FAQ's
1. How do I choose a font?
This is entirely up to you! You can send me samples from your own research and I can emulate them. You can pick something you see on this site. Or you can give me some words like "fun, casual, elegant, scribbly." Some people choose to give me a copy of their invitation and see what I think would look the best for the envelope, if I'm doing addresses. I'm also perfectly willing to sit down with you (or trade PDFs if you aren't local) to put together exactly what you're looking for.
2. For invitations, what should my list look like?
Your list should be impeccably proofed and written exactly the way that you want it. I'm happy to work with a hard copy or digital copy of your list. Ideally, your addresses would be formatted like this, exactly how they are on envelopes:
Ms. Aviva Pressman
6534 Street Name
City, State Zip
3. What is the proper way to format formal addresses?
The following website has detailed instructions for formal addressing: http://www.wrapituppartyplanning.com/address_etiquette.htm
That said, I have no issue formatting your addresses however you want. This is your event and its completely up to you how you want your invitations to look.
4. How long will it take you to finish my project?
It depends on what you're looking for and what else I have scheduled. To give you a gauge, I can usually get a hundred invitations with a nice font and semi-elaborate embellishments done in about a week. A custom piece of art usually takes me 2 weeks or so. Rates go up for rush orders if I have a high volume of work to do and it will be difficult for me to get it done, but I won't charge extra for a rush order just for the sake of it. Promise.
5. How many envelopes/place cards etc should we give you?
For projects with many small parts, please give at least an additional 10% in materials. So, for 100 envelopes, please give 10 extra. If your envelopes are lined, increase the number to 15. For projects like menus, gifts, etc. where you supply the paper, extra materials are preferred but not as necessary.
6. What do you charge?
This is difficult to answer because each job is so individual. Please contact me for pricing, and we can figure out based on style, amount of work, materials, and turn-around time, how much your job will cost. My pricing is reasonable, and less than most other calligraphers in the area unless I'm completely swamped with other work.
7. Where are you located?
I'm located in Los Angeles in the Pico/Robertson area and generally have a flexible schedule.
8. Are you LGBTQ-friendly? What about other "non-traditional" groups?
Absolutely. I have done work for all kinds of couples, polyamorous communities, and people of all ages, races, religions etc. Whatever your situation or identity, I will do my best work for you.
9. Do you do Hebrew Translation?
No I do not. A good majority of my work is Hebrew, but I am not a Torah scholar or fluent speaker. If you don't have a Hebrew name and you'd like me to transliterate yours into Hebrew, I can do this for you. However, if I'm filling in a Ketubah with blanks I will need to know exactly what you would like written in each blank. Usually your Rabbi will be happy to help with the translation.
10. Are you willing to write my Ketubah if I/my partner are not Jewish? What if we're getting married on a Saturday?
Yes. I am a calligrapher who writes in Hebrew but I am not a Torah scribe, nor am I Orthodox. If you'd like to participate in the tradition of having a Ketubah I have no issue with however you'd like to do it.
11. How should I format my Ketubah fill-ins?
This can be done in one of two ways. You can either photocopy your Ketubah and have your Rabbi write in what goes in each blank, or make me a "key." The key should have the number of each blank written and then exactly what goes in each one.
12. And the number most popular FAQ I get in Los Angeles...Are you related to Rabbi Pressman?
Yes. Yes I am. Rabbi Jacob Pressman is my grandpa and Rabbi Daniel Pressman is my uncle. Glad we got that out of the way.
1. How do I choose a font?
This is entirely up to you! You can send me samples from your own research and I can emulate them. You can pick something you see on this site. Or you can give me some words like "fun, casual, elegant, scribbly." Some people choose to give me a copy of their invitation and see what I think would look the best for the envelope, if I'm doing addresses. I'm also perfectly willing to sit down with you (or trade PDFs if you aren't local) to put together exactly what you're looking for.
2. For invitations, what should my list look like?
Your list should be impeccably proofed and written exactly the way that you want it. I'm happy to work with a hard copy or digital copy of your list. Ideally, your addresses would be formatted like this, exactly how they are on envelopes:
Ms. Aviva Pressman
6534 Street Name
City, State Zip
3. What is the proper way to format formal addresses?
The following website has detailed instructions for formal addressing: http://www.wrapituppartyplanning.com/address_etiquette.htm
That said, I have no issue formatting your addresses however you want. This is your event and its completely up to you how you want your invitations to look.
4. How long will it take you to finish my project?
It depends on what you're looking for and what else I have scheduled. To give you a gauge, I can usually get a hundred invitations with a nice font and semi-elaborate embellishments done in about a week. A custom piece of art usually takes me 2 weeks or so. Rates go up for rush orders if I have a high volume of work to do and it will be difficult for me to get it done, but I won't charge extra for a rush order just for the sake of it. Promise.
5. How many envelopes/place cards etc should we give you?
For projects with many small parts, please give at least an additional 10% in materials. So, for 100 envelopes, please give 10 extra. If your envelopes are lined, increase the number to 15. For projects like menus, gifts, etc. where you supply the paper, extra materials are preferred but not as necessary.
6. What do you charge?
This is difficult to answer because each job is so individual. Please contact me for pricing, and we can figure out based on style, amount of work, materials, and turn-around time, how much your job will cost. My pricing is reasonable, and less than most other calligraphers in the area unless I'm completely swamped with other work.
7. Where are you located?
I'm located in Los Angeles in the Pico/Robertson area and generally have a flexible schedule.
8. Are you LGBTQ-friendly? What about other "non-traditional" groups?
Absolutely. I have done work for all kinds of couples, polyamorous communities, and people of all ages, races, religions etc. Whatever your situation or identity, I will do my best work for you.
9. Do you do Hebrew Translation?
No I do not. A good majority of my work is Hebrew, but I am not a Torah scholar or fluent speaker. If you don't have a Hebrew name and you'd like me to transliterate yours into Hebrew, I can do this for you. However, if I'm filling in a Ketubah with blanks I will need to know exactly what you would like written in each blank. Usually your Rabbi will be happy to help with the translation.
10. Are you willing to write my Ketubah if I/my partner are not Jewish? What if we're getting married on a Saturday?
Yes. I am a calligrapher who writes in Hebrew but I am not a Torah scribe, nor am I Orthodox. If you'd like to participate in the tradition of having a Ketubah I have no issue with however you'd like to do it.
11. How should I format my Ketubah fill-ins?
This can be done in one of two ways. You can either photocopy your Ketubah and have your Rabbi write in what goes in each blank, or make me a "key." The key should have the number of each blank written and then exactly what goes in each one.
12. And the number most popular FAQ I get in Los Angeles...Are you related to Rabbi Pressman?
Yes. Yes I am. Rabbi Jacob Pressman is my grandpa and Rabbi Daniel Pressman is my uncle. Glad we got that out of the way.