All About Postage {Ideas & Information}

Before you begin addressing envelopes, assemble one complete invitation (including tissue paper, any maps or additional insertions, and the stamp on the return response envelope) and take it to your local post office for weight and measurement. When you order invitations, it is safe to assume that you will have to pay extra postage.

Don’t assume .45 cents will be enough. Due to extra insertions, your invitation could easily exceed one ounce. In addition, often it’s the size and not the weight which may require more postage than one first class stamp, so taking this extra step now can save a lot of aggravation later. Don’t forget to buy stamps for the response card envelopes or postcards while you’re at the post office!

First Class Letter postage prices are based on the shape, as well as the weight of the envelope. USPS follows the guidelines below:

Shape

• Rectangular; length is the dimension parallel to the address
• At least 5" long  x 3 1/2" high by .007" thick
• No more than 11 1/2" long x 6 1/8" high x 1/4" thick
• Up to 3.5 ounces

Weight

• Less than 1 oz. = $0.45
• Less than 2 oz. = $0.65
• Less than 3 oz. = $0.85
• Less than 3 1/2 oz. = $1.05

Letters that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics below are subject to the $0.20 nonmachinable surcharge. Items over 3.5 ounces must be mailed as a Large Envelope or Package.

• It is a square letter (the minimum size for a square envelope is 5 x 5 inches.)
• It is too rigid - does not bend easily
• It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices
• It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter
• It contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven
• The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5

Postcards - 32 cents
Size limits:
Minimum: 3-1/2 inches high by 5 inches long by 0.007 inch thick
Maximum: 6 inches long by 4-1/4 inches high.
Additional postage required for larger postcards

Visit USPS.com and check out their postage calculator for further details

Postage Increase 

If you haven’t heard, there will be a postage increase on January 22, 2012.  If you plan to mail anything from save the dates, engagement party invites, or wedding invitations remember to consider the postage increase when mailing items out. If you are expecting response cards to be returned, don’t get caught with out enough postage or you can expect a giant stack of bright yellow ‘return to sender’ stickers stamped on your  beautifully addressed invitations.

The increase will affect everything being placed in your mailbox with postcards having the biggest price jump with a three cent increase. If you plan on ordering custom stamps do consider the price increase when you place your order.

Here are the facts straight from the United Postal Service regarding the postage increase:

Prices for most Postal Service mailing services will change on January 22, 2012.

FIRST-CLASS MAIL HIGHLIGHTS:

• Letters (1 oz.) – 1-cent increase to 45 cents.
• Single-piece letters additional ounce rate – unchanged at 20 cents.
• Postcards – 3-cent increase to 32 cents
• Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – 5-cent increase to 85 cents
• Letters to other international destinations – 7-cent increase to $1.05

You can also check out our post about personalized postage if you plan to order custom stamps for your invitations. For more information about the USPS price increases, check out their latest pricing sheet here.

New Postage Rates {Ideas & Information}

Starting on April 17th, USPS postage rates will be increasing across a range of denominations. While the one-ounce first class stamp will remain at $0.44, several other postage values will be changing.

New USPS Postage Rates
Postcard - $0.29
1st Class, 1oz. - $0.44
1st Class, 2oz. - $0.64
1st Class, 1oz. Odd Size - $0.84
1st Class, 3oz. - $0.84
1st Class, 3.5oz. - $1.05
1st Class, 4oz. - $1.48
Priority, Flat Rate Envelope - $4.95

So if you're planning on purchasing postage (or custom postage) please keep these rates in mind.

Save the Date Postage
A year-round favorite, Save the Date postage is a special way for any couple to spread the word about their engagement on every card and letter they send. Make postage designs to match your Save the Date announcements and your guests wont have to question when the big day is again!

Wedding Postage
Similar to Save the Date postage, wedding postage is another popular option for brides. Create postage templates in which you can use your own engagement or wedding photos, and your designs will be a hit among the your guests. You don't just have to stop at the invitations when using your custom postage, you can also use it on your thank you cards and mail you send all throughout the newlywed stage (including holiday cards!).

