If you’re wondering why you find our next guest familiar, might be because she’s been here before!
The last time Laney (@designbylaney) popped on she shared about all the steps required to work with wedding clients, from inquiry to invoice. (It’s a really great interview, especially if you’re new to wedding calligraphy services! If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to check it out!)
This time, Laney walks us through a step-by-step on how to address envelopes, plus some really great tips and tricks. Check it out!
First thing, you gotta know is the post office rules:
- Leave room for stamps
- Have enough contrast for writing
- Avoid red
- Legibility
- Clear ZIP code and/or postal code
- Large writing
But if you want to make double sure of the rules in your country, take a look on their website for more info.
Let’s get to it!
Some tools you might need are:
The links below may be affiliate links where appropriate. This means that your purchase through these links may result in a few cents in payment to me, to support creating further resources like this one! That being said, I will never suggest supplies that I do not personally use and fully recommend.
- Laser level
- Dr. Martin’s Bleedproof White
- Speedball Holder
- Brause Steno Nib
- Pencil and paper
- Washi Tape
Next step is to design your layout.
- When designing your envelope layout, remember that most envelopes don’t have more than 5 or 6 lines
- Start from the bottom up and make sure to pay attention to addresses that are longer than 4 lines and adjust accordingly
- Be sure to keep things consistent! If you use abbreviations on one envelope, use them throughout
- Use washi tap or multiple lasers to help mark to keep everything centred
- Print your list formatted, as opposed to spread sheet-style
- Write the street name first, then add the number after
- Use flourishes to help with centring
- With zip codes, start with middle numbers, then the outer numbers, and then fill in the last two
In the video, Laney goes over her three most common lettering layout styles for her envelope calligraphy service.
The most common envelope style Laney works with is when the entire address in calligraphy and centred. It’s a really elegant style and a bit more traditional.
The next style is when the names are in big calligraphy in the centre of the envelope with the address portion in block letters a little off to the side.
This is a great style if your couple is worried about legibility. It allows the names to stand out a bit and it’s a bit more whimsical. This layout also leaves loads of room for stamps!
Lastly there’s a mix and match layout with calligraphy names in the centre, street address centred and in block letters, town and state/province centred in calligraphy and the zip code/postal code in a similar style as the block letters.
Extra Tips:
- Always ask for 15% extra envelopes in case of errors!
- Add flourishes and loops to balance out any off- centred words, but keep it consistent with the style
- Make sure the return address is smaller than the address
There are a few more helpful tips in the video, so you’ll have to check it out to snag them all!
Lainey mentioned quite a few useful resources throughout the interview, so here they are again for ya:
- Addressing Etiquette
- Post Office Woes and How To Avoid Them
- InDesign Data Merge Tutorial
- Invitation Design Guide
- Print and Paper Vendor Guide
Thanks sooo much agreeing to come back on for a second chat Laney!
If you’re not already following Laney on her Instagram (@designbylaney) you gotta check her out! You can also visit her website for more of her services and subscribe to her YouTube channel, Design by Laney, too!
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