Wax seals and the post office?

I would be worried about this. What if one postal worker tells you it will be fine, you seal all of them and then a different worker at the same office refuses them? Since you aren't doing outer envelopes, what about doing a belly band around the invitation pieces and sealing that with the wax instead?

I was invited to a wedding that used the wax seals. The couple was very upset because a lot of invites were ripped apart in the mail. Mine arrived a bit of a mess.

I believe a lot of people say that the wax will pop off of outer envelopes and therefore isn't really worth it?

@eng-unfortunately I hate belly bands, but thanks for the idea.

@d&g-that's what I'm afraid of. Do you have any idea if they did hand canceling?

We were thinking about doing this, but after reading about the invites popping open I think we'll do what @ENG suggested.

Eh I'd be concerned, I love wax seals too but that sounds like a lot of damage risk for something you've spent so much time and thought on

OGA is correct. While with hand cancelling you will bypass the first machine, your invitations will go through many. If your invitations aren't flat then you will most likely need to pay extra postage. I would go and, very politely, talk to a postal worker.

What I was told by the post office is that they do not guarantee that hand canceled will actually be hand sorted. In fact, they told me to plan on them being passed thru at least one machine. I've used wax seals in the past & the only way they've survived is by using an inner and outer envelope with the wax seal on the inner one. I also used a special wax from Nostalgic Impressions, they're online. The wax is flexible so that it doesn't crumble. Good luck!

I had originally wanted to use a wax seal on my invites, but after failed attempts to hand cancel my save the dates (sent in several batches with explicit confirmation from the postal worker each time that they would not go through any machines, which they all did), I've definitely decided against it. I wouldn't risk it.

@og Alecia-I've heard that too, part of my concern.

Thanks everyone. Looks like the seal is out. But now I have this cute stamp and nothing to do with it!

@greene-unrelated to stamps, but if you're a HP fan, I saw chair signs where one said "after all this time?" and the other said "always" and I almost cried. I don't really like chair signs, but I so want to do that. Unfortunately FH isn't an HP person (just never got into it) otherwise I would totally do it...and probably a marauder's map program. What are your touches?

I used wax seals on my outer envelops with no problems. I mailed my invitations about 2 weeks ago. A lot of our guest told me they love it!

@melanie-did you talk to any postal workers in advance? Did you get the $0.68 stamps?

Yes to both. I didn't know anything about the process. The lady at the post office told me I needed the $0.68 stamps for manual sorting. When I dropped them off, I just put them in the blue bucket things outside.

If you want to add wax seals, I would put them on the inner envelope. They just fall off in transit on the outside.

OP, maybe you can use the wax seal on programs, menus, favors, etc.

I've never been a fan of this. I mean I suppose it's a nice touch but it's virtually impossible to guarantee that no machine will touch them... seems kinda silly when the envelope just gets thrown away anyway. Mail carriers need to transport them across the country, in all types of weather, with millions of other pieces of mail. Even without a machine, they could easily be damaged by normal mail transport.

Good ideas, Nancy T, thanks! Wax seals on everything!!!

They did hand cancel. I think it was the sorting machines that are used by post office.

I'm planning on putting a ribbon around my favors and sealing it with a "wax seal" that sticks on from Nostalgic Impressions. Maybe you can use your seal like that.