Graduation Postage
In addition to graduation announcements and invitations, this year's grads will also be sending thank you cards. Create graduation postage to stick on all your graduate's cards and invites, and you may find yourself at the top of the class!

Monogram Postage
Perfect for weddings and other special occasions, monogram postage is another great option for something unique all year long. It's so versatile! Try creating monogram postage with a particular theme (fall wedding or beach wedding, for instance) or make a range of other colorful designs. And you don't even have to be getting married to use this postage. Create custom stationery and postage to match so when you're sending that special person in your life a letter it'll be sent with style.

New Postage Available for Square Envelopes {Ideas and Information}

We always get a lot of questions about how much our wedding invitations cost to mail, while the answer really varies depending on the weight and size of the final piece. You can weigh your invitation and estimate the cost by going to the USPS website but you also have to factor in extras such as the size and shape of your envelope (absolutely check with your local post office before purchasing postage!). The majority of 5x7 invitations we do are 2oz on average and cost about $0.61 in stamps. What better way to greet your guests right out of their mailbox, than with personalized postage!?

Envelopments is now offering custom postage to match their patterned papers, and you can also get custom postage from us on Zazzle.com. If you don't see something you like let us know and we are happy to create a custom stamp for you!

The 5x5 and 7x7 square shapes do require a surcharge since they are square instead of the rectangular, so the post office will charge and extra "non-machinable" rate for these. But they do now offer a $.64 stamp just for the square greeting cards as long as they are under 1 ounce.

Some info from the usps.com website:

Using the Butterfly stamp
Today’s high-tech letter sorting technology enables machinable First-Class Mail letters to be processed at a cost of 44 cents for the first ounce and 17 cents for each additional ounce up to 3½ ounces. Non-machinable letters such as square envelopes, envelopes with the address parallel to the shorter dimension, and envelopes containing odd-shaped items cannot be processed on today’s high-speed mail sorters and a 20-cent non-machinable surcharge is applied for the additional handling costs.

The 64-cent Butterfly stamp incorporates the non-machinable surcharge and can be used for square greeting cards and other non-machinable envelopes weighing up to one ounce.

For more information on the USPS guidelines, visit this link here: http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm.

Postage Rate Increase!

Yes, the post office has done it again... they announced a postage rate increase beginning May 12, 2008. I send a lot of samples and large envelopes, and was *just* starting to remember what the postage was for each! Darn it!

Anyway, summer brides - be sure to stock up on the FOREVER stamps for your RSVP cards if you are planning on sending your invitations anytime in April, May or June - just to be sure the RSVP gets back to you in time no matter when your guest decides to drop it in the mail! See more details on the rate increase here. The first ounce of a first-class letter will rise to 42¢ and the cost to mail a postcard will also go up a penny, to 27¢.

Most invitations are currently taking 58¢ stamps, and in May this will go to 59¢ but always have your invitation checked and weighed at the post office to make sure! for this rate, invitations need to be rectangular, At least 3-½ inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick, no more than 4-¼ inches high x 6 inches long x 0.016 inches thick. If your envelope is larger than this or square you will need an additional stamp see the guidelines here: http://www.usps.com/businessmail101/mailcharacteristics/cards.htm

To avoid marring your pretty invitations with all those "make-up" postage stamps you may want to consider doing custom stamps....you can use your photo or purchase one of their pre-made designs. Custom Programs can do this for you for an extra fee and use the same motif or monogram you are using on your invitations! See more information on custom stamps here: http://photo.stamps.com/Store/wedding-advisor/ or here: http://www.zazzle.com/knot?ZCMP=pl3knot

Another tip: 
If you have a thick envelope like for Envelopments® invitations - or your invitation uses a bulky item like a rhinestone or ribbon, take your finished invitations to the post office and request that they "hand cancel" them. This saves one trip though their automated machines at least, and may save some of the mangling that can occur when it is sorted later (I have heard that the teller can choose not to do this for you though - especially if they are busy - I heard one bride had to visit 3 post offices to get this done - and then ended up using their stamp to free up the teller!). Good Luck!