What to Know Before Buying Wedding Stamps

Your guide to making sure your invites arrive on time and in pristine condition.

So you’ve designed them, printed them, addressed and stuffed them. Your wedding invitations, I mean. Now you’ve got them all bundled up and ready to drop at the post office. But stop! Before you do, take a few minutes to read some tips and tricks on how to make sure your invites arrive on time and in great condition. We’re talking all about the cost of postage, how to ensure your invites don’t get shredded, where to buy stamps and so much more!

First up, how much do wedding stamps cost?

Great question but the answer isn’t that simple. So let’s break it down!

The cost of stamps depends on a few factors, size and weight of the mailed item, speed of transit, and how far it is going. Standard envelopes going to a location near you or within the United States at a standard speed will typically only cost one stamp. If your invitation is going outside the United States and is an odd or heavier size it will cost more. Postage can also be more expensive for faster shipping speeds. Stamps currently cost $.60 in 2022 and early 2023, these are known as forever stamps. These are great for any invitation that is a regular size and doesn’t have any additions (think: twine, ribbon, flowers, wax seal, etc). These are also usually under one ounce in weight.

Any item that weighs between one and two ounces will typically cost about $.78. Depending on when you send your invitations, we recommend a first-class stamp at $.78 each. Now that might not seem like a lot but it can add up quickly. To avoid a higher shipping cost, we recommend mailing invitations early and keeping additions to a minimum. We know! We know! We love the wax seals and embellishments too. But if you’re on a budget or just trying to be money conscious, this is a good way to keep postage costs lower.

You can save money by purchasing your stamps in bulk and even maximize your budget by buying your stamps early. Forever stamps are a great way to maximize your budget because they maintain their value even if the cost of shipping increases.

What are Forever Stamps?

If you’ve never heard about forever stamps, they’re a great thing to stock up on. Not just for your wedding but for any potential mailing you might have to do in everyday life. Forever stamps are just that, forever. They hold their value even if the cost of postage increases. They can be used on any standard mailing under one ounce. Not only are they a great way to save within your budget, but they have really cute designs! You can find a few designs in your local post office but their website has even more! These do typically sell out fast though, so if you see one you like, stock up right then. If you want to make your invitations even more classy and special, check out their wedding collection.

So How Many Do You Need?

This will entirely depend on your own wedding invitation. The easiest way to make sure your invitations have enough postage is to put one together and visit the post office to have them give you an estimate. A standard one-card wedding invitation or postcard should only require one forever stamp. If your invitation is heavy, you can purchase additional stamps in denominations of $.05 and $.10 to add to your forever stamp. If you don’t want multiple stamps crowding your envelopes, you can purchase stamps in larger amounts that will cover postage for up to two ounces and even three ounces.

When buying your stamps, don’t forget other aspects of your wedding suite, the save-the-date, and even RSVP cards. That means that each invitation you send out would need up to three stamps. It’s always a good idea to pick up a few extras as well, just in case you have a mishap with your invitations. If you’re working with a professional stationery designer, they can be a great resource in helping you figure out the correct postage amount.

One important tip we always recommend is to take your invitations once they’re ready to be mailed and ask the post office to hand cancel them. This is especially important if your invitations have additions and are thicker than a standard letter. Having them hand-canceled will prevent them from getting stuck in the post office machinery and getting torn to shreds. Don’t let those beautiful invitations you worked so hard on get torn up and take the extra few minutes to hand them to a post office staff member instead of just dropping them off.

Do Your RSVP Cards Really Need Stamps?

Excellent question! It is considered proper etiquette to include a pre-stamped and addressed envelope in your invitation suite with your RSVP card. Not only is this easier on your guests but it can guarantee a faster response from them. That way you, the engaged couple, don’t have to stress so much about following up with them.

Of course, there are ways to get around including postage on your RSVP card. While invitation suites are beautiful and can add an extra bit of elegance to your big day, they can be spendy. They also just might not be your style. If you’re sending a simple invitation instead of a suite, you can have your guests RSVP on your wedding website. Many couples today are even choosing to forgo physical invitations altogether and going the digital route. If you haven’t set up your wedding website and would like to have guests respond digitally, there are many wedding websites that can help you with that. Some of our favorites are Zola, Hitchd, and The Knot.

What next?

Now that your invitations are mailed out and you’re awaiting the responses, it’s time to prepare to gather your RSVPs and book any wedding vendors you might need. Come back next week to see tips and tricks on organizing RSVPs. Be sure to check out our featured vendors and our Instagram for more tips and tricks and wedding vendor highlights.