HOW TO ORDER A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE | VIEW MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE PORTFOLIO
CONTACT ME ABOUT A HAND CALLIGRAPHED MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
UNIQUE HANDCRAFTED CALLIGRAPHY MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES | Thank you for your interest in my work. At this time I create only unique hand-made custom designed marriage certificates. These are not digital creations, pre-made templates or mass produced documents. Each certificate is designed specifically for you, with hand written calligraphy; and hand-painted borders, illustrations and illumination. The highest quality papers, inks and colors are used in order to produce a treasured family heirloom. View Marriage Certificate Portfolio
My specialty is creating a unique work of art expressive of your union. I bring my expertise in calligraphy in many different scripts and languages as well as different religious and cultural traditions. I can work in a wide range of styles, from the simplicity of a traditional Quaker certificate, to the full ornate beauty of a traditional or contemporary styled ketubah or nikah nameh. I can include watercolor illustration, geometric borders, cut paper, metallic ink or gold leaf illumination.
To begin the process of ordering a marriage certificate click on the tab above and fill out the inquiry form on the tab above. You will hear back from me within 24 – 48 hours. Please note the information under the pricing and timeline headings, below.
The marriage certificate is a beautiful addition to your wedding ceremony. It is an original piece of artwork that no one else in the world will ever have, and at a price that brings custom work into a truly affordable range.
A marriage certificate makes a wonderful gift. Certificates are also appropriate for anniversary celebrations, retirements, births and other special occasions.
Each certificate I create is a unique work of art reflecting the people who commissioned the piece. Please enjoy the examples shown in my marriage certificate portfolio, but recognize that the certificate you commission will be the unique product of your intentions and my artistic creativity.
Marriage, wedding, and handfasting certificates are a beautiful custom that can be included in many traditions. In ancient Jewish practice the marriage couple and the officiant sign the ketubah (k’tubah) at the close of the ceremony. Muslim weddings customarily include an elaborately calligraphed marriage contract (ʻaqd al-qirān or nikah nama). The Quaker marriage certificate (Religious Society of Friends) is signed by all who witness the ceremony, with a promise to support the newly united couple.
Tradition | I am open to creating certificates for ceremonies in any tradition — my experience is broad and I will work with you to create a piece of art that embodies what is important to you. In looking through my portfolio you will find interfaith certificates, cross-cultural marriage certificates, multi-lingual marriage certificates and traditional certificates from different religious paths. In every case I am to create something that matches the very personal expressions of the commitment you are making to one another.
Text | Certificates can be created in any language that uses Latin script (English, Spanish, German, French, etc.); Arabic script (Persian, Urdu, Arabic, etc.); or Hebrew. Under special circumstances I can work in other scripts as well. Please contact me if you have questions.
Design | The typical marriage certificate includes the names of the wedding couple, place and date of the ceremony, and language important to the couple. This can be the wedding vows, poetry, a prayer or language expressing the vision and intentions of the couple. Elaborate border designs, illustration, knotwork and other types of designs can be incorporated into the design that I create specially for you. Signature lines can be set aside for the wedding couple, officiants and witnesses. A lovely custom is to have everyone at the ceremony sign the certificate, thus creating a permanent record of everyone who was in attendance. Wedding certificates can be large or small, simple or elaborate, subdued or colourful. The choice is yours.
A certificate can feature the simple elegance of calligraphy alone, include a few design features, or be a watercolour painting with words. I use all the tools of the medieval scribe to create fully illuminated certificates in the tradition of manuscript pages. I can produce traditional or contemporary certificates in many traditions: Quaker, Judaic (ketubah), Islamic (nikah), Buddhist, interfaith and many others. Your certificate can include calligraphy, illustration, watercolour, geometric borders, knotwork, custom monogram, gold leaf (engrossing), metallic inks, paper cut patterns (hand done) and more.
Pricing | Marriage Certificates range in price from $550.00 to $1700.00 depending on size, length of text and type of ornamentation and illustration. I ask for a deposit of $150.00 to $300.00, with the remainder due upon your receipt of the finished document. Shipping charges are additional.
Timeline | Please contact me at least six weeks prior to your wedding ceremony in order to give me time to work with you on the design, carry out the detailed handwork and get the piece to you via FedEx delivery. I look forward to working with you.
TESTIMONIALS
I have not been very good at staying current with the comments I receive from people about their marriage certificates, but I hope you enjoy reading the ones that I have managed to post:
I fought with myself until about an hour ago and then just couldn’t contain my curiosity and excitement any longer, so I carefully opened your package and was completely taken aback by how beautiful the certificate is. I can’t believe how vivid the intricate details are…it’s simply, well…stunning. I can’t wait to display it in our home for many years to come. What a wonderful family heirloom to hand down to our children and grandchildren.
It’s even more beautiful than we imagined. THANK YOU for creating an original work of art that reflects what we have tried to create for our wedding day.
We just received the contract today and it looks beautiful! We could not be happier.
Thanks again, they loved it . . . Stacey cried when she saw it ! The presentation of the certificate today was a perfect ending to an amazing wedding.
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