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After reading about how Miss Sweet Tea had her invitations mailed and postmarked from the city where she will be married, I was triggered to write a post about getting special postmarks on any piece of mail you send.
When I send out my Christmas cards every year, I go an extra step to add a special detail by getting them postmarked in a Christmas-themed city*. I’ve mailed my Christmas cards from North Pole, NY, Bethlehem, PA, and Santa, ID. No, I didn’t have to travel all over this great nation to have this done. I mailed my Christmas cards to the Postmaster of each of these cities, and the post office there did it for me.
Bethlehem, PA specialty postmark - Christmas 2006
Having a love-themed postmark on your wedding invitations would be a sweet, personal touch, and there are lots of U.S. cities with names that would make them a perfect fit.
To have specialty postmarks on your invites, all you have to do is prepare them for mailing by addressing them and stamping them with the correct postage (very important!!!). Then, place all of your invites in a separate, postage-paid envelope or box and address it to the Postmaster of the post office of your choice. You may want to include a note telling them what you are doing and to ask for a special postmark if they have it. The receiving post office will open your package, postmark all of your invitations, and send them on their way. This service is free. You only pay for the postage on your invites and on the package.
Check out this bears with hearts postmark from Valentine, Texas 79854:
Here is a list of other lovely cities for your consideration:
I’ve always called the post office before I mailed my Christmas cards to confirm that they do use a special holiday postmark, to be sure I was sending my cards to the correct place, and to check and see to whom (Postmaster or other) I should address my package.
For your wedding invites, it might be a good idea to test the process by sending a sample invite inside a larger envelope to your post office of choice and having it mailed back to you. Even if the postmark the city provides is not “special,” having it come from a city with a wedding-related name is still a great detail! As a bonus, a special postmark almost always requires hand canceling!
If you are having a destination wedding, you can have your invites sent from the city where you will get married. Just package them up and send them to the correct post office. That city probably won’t have a special postmark, but it would still add an extra punch to your envelopes.
Too late for your wedding invites? Use the love-themed postmarks for mailing an anniversary or Valentine’s Day card to your special someone.
*If you are interested in a list of Christmas-themed postmarks, check out this list.
I had no idea you could do this, it is such a cute idea:) Thank you!
I worked at Santa’s Workshop in North Pole, NY for several years in high school. Never mailed anything from their post office, though.
[...] my searches could all be in vain, since I think *this* idea is awesome, and we could mail them from Rigby, ID! So perhaps ivory envelopes, with ivory [...]
Martha Stewart actually just did a feature on this in one of her most recent issues of Martha Stewart Weddings; and I thought it was SO cute!
I always knew about the list for Valentine’s cards… so this would be awesome.
And you’ve got me thinking about Bethlehem… I should have brought all my cards on the plane when visiting the in-laws for x-mas… maybe this year I’ll ship them the box to drop in their mail!
how cool is that???? i didn’t even know you could do that or that certain cities had a holiday themed post mark.
Just called the postmaster at Bridal Veil, OR…this post office is basically the reason the town is still alive. I guess this is a famous place to get your invitations hand-stamped from. I’m definetly sending mine here. What perfect timing, as mine need to go out next week!
@kat: Is it in her newest issue? I’m going to have to pick it up and check that out. Thanks!
@Mrs. Lemon: The Bethlehem post mark is my favorite so far and a lot of people on my Christmas card list said they noticed it. When I did the North Pole, I think only 2 people commented on it. I may try Holly, CO this year.
@bree72: I hope you share a link with a picture of the post mark if you send yours there. I’d love to see how that one looks.
@ Miss Deviled Egg: After I read your post, I thought this was the coolest idea ever, but after I talked to the Bridal Veil Postmaster (who, by the way, answered the phone and is the only employee), I realized that this could actually be saving a town. There are only 3 buildings here and they have been trying to save the town for years now, as it has pretty much been forgotten. It is the second smallest post office in the US, but recieved over 200,000 wedding invitations to be postmarked last year. I will be sending my invites here, as well as a check to the historical preservation society for good measure. I found this pic of the postmark here:
@bree72: WOW! Thanks for the information. I may have to do my part and send my invites to Bridal Veil, too. Thanks for the picture link. That’s a pretty neat post mark.
I did a little wikipedia search and saw this on the Bridal Veil, OR page:
“One reason Bridal Veil still exists is its highly sought after postmark. Letters that come through Bridal Veil have their stamps canceled with a Bridal Veil postmark. Thus, thousands of brides bring their wedding invitations through Bridal Veil. During the spring and summer, the height of wedding season, the post office is filled with thousands of wedding invitations awaiting that special postmark. The wedding business and ardent support from locals every time the federal government threatens shut down of the Bridal Veil post office has helped keep the town going long after the logging industry left the town.”
This is so cool. And I love the story about bridal veil. I’m not sure I’m “with it” enough to do this, but I’m loving it.
Cool idea! I’m going to try this for christmas!
I grew up in Loveland, CO and we have a valentine remailing program. I am not sure the dates that they do the special postmark (and they will include a cute stamp with a love poem) but I can find out if anyone wants to know!
OK, I might be in love with you…I am having a Vday wedding in TX & didn’t even know that was an option!
Wow! its cool,thanks for sharing this,it would be a very nice entry.
by:missy
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Mrs. Deviled Egg, Pittsburgh Age and Occupation: 27, Public Relations Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Accounting Engagement Date: December 24, 2007 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Blogging Since: October 21, 2008 Venue: Historic auditorium and meeting hall in one of Pittsburgh's commuter cities About Me: I am obsessed with all things crafty, especially scrapbooking, knitting, jewelry-making & cake decorating. I also love being an aunt, wrapping presents, watching football (Go Steelers!), shopping at yard sales and consignment stores, procrastinating, singing and learning to play the guitar. When it comes to wedding planning, I'm excited about working on DIY projects and finding creative ways to stay under budget. Of course, nothing is more exciting to me than knowing that the wonderful Mr. Deviled Egg will be my husband.
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