Top things to know about postage and mailing

One unavoidable cost of your wedding is postage for your wedding invitations, save the dates, and thank you notes.  It is important to know the rules of postage so you can budget correctly and make sure you put the correct postage on the stationery so they don’t end up getting returned and end up costing you more.  So while it can be inconvenient to get it right the first time it will be much cheaper and less stressful to get it right the first time.

Here are some things to be aware of when it comes to postage rates and requirements (disclaimer: postage rates mentioned in this blog are current as of the date of posting and are subject to change.  Postage rates typically are updated the third Sunday in January each year):

1. Postcards- the postcard postage rate is $0.35 but there are some limitations that you need to be aware of to use this postage rate.  The maximum size for postcard postage is 4.25x6 inches and no thicker than 16pt (or 130lb) card stock.  If the postcard is over either of these criteria, then the standard first-class postage rate will apply.
2. First class postage- the first-class postage rate is $0.50.  If you are mailing an envelope that is rectangular and less than 1 ounce this postage rate applies.  The envelope cannot be rigid or have anything in it that makes the envelope uneven (like a ribbon or a knot) or additional postage will be required.
3. Additional postage will be required if any of the following apply:
   1. Square- if your invitations or save the date are square it cannot be machined and will cost you an extra $0.21 each.
   2. Rigid- same problem as square, they cannot be machined so it will also cost and additional $0.21 each. Rigid can be if the whole thing is rigid or if there is a rigid item in the envelope (i.e. a knot, a pencil).  Either of those will result in the extra charge.
   3. Heavy- a first class stamp only covers up to 1 ounce.  Each additional ounce over the 1-ounce weight will result in an additional $0.21 each.

Are you seeing a theme here?  Lol.  Anything that isn’t your run of the mill couple sheets of paper in a rectangular envelope it is going to cost more than $0.50.  Normally an invitation, RSVP with an envelope and one insert will be right at the 1-ounce mark but depending on the cardstock used it could be over 1 ounce. 

I suggest putting together your invitations and taking a few of them to the post office to have them evaluate them and tell you the cost of the postage for them.  If there is any question it is safer to add some extra postage to cover every possibility.  And remember, these variables in postage rates are compounded so if you have a square, rigid, 3-ounce envelope they will cost $1.34 ($0.50+$0.21+$0.21+$0.21+$0.21) to mail each envelope.

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