Hand-Stamped Wedding Invites: Can Your Post Office Help?

Wedding invitations are often elaborate and bulky, with wax seals, calligraphy, ribbons, bows, and twine. To avoid damaging these beautiful envelopes, many couples opt for hand-cancelling, where a postal worker manually stamps the envelope instead of a machine. This prevents the envelope from being crushed, ripped, or damaged by a machine that is not designed to handle such delicate items. While some post offices may claim they no longer offer hand-cancelling, it is still available at many locations, and couples can call ahead to find out which post offices provide this service. There may be an additional fee for hand-cancelling, and it is recommended to visit the post office during off-peak hours to complete this process.

Why hand-stamp wedding invitations?

Wedding invitations are often adorned with embellishments such as ribbons, wax seals, and calligraphy. These additions can make the envelope uneven or bulky, causing it to be rejected or damaged by the post office's processing machines. Hand-cancelling is a way to ensure that your invitations are delivered in good condition.

Hand-cancelling involves a postal worker manually stamping each envelope to cancel the stamp, rather than using a machine. This prevents the envelopes from being bent, ripped, torn, stained, or rejected by the machine. It is a good option for couples who have invested in high-quality invitations and want them to arrive undamaged.

Additionally, hand-cancelling can enhance the overall presentation of the invitation. The hand stamp creates a more elegant impression than the printer marks made by machines. This is especially important as the invitation is the first impression guests will have of the wedding.

To hand-cancel your wedding invitations, first, check with your local post office to see if they offer the service. Assemble a mock-up of your invitation, including all inserts and embellishments, and have it weighed and checked by a postmaster. They will advise you on the correct postage required and whether your envelope is too bulky for machine processing.

Once you have the correct postage, bring your invitations to the post office during non-busy hours and politely request that they be hand-cancelled. Some post offices may allow you to hand-cancel the envelopes yourself, but be sure to have an employee check your work. There may be an additional fee for hand-cancelling, so be sure to inquire about any potential charges.

How to request hand-stamping

To request hand-stamping for your wedding invitations, follow these steps:

Firstly, before applying any stamps, create a mock-up of your invitation, complete with all inserts and decorations, and take it to your local post office. Ask the postal clerk to weigh and measure the mock-up and confirm if it is too bulky or uneven to be processed by the machine. They will also be able to tell you how much postage you will need based on the weight of your invitations. This step is crucial as it ensures you have the correct postage, avoiding any returned invites due to insufficient postage.

Once you have confirmed the weight and postage requirements, purchase the necessary combination of stamps or a single custom stamp to reach the required postage value. Remember to include the extra cost for hand-cancelling, which is currently $0.21 per envelope in the US.

After you have applied the correct postage to your invitations, return to the post office and ask the clerk to verify that you have the correct postage. It is important to check, double-check, and triple-check this to avoid any issues. Then, request that your postage be "hand-cancelled" or "hand-stamped". This means that instead of being processed by a machine, each envelope will be marked by hand with a rubber stamp, noting the date and postal location. This process helps to ensure that your invitations arrive safely and avoids any damage that might occur during machine processing.

When requesting hand-stamping, keep in mind that it may take a bit longer for your invitations to be processed and delivered. Plan for hand-cancelled invitations to take at least a week longer to arrive at their destination. Additionally, some post offices may charge a fee for hand-stamping, so be sure to check the policy of your local post office in advance. Most post offices won't charge for the first 25 to 50 invitations, and then charge a small fee per invitation after that.

Finally, consider visiting the post office during off-peak hours to avoid crowds and long waits. It is recommended to go early in the morning, before the lunch crowd, or towards the end of the day.

Cost of hand-stamping

Hand-cancelling your wedding invitations is a great way to avoid the risk of tearing, smudging, or otherwise damaging them. This process involves a postal clerk marking each postage stamp with a special rubber stamp noting the current date and the postal location. This bypasses the need for envelopes to be sent through sorting machines.

The cost of hand-stamping wedding invitations at the post office varies. Some post offices do not charge for hand-cancelling, while others charge a small fee per envelope. Most post offices will not charge for the first 25 to 50 invitations, with the next batch of invites costing between $0.05 and $0.25 apiece. As of 2021, the additional cost for hand-cancelling was $0.21 per envelope, though this is not uniformly enforced.

It is worth noting that the hand-cancelling process can take significantly longer than machine processing, both in terms of the time taken to stamp each envelope and the overall delivery time. It is recommended to plan for hand-cancelled invitations to take at least a week longer to arrive than usual.

To ensure a smooth process, it is advisable to visit the post office during low-traffic hours and avoid peak times such as early mornings, lunch hours, and the hour before closing. Additionally, it may be beneficial to bring and process 50 invitations at a time, rather than handling them all at once.

Timing of hand-stamping

Timing is an important factor to consider when hand-stamping wedding invitations. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Firstly, it is recommended to visit the post office during off-peak hours, such as mid-morning or mid-to-late afternoon. This will help you avoid long queues and ensure that you have enough time to complete the hand-stamping process without rushing. It is best to avoid peak times like before work, lunchtime, or after work, as the post office tends to be busier during these periods.

Secondly, the hand-stamping process can take a considerable amount of time, especially if you have a large number of invitations. Therefore, it is advisable to plan ahead and allocate sufficient time for the task. Depending on the volume of invitations, it may be necessary to make multiple visits to the post office or bring smaller batches of invitations at a time.

Thirdly, keep in mind that hand-cancelling can add at least a week to the delivery timeframe. So, make sure to factor in this additional time when planning the timing of your wedding invitations. This extended timeframe is due to the manual process of hand-stamping, which takes longer than the automated machine processing.

Additionally, it is suggested to request hand-cancelling at least two weeks before mailing your wedding invitations. This buffer period will allow for any potential issues or corrections that may arise. During this time, you can also finalise other details, such as weighing the invitations, confirming postage requirements, and making any necessary adjustments.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the availability and policies of hand-stamping may vary across different post offices. Some post offices may offer complimentary hand-cancelling, while others may charge a small fee. It is beneficial to call ahead or visit multiple post offices to inquire about their specific procedures and pricing. This step will help you plan your timing and budget accordingly.

Lastly, in case of any issues or refusals at a particular post office, you can always speak to the office manager or consider visiting an alternative post office in your area. Being flexible and open to different options will help ensure that your hand-stamped wedding invitations are processed smoothly and efficiently.

Problems with hand-stamping

While hand-stamping is a great way to ensure your wedding invitations remain pristine, there are a few potential problems with this approach.

Firstly, it takes a lot longer. Not only does it take time to stamp each envelope by hand, but it can also add a week or more to the delivery time. Secondly, it can cost more. While some post offices offer hand-stamping for free, others charge a small fee per envelope, which can add up if you have a large number of invitations.

It's also worth noting that there is no guarantee that hand-stamping will be offered at your local post office, and you may need to visit multiple locations to find one that does. Even then, there is still a chance that your hand-stamped invitations could accidentally be processed by machine, so it's important to be aware of this possibility and take steps to minimize the risk, such as printing "Hand Cancel" on the envelopes.

Frequently asked questions