Should I laminate my marriage certificate?

If you’re looking for a way to preserve your marriage certificate, you may be tempted to laminate it. Hold that thought for just a moment because we have some expert advice and reasons as to why you may not want to do that!

 At The Broken Plank we work with marriage certificates all day, everyday. We print thousands of marriage certificates on wood each year and we restore hundreds of marriage certificates that may have been damaged over time. Over the years we have had a lot of customers ask this very question "Should I laminate my marriage certificate?". There are some really important reasons why you should NOT laminate your marriage certificate.

First, lamination can damage the certificate. The adhesive in the lamination can interact with the paper, leaving a residue on the certificate. This can make it difficult to read, and can even damage the ink. It can also cause the paper to become brittle over time, making it more susceptible to damage.

Second, lamination can make it difficult to verify the certificate. Since some states require the certificate to be verified, lamination can make it hard for the verifying party to inspect the certificate. This can cause delays in the verification process and potentially complicate matters.

Finally, lamination can make it difficult to update the certificate. If you ever need to make a change to the certificate, such as a name change, it can be difficult to do so if the certificate is laminated. This can be especially true if the lamination is thick, as it may be difficult to remove.

For all of these reasons, it is best to avoid laminating your marriage certificate. Instead, go to www.thebrokenplank.com and upload a digital copy of your certificate and we will print it on a beautiful handcrafted piece of wood.

This is a beautiful option to hang on the wall or put on a stand. It will allow you to put away that original document and keep it in a safe place, and still display your Broken Plank original on the wall for everyone to see. It will also help to keep your paper marriage certificate in its original condition, making it easier to verify and update if necessary down the road. Hope this helps!