FAQ | quaker-calligraphy

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact you?

What information can you send me?

For Quaker weddings, I can email you my brochure which details the various options I offer, with photos and prices.

For non-Quaker weddings, I can send you some example photos and can also offer advice on wording if required. Once wording is established I can provide an individual quotation.

If you have another request, such as place cards, updating a book of remembrance, notice for a church or Meeting house, a baby naming certificate, or anything else, I can discuss with you individually and send you any relevant photos.

Do you write on the A2 pre-printed certificates from Quaker Bookshop?

Yes, this is one of the options, and I keep them in stock so you don't need to provide one.

I would prefer to have the whole certificate written out from scratch. Can you do this?

Yes, most of my certificates are written out from scratch, and you will see details and photos of these in my brochure.

How much notice do you need to prepare a certificate for me?

Please give me as much notice as you can, if possible at least three to six months, particularly if you are getting married during the summer months. I do get quite booked up, and am not always able to accommodate short-notice requests.

What will it cost?

I offer a range of designs to suit different tastes and budgets.

Do you require a deposit?

No, I don't ask for any deposit. I will enclose an invoice with your completed certificate and payment is then due within one week of your receiving your certificate.

How do I pay you?

The easiest way is to make an online transfer - details will be on the invoice. Alternatively a cheque is fine.

What colours can I have?

For most certificates I write the main text in black, with some parts in a contrasting colour. Various colours are available, such as red, blue, green and purple. Once you have decided which style of certificate you would like, we can discuss your choice of colour.

Will the colours fade?

I write in Chinese ink and coloured gouaches, which are lightfast.

What sort of pens should we use to sign the certificate?

You need to avoid ballpoint pens, which fade within weeks. You could use lightfast ink (such as Registrar's ink) in a fountain pen. Alternatively you could use any pen which is described by the manufacturer as having lightfast ink. Examples include: Staedtler Pigment Liner, Uniball Pin Fineliner, Pigma Micron Fineliner, Pilot Archive Pen - and you will probably find others.

How will you post my certificate?

I post certificates rolled up, in a sturdy tube. (For booklet style I package flat, well padded.) I use Royal Mail Special Delivery, which guarantees next-day delivery.

Can I collect the certificate from you?

Yes if you wish - I am based in Cambridge.

How should I store the certificate in advance of my wedding day, once I've unrolled it?

I recommend that you store it in a flat folder, often called a "clear project folder", available from many online art stores, or from your local art shop - A2 or A1 size depending on the size of your certificate.

How do you organise the space for the signatures?

I rule light pencil boxes to keep the signatures neat and tidy. I recommend that you slightly overestimate the number of signature spaces you'll need - you can always erase a few unused ones but it would be a nuisance if you didn't have enough on the day.

What paper do you use?

I use hot-pressed watercolour paper, such as Saunders Waterford or Fabriano Artistico, approx 200gsm. For booklet style certificates I use Zerkall paper, 145gsm.

I want a booklet style certificate. Isn't there a pre-printed version of this available from Friends House?

There used to be a standard pre-printed version available, along the same lines as the A2 scroll style certificate. However this is no longer available, and, as far as I am aware, Friends House do not have a re-print planned. If you would like a booklet, I can create one from scratch for you, as detailed in my brochure.

How do I get my wording to you?

I will email you a Word Document which has all the standard Quaker Marriage wording options on it. You then just need to fill it in with your own details, and email it back to me. It is essential that you check all details with your Registering Officer first. It isn't possible for me to change anything once I've written it so please double check everything before you send it to me. I will always query anything I am worried about, however it is ultimately your, and your Registering Officer's, responsibility to ensure that all your wording is accurate.

Can I have a certificate in another language?

I have occasionally been asked to write a bilingual certificate and this is not a problem as long as the other language uses the same alphabet as English (so I cannot, for instance, write in Russian or Chinese). It would be more costly, because I need to write word by word, and it takes me longer to proof read than it would with English. Bear in mind, though, that if you wanted the full Quaker wording in two languages, that this will take up double the space and so you will end up with quite a large certificate. You might consider, for example, having just the declarations in two languages, and the rest in just one.

The design process will also be more complicated, as it's likely that one language will take up more space than the other (some languages naturally have more or longer words than others to express the same idea) and so it will take more work to balance them in the design.

Should I buy my frame in advance?

This isn't recommended. I can never say exactly what size the finished certificate will be until I have actually done it. For most certificates you will need to have bespoke framing done by a framer as you will be unlikely to find an off the shelf frame to fit. The exception to this is the pre-printed certificates which are A2.

Will my certificate need a mount?

A mount (sometimes called a mat in the USA) is a border which is cut out of mountboard and fitted inside the frame. It is for visual effect but also keeps the glass of the frame from touching the calligraphy. It is a question of personal preference whether you want to include a mount with your frame. If you choose not to have a mount, your framer may recommend putting in a spacer within the frame to keep the glass from touching the calligraphy.

How can I look after my calligraphy once it's framed?

The most important thing is to ensure that your calligraphy isn't exposed to damp conditions. Although the colours used are lightfast, they are not waterproof. So, colours could run if the paper became damp. The paper could also cockle (crinkle) if you hang the work in a damp place. In extreme conditions you may even notice mould marks on the paper as well. This is very unlikely to be a problem in a domestic setting, however if you are putting the piece into storage, or hanging it in a church, for example, make sure that the chosen location is not damp.

If your question isn't answered here, please feel free to contact me by email: lizbarrow3@gmail.com.

Liz Barrow

Quaker Marriage Certificates

and other calligraphy