Live calligraphy for galas, VIP dinners & corporate events in Paris — what you need to know
Sublimez vos événements avec la live calligraphie
If you are organising a gala, a VIP dinner or a high-end corporate event in Paris — or anywhere in France — and you are wondering whether live calligraphy could elevate the experience for your guests, the short answer is: yes, and probably more than you think.
I am Fanny, a bilingual French-English calligrapher based between Paris and Bordeaux. I have been working with brands, agencies and event planners since 2020 on prestigious events, from Fashion Week dinners to charity galas, from luxury PR evenings to corporate celebrations. And over the years, I have noticed that the organisers who contact me often have the same questions — so I thought I'd answer them all in one place.
What does a live calligrapher actually do at a corporate event or V.I.P dinner ?
Concretely, I can intervene at several moments during your event. Before the dinner begins, I can calligraph place cards, menus, or welcome notes directly at the table — which also means your guests discover their name written beautifully as they find their seat, setting the tone for the entire evening. During the cocktail hour or the reception, I can personalise gifts in real time: a leather luggage tag embossed with initials, a notebook foiled with a name, a glass engraved on the spot. The act of watching someone create something by hand — slowly, deliberately, with full attention — is itself part of the experience. It creates a moment of connection that no printed gift bag ever will.
I have done this for clients including the Hôtel Raphaël in Paris, Pomellato, Nooance and a number of high-profile corporate events for companies such as Amazon, Dalkia and Zalaris.
My goal is to blend seamlessly into the event. while creating personalised pieces that feel like genuine gifts, not branded merchandise. I dress to match your dress code (typically chic or casual chic) and my setup is compact and unobtrusive: a small table, a chair, good lighting, and nothing that interrupts the flow of your evening.
What makes this format different from a brand activation ?
Brand activations (think in-store pop-ups or product launches) and high-end corporate events actually have more in common than you might think. Both can be fast-paced, high-energy environments where guests are engaged, curious, and often moving around. This is precisely what I love about them: the energy in the room, the spontaneity of each interaction, the satisfaction of working at pace without ever compromising on quality.
Where galas and VIP dinners differ is less about rhythm and more about context and intention. At a dinner, the personalisation often serves a more intimate purpose (a place card that makes a guest feel genuinely seen, a gift that feels chosen rather than distributed…) The format calls for a slightly different approach in how I interact with guests, reading the room and adapting to the flow of the evening rather than managing a queue.
For more intimate dinners with a small number of guests, the pace naturally slows down, and each personalisation becomes a proper moment in itself.
What can be personalised at this type of event ?
Almost anything, which is part of what makes this service so adaptable. Some of the most popular options for galas and corporate dinners include calligraphed place cards and menus on premium paper or unconventional materials like oyster shells, engraved wine glasses that double as a take-home gift, hot foil-stamped leather goods such as card holders, notebooks or luggage tags, and personalised packaging on gift boxes or perfume bottles. I can also prepare the stationery for your event in advance — invitations, envelopes, seating charts — so that the handwritten element is present from the very first touchpoint, long before guests arrive.
What do you need from me to get started ?
A date, a venue, a rough guest count, and an idea of what you would like personalised. I will take it from there and send you a tailored proposal. I recommend getting in touch as early as possible (my diary fills up quickly, especially in the autumn and December season). That said, I am also used to last-minute briefs and I will always do my best to accommodate them.
If your event is outside Paris or Bordeaux, I travel across France and internationally. Travel and accommodation costs are discussed in advance and invoiced transparently.
Ready to talk about your event?
More questions about live calligraphy during your event? I prepared a FAQ just for you →
A bientôt !