Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, blends refined elegance with a splash of color to create personalized stationery and keepsakes for your wedding event. A calligraphers sophisticated lines and sweeping strokes speak for themselves. They let your guests know what to expect at your wedding—an exquisite event that reflects your style and personality.
Moya Minns, owner of MM Ink demonstrates exceptional creativity in her calligraphy. Born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, Moya discovered her talent for calligraphic artistry at an early age. “When I was a pre-teen I received a calligraphy set and immediately started using it to do my homework,” She recalls. Instantly drawn to the fluidity and gracefulness of calligraphy, she soon began lettering cards and other stationery for her friends and family.
Moya moved to the United States in 1994 to attend Howard University where she studied accounting; however, she never lost her creative spirit and continued developing her craft by attending calligraphy workshops. “I attended as many workshops as I could to make sure I was doing everything the right way. I wanted to sharpen my skills and focus on perfecting my technique before starting my own company,” Moya says. Her talent increased as she studied under two of the best calligraphers in the business, including White House calligrapher, Pat Blair, and Sheila Waters, the first President and founding member of the Washington Calligraphers Guild. In 2003, Moya’s calligraphy dreams turned into a business reality when she opened MM Ink. Moya partners with stationery boutiques and wedding planners to provide calligraphy for clients around the world.
MM Ink offers calligraphy services for all occasions, including weddings, showers, parties and corporate events. Moya calligraphs inner and outer envelopes, escort cards, place cards, favor tags, invitations, and more. For elegant consistency in your wedding planning, MM Ink offers customized packages. “Brides want a cohesive look,” Moya explains, “so I make sure all of the pieces correspond well together.” Packages may include save-the-dates, rehearsal announcements, invitation envelopes, place cards, and thank-you cards.
All of Moya’s work is expertly hand-lettered with your choice of style and colour. “Calligraphy is a timeless art that is both traditional and unique,” Moya says, “It sends the personalized message to your guests that your event is distinctive and you are excited about including them in your special day.” In addition to traditional stationery, Moya has calligraphed a rather unique assortment of items such as a marriage certificate, guest book and sand dollars. “The possibilities are endless. As long as a pen can touch the surface, I’ll try it,” she says. Moya’s exclusive threaded place cards are sure to add panache to your wedding reception, and they make a one-of-kind keepsake for your guests. You choose the ink and thread colors, and Moya will take care of the design. Stay tuned in 2008 for more exciting, exclusive calligraphy designs from MM Ink.
Visit www.mminkdesigns to see examples of Moya’s work or contact MM Ink for a complete list of services. Moya schedules consultations by appointment and you may also view samples of her work on display at Paisley Umbrella located in Atlanta, Ga. “I am very passionate about my work, but also about making the process as seamless as possible. Brides have too much to worry about already!” Moya says. Let MM Ink take the stress out of your calligraphy needs with impressive hand lettering guaranteed to make your event a memorable one!
How to hire a calligrapher:
Word-of-mouth is often the best way to find a reputable calligrapher, so ask your friends and family, your wedding planner, and your stationery provider for recommendations. One of the most important tips I can offer brides is to interview several calligraphers before you hire one. You want to find out their level of experience—making sure they possess the necessary expertise—ask for references, and request samples of their work.
Make sure the calligrapher you choose hand letters. There are companies that advertise calligraphy that is computer generated. Ultimately, you should choose the calligrapher that you feel most comfortable working with, who can handle your requests and who provides excellent customer service.
Moya’s Top 5 Tips
1. Plan to add 5 % to your budget for calligraphy services.
2. Hire a calligrapher 4-6 months before your event to ensure he or she has sufficient time to handle your needs.
3. Pre-order your envelopes and send them along with your guest list to your calligrapher as soon as possible so he or she can begin lettering them. That way the envelopes may be finished by the time your invitations arrive.
4. Order 15% extra envelopes for additions to your guest list and address corrections.
5. Ask about packaging/shipping. Make sure your calligrapher uses a shipping service to guarantee timeliness and so your stationery arrives in perfect condition.