Choosing a Signing Pen

Choosing a signing pen for your marriage documents sounds like an easy task, but it can be surprisingly difficult. There are so many options to pick from. Should you choose an elegant silver pen? A fluffy feather pen? What about a bling pen covered in crystals? How about a fountain pen?

Many celebrants will provide pens for signing. However, some couples like choosing a signing pen for themselves. Here are the pros and cons of some types of pens:

Classic Ballpoint Pens

There are endless variations of the ballpoint pen and they are almost always elegant and understated. They will look great in your photos but won’t ever be the centre of attention. They can be made of metal, plastic or wood. They are usually reliable and (almost always) work perfectly. Refill ink cartridges are available for most brands of ballpoint pen. The ink cartridges come in both blue and black, meaning that couples can sign using their choice of ink colour.

Bling Ballpoint Pens

While a classic ballpoint pen is a safe choice for signing your precious marriage documents, choosing highly decorated pens can be more of a gamble. There are fabulous high quality decorative pens available but there are also lots of cheap pens available online. Sometimes these sacrifice quality for sparkle. A pen wreathed in feathers or bristling with diamantés might dazzle in your photos, but unless it writes well, it shouldn’t have a place in your wedding.

Fluffy Feather Pens

Fluffy feather pens are the show ponies of wedding pens. Basically, they are ballpoint pens with a large, usually white, plume attached to the top. They look spectacular but, like bling pens, the quality of feather pens is variable. I have a lovely feather pen that writes very well, but not all feather pens are created equal. Be careful when choosing a signing pen with feathers – I bought a second feather pen as a back-up but it was a total waste of money. It didn’t write at all.

There are a couple of things to consider. The ink colour generally can’t be changed. The ink is usually black so not ideal for couples who prefer blue or consider black ink unlucky. Also, the pen needs some type of holder to keep it upright and allow it to be displayed in all its glory. The pen has a large surface area but weighs almost nothing so windy weather can be a problem. It will blow off the signing table with the slightest breeze.

Fountain Pens and Quills

Fountain pens were used for signing all kinds of documents before ballpoint pens became popular. They look elegant but can be difficult to use unless you’re used to writing with them. The nib is split to allow ink to reach the point of the pen from the reservoir inside. This means that it’s super easy to splatter ink blots across your marriage paperwork, so think twice before deciding on a fountain pen. Fountain pen ink takes a while to dry so it’s also easy to smudge your signature with your hand.

Quill pens are romantic and look great; however, they are just as tricky to use as fountain pens. Smudges and blots are a hazard, so if you are choosing a signing pen with a quill, make sure that you, your partner, your witnesses and your celebrant have had a chance to practise their inky signatures before your big day.

It’s Up to You

Whether you use a spectacular feather pen, a classic ballpoint or sign your wedding documents with a pen bearing the name of your local real estate agent or dental surgery, whatever pen you use will be fine. By the end of your ceremony, you and your partner will be married and the paperwork signed. As long as it works, whichever pen you use is the perfect one for your wedding day.

For a celebrant who offers a wide variety of signing pens, CALL ME NOW.

Photo taken by John Cushion.

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