A Must-See Guide for Brides Writing Invitation Addresses Themselves: Tips for Beautiful Handwriting with Brush Pens!
2019.01.06 published
Addressing the Invitation Problem*
Invitations are an extremely important paper item sent to guests about 2-3 months before the wedding*
A major task that the bride and groom must tackle before sending out the invitations is “addressing them.”
While some couples may hire a professional or service for addressing, it is likely that the majority will handle it themselves.
There are basically three types of addressing:
☑ Handwritten with a brush pen
☑ Handwritten with a calligraphy pen
☑ Printed with a printer
*Regular ballpoint pens are NOT permissible!*
What method do you all plan to use for addressing your invitations?
Handwriting is considered better than printing*
Addressing invitations has historically been viewed as better when done by hand rather than printed.
This is akin to job application resumes; handwritten characters convey more warmth and consideration compared to printed Gothic or Mincho fonts.
However, writing each invitation in a calligraphy style with a brush pen is difficult, requiring ink, a ink stone, and a brush, which can be a lot of trouble....
Therefore, nowadays, the majority of brides tend to use the stationery "brush pen" to write the addresses!
They also use brush pens for the words written on envelopes for gifts they bring when attending weddings.
What are the tips for writing with a brush pen?
Brush pens are easier to handle and write with compared to brush calligraphy pens*
Nevertheless, since most people usually only use ballpoint pens, pencils, or mechanical pencils,
it's honestly challenging and difficult to grasp the beautiful finishing strokes, the swirls, the lifts, and how to maneuver the pen!
Younger people often aren't concerned with how nice their handwriting is, and may even find quirky handwriting charming,
but for parents, grandparents, and older supervisors or colleagues, it’s a fact that many still interpret “neat handwriting” as a sign of education and emotion, deeming it important*
So, to leave a good impression, let’s use a brush pen to create beautiful writing and make splendid invitations!
Here are tips for writing the addresses on invitations beautifully with a brush pen*
Tip 1: Be conscious of the correct holding method
Unlike holding a ballpoint pen, a brush pen should not be held horizontally against the paper*
The basic way is to hold it with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger while angling the pen about 60° towards the paper for the best results.
Try to be as upright with the pen as possible!
By applying pressure to your fingers, you can draw thicker lines, and by relaxing them, thinner lines can be achieved*
Tip 2: Choose a brush pen that feels good to write with
There are various stationery manufacturers selling brush pens, available in different colors, shapes, thicknesses, and nib styles*
For example, brush pen tips come in three types: hard type, soft type, and brush calligraphy type, and for beginner brides, the hard type is recommended!
Additionally, if you choose a pen that is narrower in size, it seems you can write brush-style characters with a sensation closer to that of a sign pen*
Popular brands among brides include:
☑ Pentel’s Pentel Brush
☑ Zebra’s Brush Sign
☑ Kuretake’s Brush Gokochi
☑ Pilot’s Brush Makase
And many more!* Each provides a significantly different writing experience, so try them out and choose the one that feels best!
➡ Recommended brush pens for easy writing
Tip 3: Practice to some extent
Among diligent brides, many purchase practice notebooks for brush pens and practice to some extent before attempting to address their invitations*
It is indeed said that the more you write with a brush pen, the better you get!
Furthermore, regardless of addressing invitations, having practiced with a brush pen now may prove helpful in future situations*
Tip 4: Hold your breath!
One common issue when writing with a brush pen is that the strokes can tremble and shake.
A tip to eliminate that shaking is to hold your breath! By holding your breath and writing in one go, you can create cleaner letters with less trembling.
Tip 5: Use a trick!
Finally, I'll introduce a popular trick among brides*
This trick involves using a Daiso LED light and a clear file case to illuminate printed letters and trace them!
For detailed methods, check out this article*
➡ How to write beautiful addresses using an LED light and clear case for 300 yen
Recently, ideas for addressing invitations using tablet devices are also slowly spreading*
➡ How to write beautiful addresses using a tablet device