The Postal Service has released the Contemporary Boutonniere and Garden Corsage stamps, which form a natural pair to dress up envelopes for wedding invitations, RSVPs, thank-you notes and similar celebratory mail.
The dedication ceremony, which had been scheduled for April 2 before being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, may be held at a later date.
Contemporary Boutonniere is a Forever stamp, while Garden Corsage can accommodate the weight of heavy invitations, oversize greeting cards and mailings up to two ounces that require extra postage.
For centuries, boutonnieres — or buttonhole flowers, as they were called in Britain — were a staple of a well-dressed man’s outfit. A boutonniere can also be worn by a woman who prefers something petite or tailored in design.
The word “corsage” was shortened from the French term “bouquets de corsage,” which referred to the bodice of a dress, where small bouquets were pinned. Corsages were fashionable for daily wear in earlier centuries, but gradually they began to be worn mostly for formal occasions.
The boutonniere and corsage continue to be stylish accessories at weddings and other special events.
The stamp artwork features modern botanical styles arranged by floral designer Carol Caggiano and photographed by Renée Comet. Ethel Kessler was the art director.
Both stamps are available at Post Offices and usps.com.
