tips and tricks
Assembly & Mailing
Once your beautiful wedding invitations are printed, it’s time to assemble them! You'll also need to purchase and apply postage, then drop them off at the post office for mailing.
I'm sharing tips for the assembly and mailing process here, or I offer this service as an add on!
The amount of postage required for your invitation suite will vary based on the weight. Embellishments like wax seals, ribbon, and thick paper can also affect your postage rate - if they make your envelopes bumpy or too stiff, there is a “non-machinable” charge.
Take one assembled invitation with all the embellishments to your local post office so they can weigh it and quote a postage rate. Tip: you can use any combination of stamps as long as they add up to at least the quoted amount.
Make sure to buy stamps for the RSVP card envelopes as well. Standard 1 oz postage is normally used for your RSVP envelopes.
You can order postage online from USPS. They offer a wider selection of stamps online than most post offices carry.
mailing postage
01.
Beware of online sites selling postage for less than face value. Sadly, there are counterfeit stamps out there and you run the risk of your invitations being returned (at best) or thrown away if you use fake postage.
Pro Tip:
Double check that you have all the pieces of your invitation order, addressed envelopes, postage, envelope moistener, and any adhesives or supplies you need to assemble the invitation suite.
Gather your
supplies
02.
don't forget rsvp postage
make sure hands are clean
set aside lots of time
purchase all postage first
double check envelope addresses
no licking - use glue or adhesive
Since the smallest amount of dirt or oil from your hands can show up on paper, make sure to wash and dry your hands before you begin. Nail polish may rub off on cotton paper, so be mindful of your manicure when handling your stationery.
Pro Tip:
Once you have your postage, mail a complete invitation suite to yourself to double check for any issues that might occur during mailing. I try to anticipate common issues, but can’t account for everything.
Pro Tip:
stacking the enclosures
These are instructions for the traditional way to stack your enclosures, but you may want to do things differently depending on the pieces in your invitation suite and your preferences.
Assembling your invitations can be as simple as stacking the pieces and stuffing the envelope or involve a glue gun and bow-tying skills. I do offer full or partial assembly services if any of this is more than you want to handle!
assembly
03.
Place the RSVP card under the flap of its envelope so the card is face up and the addressed side of the envelope is face down.
Stack the enclosures face-up in order of size, with the largest piece on the bottom.
put postage on your rsvp envelope before you start assembly! Trust me, it's no fun to disassemble all the invitations to add the postage if you forgot.
Pro Tip:
If you chose a dark color cardstock or envelope, make sure to use the included vellum slip sheets. Place one on top of the invitation to prevent any color transfer from dark to light color paper during mailing.
embellishments
With the exception of envelope liners which are always adhered to your envelope, all other embellishments will require a bit of assembly.
belly bands & folders
with a seal
Belly bands and vellum folders arrive wrapped around your invitation. Simply slip in your insert cards in the desired order and use double sided adhesive to secure the ends of the belly band behind the invitation.
If you’re using a seal with a belly band or folder, I like to secure the ends of the belly band in front of the invitation and place the seal over the seam.
wax seals
Wax seals are premade and include an adhesive backing. Peel off the protective backing and apply the wax seal just like a sticker.
ribbon
Ribbon tying will take a little bit of practice! The ribbon I offer is silk, so it's more forgiving than a stiff satin ribbon but still requires some finesse.
1. Start by trimming the ribbon to size with very sharp scissors. The length will depend on how you're tying the ribbon - I like to complete one invitation then untie the ribbon and measure it so I know exactly how much I need.
2. Lay the ribbon flat on your surface and place the invitation face up on top.
3. Bring both ends of the ribbon over the top of the invitation and cross them in the center. Pull snugly, but not too tight, as you want to keep the ribbon smooth and not crush the paper.
4. Finish by tying in a bow (just like tying your shoes!) or double knot. Trim the ends at a slight angle to prevent fraying.
Want to tie your ribbon a different way?
Watch the videos below for tips on additional ways to wrap your ribbon.
stuffing
04.
Place the invitation and inserts in the envelope so that they are right-side up when pulled out with your right hand.
drinking a glass of wine can be a good way to make the assembly process go faster. But if you’re licking your envelopes to seal them, that drink should wait till later.
The alcohol in your saliva can cause a chemical reaction that prevents the glue on the envelope from staying sticky and keeping your envelope sealed.
Pro Tip:
sealing
If you’re using an inner envelope, place the invitation and inserts inside the inner envelope, then place it inside the mailing envelope with the guest names facing the open side of the envelope.
Inner envelopes should be left unsealed and often don’t even have adhesive on the flap.
Use envelope moistener or a damp sponge to activate the glue on the mailing envelope flap but don’t over-wet the adhesive- use just enough to activate the glue.
Press down firmly to seal or place the envelope under a heavy book.
If your envelopes don’t want to stay closed, try using double sided tape or a glue stick.
Take your ready to mail invitations to your local post office and ask for them to be hand-canceled. Generally, the postage on envelopes is “canceled” by running it through a machine that stamps a postmark across the postage. These machines can be rough on thick invitations, especially if there are wax seals, ribbon, or different sizes of enclosures that create bumps in the envelope.
mailing
05.
Please note that many post offices have phased out hand-cancelling, or may say there is a charge. You can try a different post office, or come back on a different day, or even offer to hand-cancel them yourself. This only guarantees the envelopes won’t go through a machine at your local post office. A different post office may still use machines to sort the mail.
mail your invitations when your post office isn't busy. If you show up and there's a line out the door, chances are the workers will be in a hurry and not as likely to treat your invitations with kindness :)
If you live in a large city, it might be worth it to check out a post office in a nearby smaller town that's less busy.
Pro Tip: