A Primer On Postage
I love postage stamps. I frequently visit the stamp section of the USPS website, and I spend a lot of time putting vintage stamp collections together for hypothetical events - you should email me if you’re having a geology and space themed party because boy do I have a stamp collection just for you.
However, I don’t like going to the post office, and it can often be frustrating and stressful to make sure you have the correct postage for your invitations. The USPS is not shy about sending your beautiful envelopes back with a big old ‘INSUFFICIENT POSTAGE’ stamped all over them, and after all the time and effort we’ve put into making sure these puppies look fabulous, the thought makes my skin crawl.
Personal anecdote time! One of my save the dates, outfitted with vintage stamps, and lovingly calligraphed by yours truly, was returned because I had the wrong address, and for some reason someone scribbled all over the envelope and address (and I mean all over) in black crayon. Black. Crayon. Why? I don’t know! I briefly considered storming the post office in tears, demanding answers, but then I realized that was probably taking it too far.
So, we thought it would be helpful to include a little info about some of the postage pitfalls you can avoid when mailing domestically.
Standard Postage
As of spring 2016, the currently standard postage price is 49 cents. This covers standard sized envelopes weighing up to two ounces. Your invitation suite will often weigh over two ounces, which will bump the price up to 71 cents.
A postcard price is currently 35 cents. If you are on a budget, sending out an RSVP postcard is a great way to save a little - you not only shave a bit of postage off, but you also don’t need to purchase an additional envelope, which could save weight on your invitations as well.
Oddly sized envelopes
There are a few exceptions to this pricing. The most frequent pitfall is the square envelope. Why, USPS?! I don’t know why, but I do know that a square envelope is considered non machinable, so it will add a fee to your postage. If your square envelope is under two ounces, it will still cost 71 cents to mail. If it is over two ounces, it will cost 93 cents to mail.
What else is non machinable? Well, the USPS defines non machinable envelopes as ‘Unusually shaped mail, like square or vertical envelopes, lumpy envelopes, rigid envelopes, and mail with clasps, string, buttons.’ If you have a wax seal on the outside of your envelope, it won’t qualify as machinable, either, but I guess not enough people are doing that for it to be specifically mentioned.
So there you have it - a little info on postage! We always recommend bringing an invitation to the post office before mailing, for peace of mind. Tell them I said hi.
<3 Alison
