Your invitations are stuffed, addressed, and ready to go. Almost. One more task remains – dropping them off at the post office. Since so much today is digital, you might not be up on the latest rules of mailing through the post office. That’s why we’ll walk you through the process, so you know what to expect and how to ensure your invitations reach your guests.

Key Takeaways:

• Finish putting your invitation suite together before ordering postage.
• Order postage for the invitations and RSVP envelopes.
• Thick paper and ribbon add postage to your invitations.

When to Send out Wedding Invitations

Sending paper invitations is a timeless tradition and leaves a memorable impression on your recipient as you prepare for your big day.

You want to send your invitations out with plenty of time for guests to plan, and you don’t have to worry about the postage speed.

Most experts recommend sending your wedding invitations 12-8 weeks before your wedding. However, consider sending the invitations out sooner if you have a destination wedding.

Should I Take Wedding Invites to the Post Office?

Plan on taking your invites to the post office to ensure you have the right postage.

Can I Just Put my Wedding Invites in the Mailbox?

If your invites are regular 5x7 in A7 envelopes, yes you can, instead of visiting a post office.

What Does the Envelope Need Beforehand?

The wedding invitation envelope needs three items on it before making your trip to the post office:

• Recipient’s name
• Recipient’s address
• Your return address

Make sure the recipient’s name and address are printed in black ink and easy to read so the post office doesn’t lose it. That means leaving the fancy calligraphy for the invitation rather than the envelope.

You will also want to keep the return address small and out of the way. Traditionally, this goes in the top-left corner of the front or at the back. Keeping it small prevents the post office from mistaking it for the primary address.

You need one more item: the stamp. You might think preordering stamps would speed up the process. However, that risks adding the wrong postage. The invites might require slightly higher postage if they have additional inserts and embellishments like bows.

Plus, you won’t know exactly how much your invitation suites weigh until you finish stuffing and weighing them at the post office.

How to Mail Wedding Invitations at the Post Office

How do you send a wedding invitation through the mail?

The process of mailing wedding invitations will differ depending on whether you’re mailing invitation cards with one or two inserts or sending a complete invitation suite.

Invitation Cards

How many stamps do you need for a wedding invitation?

For an average invitation, you’ll need two stamps – one for the invitation card and one for the RSVP envelope.

If you only have invitation cards in envelopes, you will have the easiest time sending the invitations since you can order stamps ahead of time. Regular invitation cards are 5x7 and fit in a standard A7 envelope.

You’ll also want to order standard postage stamps for your RSVP envelopes. This ensures your guests can return them without extra effort or costs. Add these stamps to the RSVP envelopes before putting them in the larger invitation suite.

Once you have stamped the envelopes, you can drop them in the mailbox. You can also take the invitations to the post office, and they will count, stamp, and charge you there if you didn’t pre-purchase stamps.

Invitation Suites

If you have anything other than a card and two enclosures in your invitation, you may need to pay extra postage. Instead of pre-ordering stamps, wait until you’re at the post office to weigh and measure your invites for accurate postage.

On average, Shine Wedding Invitations range from one to two ounces. Typically, an invitation, two enclosures, and a belly band weigh one ounce. If you have three enclosures or more, it will be two ounces. Note that these are estimates based on the average invitation. Enclosure sizes and types of paper you use will affect the weight of your invitation.

If your invitation suite uses double thick stock and has a ribbon, you will need additional postage. Double-thick paper and ribbon receive a non-machinable surcharge. This means the envelope is too thick, uneven, or awkward for regular machine processing. You may need to call ahead to ensure they have the staff and resources to handle all your invitations, as these need to be manually sorted.

When you tie your ribbon, it might exceed 1/4” thickness, which then qualifies it as a parcel post. Parcel post doesn’t have a non-machine surcharge.

What If Wedding Invitations are Lost in the Mail?

The U.S. Postal Service handles over 20 million pieces annually, so there is a chance they will lose a few. Thankfully, most cases of lost mail are preventable.

USPS lists common reasons they lose letters:

• Address labels fall off
• Shipping labels smear
• Information is illegible

You can avoid smears and lost labels when you print the information on the envelope in quality black ink. You also want to double-check your addresses to ensure there are no errors.

Have lost mail?

Note that the USPS only considers a mail lost if it’s been missing for at least seven days from the mailing date. Only then can you request a search to find a missing mail.

However, the search process can take several months, so you should consider sending a new invitation rather than waiting. But double-check the recipient’s address to ensure it matches their address.

This means you want to order extra invitations when you order your first batch. Plus, ordering invitations in bulk is more cost-efficient than ordering five or 10 invitations later because of mistakes or lost mail.

Find Your Perfect Wedding Invitation

Shine Wedding Invitations help you design stunning wedding invitations. Choose from dozens of designs and embellishments – including envelope liners, wax seals, and ribbons – so your invitation makes quite an impression on your recipient.

Our invitations include addressing so you can ensure your invitation arrives at its destination.

View our wedding invitation collection to find your perfect invitation suite.