Vintage Stamps?

I'm not sure exactly what kind of stamps you are looking for, but I am ordering these vintage-style stamps from Zazzle. I think the idea of putting multiple real vintage stamps on invitations is super cool and unique!

Not trying to be an arse...but take a step back here. You will spend hours and probably at least ten bucks on vintage postage to put on each envelope that will then go into the recycle bin within 5 minutes of being seen. And for what? 15 seconds of "hmm, how unusual" from 1/10 of your guest list while the other 9/10 don't even notice. There are far, far better ways to spend your time and money.

I think there comes a point where vintage goes too far and you found it.

Save the money and just get regular stamps. No one pays attention to them.

Those are so fun! Thanks! Here is a picture example to clarify just in case. I love the way it looks with all the different stamps and my wedding is travel themed with a lot of vintage touches like vintage suitcases and old-looking globes as centerpieces

I think you'll drive yourself crazy doing this honestly. And it will cost you more time and money than you think.

If you really want to do something distinctive with the stamp, go to zazzle (which will also cost you more, by the way) or troll through the USPS site. They have some great designs, and they change frequently.

I thought about doing this, but the amount of effort it was going to take to collect them along with the markup changed my mind. I didn't find any decent stamps that were even somewhat close to face value. I really like the look, so we're going to get one set for the photographed invitation and be done with it.

Do what you love. If some people had their way, every wedding would be exactly the same.

http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/2014/08/where-to-find-vintage-stamps-for-wedding-invitations/

@muriel and @nicole thanks for the encouragement! Feels like it is a waste of money that could be spent elsewhere, even though almost everything is done. My invitations haven't costed me anything yet since my cousin helped me with graphic design and my father works at a printing company. I guess I will have to do the research to figure out the total cost, I only have bout 75 -100 invitations to mail out (A-list, B-list) but some are international... Doing it just for the photographed invitation is a genius idea and so do-able!

A list and B list???

My invites were 1.2 oz. They cost 1.32 each to mail (49 cent rsvp stamp, 49 cent outside + 34 cent additional postage stamp) because I wanted seashells instead of penguins (Which would've been 28 cents). These are current stamps and my total postage was just about $93. If you want to waste more than double that to find old vintage stamps, then it's a cute idea. If spending more than $100 on postage isn't realistic then get normal stamps.

Um....muriel? I don't think anyone is advocating for everything being the same, but at some point you weigh the time, money and stress against the wow factor.

Which is different for everyone. If this is where OP wants to put time, money and stress? Fab.

You can try eBay. For my first wedding I spent a lot of time looking for vintage stamps and found several I liked on eBay but even for 60 invitations it would have been a few hundred dollars just in stamps. I ended up using zazzle and am doing so again. I know many here on WW think even zazzle is too expensive, but I don't mind paying a bit more for that extra special touch - just not hundreds more!

I was on the receiving end of a wedding invite once with personalized vintage stamps. Mine was a commemorative stamp for a famous female journalist, because I was a reporter. It was amazingly thoughtful, exquisite attention to detail -- and overkill. I only remember it because it was an example of what a perfectionist the bride was. Most people probably threw away their envelope without noticing, unfortunately.

@Muriel - there is a difference between decor and special splash things for the actual wedding and tiny squares on the corner of a throw away piece of the invite.

I have two invites on my fridge. I couldn't tell you what kind of stamps they used. It's one of those things that only the bride and maybe a handful of guests might notice and appreciate.

Money and effort could be better spent elsewhere.

I really wanted to do this since it went with the vibe of my invites. I checked eBay a few times and I didn't see anything that felt personal (sort of like what Kelly M. mentioned). I ended up getting distracted by other stuff and asked FH to take them to the post office. He got one great stamp that was a blue butterfly and then he said he got a guy in a top hat. I was pretty happy with until I saw and invite and realized it was the Uncle Sam, red, white, and blue stamps.

But I still got over it and got a lot of compliments on the actual invites. I would check eBay and maybe stop in a local coin/stamp shop. But I really wouldn't put too much effort into it.

Sorry I am super naive and new to these wedding forums, this was my first post - what does OP mean? lol

@Future Mrs. H. Are you serious? What was the point of you posting that besides trying to make me feel like shit? Do you think I would purposely complicate my life with A-list/B-list by choice? If I could afford to invite all 250 extended family members + coworkers and everyone me, my fiancé and both sets of parents (and his are divorced) know to my wedding or if there was enough space to even accommodate them at our venue... I would but I can't so please .... get real and don't be a jerk. I think A-list and B-list is a great way to attempt to invite absolutely everyone possible - if you get A-list declines I don't see what's wrong with inviting other people you wouldn't have invited otherwise. The alternative is worse - not even thinking to send any invitation at all.

I do think the idea is super cute, BUT I did custom stamps on my STD and polled a few friends to ask what they thought. Most of them didn't even notice to be honest.

Well, I'm doing vintage stamps on my invitation, even if I end up being the only person who appreciates them. (But I'm also a stationary nerd, and love fancy paper and envelopes, so there you go haha) I also have a lot of time to search ebay and look for deals on the stamps that I want to use, since my wedding isn't until next October. (I don't have any idea what postage will be for my invitations, so I've just been collecting stamps that I like right, and have been able to get for close to face value.)

This website has lots of full sheets at good prices: http://www.usmintsheets.com/

I would also suggest searching ebay for designs that you see and like (search by the stamp number). You'll see some examples of pretty vintage stamps on etsy, but don't buy there - they are generally overpriced, but I have been able to collect quite a few for my invitations on ebay at not much above face value. But, etsy is good for research & getting ideas of what will look good together.

Good luck!

We did vintage stamps on our closest friends and family, because it ended up being really expensive to collect coordinating stamps! The vintage stamps looked better with the calligraphy on the envelopes, but we ended up using regular USPS stamps for the majority of the guests. Make sure you ask for hand canceling at the post office!!

I agonized over the whole stamp thing for a while, but it was so much effort and I did't want to spend the cash. I'm just going to find something cute on Zazzle and be done with it.

Also, just a word of advice - this is an internet forum. You're going to get snark and attitude and strong opinions. Try to let it roll off your shoulders, and remember, 99% of the time people are trying to help you - see past the snark and find the message. I've learned a lot of really helpful information on here, and trust me, I've gotten spanked on here for etiquette faux pas, too. Take it or leave it, but don't let it rustle your feathers.

ETA: I can't spell.