me a deal because she knew me or if I offered too much or if I ripped myself off, but for me, knowing who penned it was easily worth the money, seeing as it will be on display in my future house.
Your first question was about invitations and placecards. I couldn't imagine the cost for hand-written invitations... To be done well it takes a decent amount of time and one simple shake in the hand and you'd have to start over. We are opting for computerized mass produced invitations.
Our placecards are computerized, but for each one we are putting their name on the front fold, then on the inside fold we are putting a personal statement towards them, whether it be a fun memory of us (the guest and either my fiance, me or both) or a statement of thanks for...something.
While not exactly calligraphy, we think that will still be..."worthy" of...I don't know... it will be special.
My aunt got me a kit for my 12th birthday. I still remember how to write in caligraphy and use it quite often. I mainly use it for scrapbooking now though.
