Stamping Your Wedding Invites: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are an exciting part of the wedding planning process, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure they arrive safely and on time. One important consideration is postage – wedding invitations are often heavier than standard letters, requiring a higher value stamp. It's recommended to take a fully assembled invitation to the post office to be weighed, so you can purchase the correct number and value of stamps. This is especially important for invitations with multiple inserts or embellishments like pockets or vellum wraps. You can also request hand-canceling, which means the envelopes are postmarked by hand rather than by machine, helping to avoid tears and ink smudges. Vintage stamps are another option for those wanting to add a unique or romantic touch to their invitations, although they can be more expensive and time-consuming to source and apply.

Weighing the invitations

Weighing the Invites

The weight of your invitations will determine the cost of postage and the type of stamps you need. Most wedding invitations are heavier than your average letter, so it's likely you'll need more than a standard stamp. The best way to determine this is to take one fully assembled invitation, complete with all inserts and embellishments, to your local post office and have it weighed. This will give you an accurate idea of the postage required for the rest of your invitations. It's also a good idea to ask the postal clerk to check the thickness and test your invitation through a thickness template. This will ensure there are no surprises when it comes to postage costs.

Factors Affecting Weight

There are several factors that can increase the weight of your invitations and, consequently, the postage costs. These include the thickness of the paper, the number of cards or inserts, the use of a pocket-fold, and any embellishments such as ribbons, twine, or wax seals. Square-shaped invitations are also considered irregular and will require additional postage.

Additional Postage

If your invitations weigh more than one ounce, you will need additional postage. For weights between one and two ounces, a 2-ounce stamp is required. If your invitations are particularly heavy, weighing over three ounces, you may need to pay even more for postage.

Hand-Cancelling

If your invitations are bulky or include embellishments on the outer envelope, such as ribbon or wax seals, it is recommended to request hand-cancelling at the post office. This means that the stamp will be cancelled, or postmarked, by hand rather than by machine. This prevents wear and tear on your invitations and ensures they arrive in one piece. However, this service often incurs an additional fee per envelope and may take more time to be carried out, so be prepared for a longer wait at the post office.

Timing

It is important to give yourself ample mailing time, especially if you are requesting hand-cancelling. This process can slow down the mailing of your invitations, so it is recommended to allow at least two weeks' leeway in case of any delays.

By following these tips and carefully weighing your invitations, you can ensure that your wedding invitations are correctly stamped and arrive safely to your guests.

Buying the correct stamps

The type and amount of stamps you need for your wedding invitations will depend on the weight and dimensions of your fully stuffed envelope. Most wedding invitations are heavier than your average letter, so a 70-cent stamp is often needed. If your invitation is standard size and weighs under one ounce, you'll only need one Forever Stamp. These cost around 73 cents and have no expiration or denomination.

If your invitation is a funky shape or is bursting with details cards and embellishments, you'll need to buy some additional postage stamps in smaller denominations to stick on top of your Forever Stamp. For example, you might need a 20-cent stamp to add to your first-class stamp if your envelope weighs over one ounce.

You can buy stamps from the post office, or online from sites like Amazon, Etsy, eBay, or Edelweiss Post. The post office will have a limited selection, so if you're looking for something specific, like vintage stamps, it's worth shopping around. However, be careful of counterfeit stamps online, and always weigh your envelopes and check mailing rules before buying.

If you're sending RSVP cards, it's considered good etiquette to pre-stamp these for your guests. You can buy postcard stamps for these, which are around 15 cents cheaper than Forever Stamps.

Affixing the stamps

It's also a good idea to take one fully assembled invitation to the post office to be weighed, so you can be certain of how many and which stamps to buy. This will also allow you to check whether your invitations are thick enough to be processed by sorting machines. If they are over 0.25 inches thick, they will need to be hand-cancelled, which may cost extra.

Now, for the sticking! If you're using vintage stamps, you may need to apply them with a glue stick or tape runner. Otherwise, a damp cloth or sponge should do the trick. Affix your stamps in a line across the top of the envelope, arranging them from shortest to tallest for an artful cluster.

Hand-cancelling

To hand-cancel your wedding invitations, you must take them to a post office and request the service. Not all post offices offer hand-cancelling, so it's a good idea to call ahead to find out which locations do. There may also be a small additional fee for this service, but this is not always the case. To avoid unexpected costs, try calling or visiting multiple post offices to see if they offer complimentary hand-cancelling.

When requesting hand-cancelling, it's important to be polite and mention that it's for your wedding invitations. You can also offer to hand-stamp your invitations yourself to avoid any charges. If a post office doesn't offer hand-cancelling, try another location or ask to speak to the manager, as some clerks may incorrectly claim that hand-cancelling is no longer available.

It's recommended to request hand-cancelling at least two weeks before you plan to mail your wedding invitations. This will give you enough time for processing and addressing any issues. Additionally, hand-cancelling can take longer than standard processing, so plan for your invitations to take at least a week longer to arrive at their destinations.

Securing the envelopes

Firstly, it is important to ensure that your invitations are properly assembled and placed inside the envelopes. The invitation itself should be at the bottom, with other pieces such as maps, hotel information, and an RSVP card stacked from largest to smallest on top. This pile should go into your unsealed inner envelope, with the guests' names facing the opening of the outer envelope.

Once your invitations are assembled, the next step is to secure the envelopes. Licking the adhesive liner of each envelope is tiring and unhygienic, especially for a large number of invitations. Instead, use a cotton swab or a paintbrush to moisten the envelope adhesive. This makes it easier to cover the entire adhesive strip.

If your invitations are bulky or the envelope adhesive is not working effectively, there are a few alternative methods to secure the envelopes. After moistening and sticking the adhesive, place a heavy book or paperweight on top of the invitations to reinforce the closure. If the envelopes still won't stay shut, try using additional adhesive such as a glue stick or double-sided tape. Keep in mind that this method may be messier and will make it more difficult for guests to open the invitations.

Additionally, it is recommended to take one fully assembled invitation to the post office to be weighed. This will help you determine the correct amount of postage required, which may be more than the standard stamp value. The weight, size, and thickness of the invitation will impact the postage cost. Most wedding invitations that are less than an ounce will require a "forever" stamp, which is typically $0.55 each. Invitations that are between one and two ounces will require a $0.70 stamp. Square invitations, regardless of weight, will also require the $0.70 stamp as they cannot go through the sorting machine and must be hand-cancelled.

In summary, securing the envelopes for your wedding invitations involves proper assembly, moistening the adhesive, and determining the correct postage. By following these steps, you can ensure your invitations arrive safely and securely to your guests.

Frequently asked questions