Wedding Invitation Postage and the USPS
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If you've ever had to mail anything through USPS (I would be shocked if you haven't!) then you probably know that the US Postal Service has a mind of its own. Many sets of hands and machines will touch your invitations while they are going through the mail, so there is always a chance that one or two of them might get lost.
This is something that I ALWAYS discuss with my couples up front and, because of this, is why it is so incredibly important to order some extras in case you have to send out a few invitations again.
Postage Cost
The best thing you can do when preparing to mail your wedding invitations (if you're not having me do it for you) is at least be aware how the postage rules for the post office work! Here's a quick overview of what you should know in terms of postage cost for your wedding invitations:
Any letter 1oz or less: $0.55
Between 1-2oz: $0.70
Between 2-3oz: $0.85
Between 3-3.5oz: $1.00
Expect to use more postage on your wedding invitations than you think you need. Wax seal? Add 21 cents. More than 1oz? Add 21 cents. Is your envelope a square? Add 21 cents.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to take one of your fully assembled wedding invitations to the post office to have them weigh it for you and advise you on the correct postage amount, unless you have a shipping scale at home that you can use! I’ll weigh one of your suites and advise you on what to expect, but it’s always best to check with the official scale at the post office. It’s helpful to know that the majority of my couples spend at least $0.70 mailing their invitations. Postage fees can add up really quickly so it's good to be mentally prepared and aware of what you are going to need to pay!
You might be wondering: can you purchase the postage for me? Yes! I’d be happy to figure out and purchase postage on your behalf. I even offer full stuffing, stamping and mailing services for couples who want to leave everything to me and focus on other aspects of their planning.
Hand-Canceling Can Make A Difference
This is something that seems to confuse everyone and be notoriously different from post office to post office. Some post office workers will tell you that hand-canceling envelopes is no longer an option anymore, period. Which is a lie because I do it all the time. Let me take a moment to explain what hand-canceling means.
You know those squiggly lines that appear through a stamp when you receive it in the mail? That means the stamp has been “canceled” and it was canceled by a machine. You can no longer use it because it’s spent. When you hand-cancel your wedding invitations you are either having the postmaster hand stamp each and every stamp on every single envelope, or you are taking the time to do it yourself. This means that your wedding invitation will supposedly not go through a machine, lessening the chance it may get ripped up or destroyed on the way to your guest.
However, I have heard that true hand-canceling no longer exists anymore because your envelope, no matter what, will almost always go through a machine at some point during the process, unless it is more than ¼ of an inch thick. If it is more than ¼ of an inch thick, then you would definitely have to pay the extra 21 cents for it to be handled by hand because, at that point, it is classified as non-machinable.
Also, if you are hand-canceling invitations or save the dates, you are technically supposed to pay an additional 21 cents per envelope for the post master to do this for you. However, some post offices do it for free or let you do it yourself, which allows you to avoid the cost of this fee. It never hurts to ask! If you go to one post office and they won’t let you, simply go down the street to a different one. And always try to go when it is NOT post office rush hour (avoid lunchtime, the rush before 5pm, or Saturday mornings!)
Hopefully this has helped you understand the mailing process a little better and mentally prepared you with what to expect when mailing your wedding invitations!
This blog post is meant to serve as a quick guide for USPS related policies surrounding wedding invitations and save the dates, or really any piece of mail for that matter. However, I am not an employee of USPS, so for all your official questions please refer to USPS.com or visit your local USPS location.