The Paper Tie Affair Blog

Wax seals have become super popular in the wedding world, and I’m not made about it! They add an old-world feel but can be combined with modern day elements.  They are one of my favorite elements in an invitation suite, and also love including them in many day-of items. Read on below for some tips on where you can add wax seals!

Adhesive Wax Seals Vs Melting Wax Seals

Before we get started on some fun places wax seals can be added, I’ll first explain the different types you can do. Adhesive wax seals are the most popular (and my recommendation) as they always look perfect, and are SUPER easy to use! You just peel off the backing, and pop onto the desired surface. Though, not every application can use the adhesive style. The other alternatives are a glue gun with specially created wax sticks – so you simply melt the wax with a glue gun, press the die into the wax allowing to dry, and repeat the process until complete! These look stunning (giving you a more traditional look), but are certainly time consuming.

On the Invitation Envelope

The invitation envelope is definitely the most traditional place to include these. Adhesive wax seals are a great option for the envelope and do not fall off when going through the postal service.

On the Invitation Card

My favorite place to include wax seals is within the invitation suite. Wrap a ribbon around the invitation card, and a wax seal on top to give a truly custom look! Wax seals can also be used with belly bands, or even added directly to the invitation card. Adhesive wax seals are usually the best option to use, but the glue gun wax seals may be a better alternative depending on the application. Because the adhesive could stick to the invitation card, a glue gun melted wax seal may be necessary, by using a non-stick paper to protect the invitation, which can be removed once the wax has dried.

On Place Cards and Menus

I love adding wax seals on the tops of place cards or menus! On menus, they provide an extra pop of texture and color to your table. On place cards, they provide more texture and a fun keepsake – which can even be used for a big seating chart display. Both place cards and menus work great with the self-adhesive versions.

Neutrals are such a popular color right now – and this one did not disappoint! Villa Antonia, located in Austin, Texas, is the perfect Italian inspired venue, right here in Texas. This shoot brought together neutral shades – with a more modern script font, a hand drawn venue sketch, and deckled edges on cotton paper. The stunning photos by Gina Park Photography captured the beauty in this entire shot.

Lani and Adam’s modern wedding was so classic, elegant, and timeless. From their all black and white color scheme to the sleek monogram design - this wedding and invitation suite was an absolute favorite!

I enjoyed working on this invitation suite so much, we went through multiple ideas and just loved the end result! See some of my favorite images by Amy Maddox Photography!
 

The one thing we get asked about time and time again as stationery pros? All about wedding postage and addressing. From formality of addressing guest names to adding the postage on the envelope - we’re breaking down all you need to know when crafting your address list and ordering postage! Read on for our top tip

Return Address

The return address should always appear on the back flap, and traditionally it does not need to include a name, though more than often it is still added. We also love placing monograms on the flap for an extra touch of personalization. The return address is typically either your parent’s address or the bride and groom’s address. Another option to some money on printing is to use a return address stamp that has been custom made for this purpose. A stamp allows you to use any color ink (even metallic colors!) and is very affordable.

Digital Addressing

Digital printing is the most cost effective way to address your envelopes, while still keeping them looking formal and elegant. We can typeset your addresses in a coordinating font and have them printed digitally. Many brides opt for this option because it saves time, and it is usually a small incremental cost to your wedding suite.

Rules of Addressing

There are so many different scenarios for the proper address formats - married couples, families, doctors, military personnel - but the most general rule to follow in addressing your wedding envelopes is that everything gets spelled out. (Rd. = Road, St . = Street, Ln = Lane) We will provide you with a template to use so that your addresses are properly formatted. Making sure that your addresses appear exactly how you want them to on your envelopes is always a huge time savings.

We also have this handy Resource page, where you can download a file to enter all of your guest addresses, so that we can print them right on the envelopes! Trust me, your hand will thank you! 

Check Postage Before Buying Stamps

Take the entirely assembled invitation suite (or two if there are variations, ex: one for local guests, another for out of town guests, which may include additional enclosures) to the post office to be weighed. It’s likely that additional inserts, or extras/add ons - such as ribbons or belly bands - will call for extra postage. Square invitations (and envelopes) require more postage than rectangle formats. Also, make it easy for guests to send back their reply cards by adding postage to the small reply envelopes.

Postage Options

There are so many options for postage on your wedding invitations, and we believe that you shouldn’t settle for Forever stamps. The post office offers several “wedding” postage stamps that may be in line with your colors and overall theme. These stamps are for larger weights, and therefore you may need more than one stamp to cover the cost of one invitation. Completely custom stamps with a monogram or photo are unfortunately no longer available to purchase (USPS did away with these).

Another option to really personalize your envelope is to curate your own collection of vintage stamps. There are thousands of options when it comes to vintages stamps: colors, patterns, states, and special events. Because vintage stamps are from decades past and were designed for letters that cost .5 or .10 cents to mail, you may need many of them on one envelope. This can get pricy for every envelope, so if it's not in your budget we recommend you order about 5 sets for keepsakes, styling photos, and special guests!

When Diana contacted me to create her wedding day stationery, she already knew two things she wanted to include - a custom map drawing and wax seals - I knew it was going to be beautiful! We went with a leafy design, bold script type, and simplicity - to keep focus on the wax and map.

We helped create her wedding programs, welcome bag notes, place cards, and menus. The wedding took place in Colorado along beautiful mountains. I just love how everything turned out!

Photography: Brumley & Wells