Celebration Boutonniere Forever Postage Stamps

A single boutonniere photographed close, made as the one-ounce partner to the two-ounce Celebration Corsage stamp. Buttonhole flowers were standard formal dress for centuries - the British called them buttonholes - long before they narrowed down to weddings and proms, and the arrangement here is restrained enough to read as tailored rather than ceremonial.

The pairing is the practical point. On a wedding mailing the corsage goes on the outer envelope, which is over an ounce, and this one goes on the reply envelope, which is not - so the couple prepays the RSVP and a guest only has to post it. Outside weddings it carries party invitations, thank-you notes and announcements. Sheets of 20, which is enough for a guest list of that size with a few spare for the ones that get spoiled. Forever value applies, so a sheet bought a rate change or two ago still covers a full one-ounce letter with nothing to add.