Square Wedding Invites: Choosing The Right Postage

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and the process of mailing square wedding invitations can be tricky. The United States Postal Service (USPS) considers square envelopes to be odd-sized or nonmachineable, resulting in a higher postage price. This is because square envelopes cannot go through the sorting machine and require hand sorting or hand-cancelling. The additional cost for square envelopes is approximately $0.20 to $0.46 per letter, depending on weight. To ensure you have the correct postage, it is recommended to take a sample invitation to your local post office for weighing and thickness testing.

Square envelopes are considered odd-sized or nonmachineable and will require additional postage

When it comes to mailing square wedding invitations, you may be surprised to learn that the United States Postal Service (USPS) considers square envelopes to be "odd-sized" or "nonmachineable". This means that they will cost more to send than rectangular envelopes. Square envelopes require additional postage because they cannot be processed by the postal service's sorting machines and must be hand-cancelled, which incurs a higher price.

The extra cost for square envelopes is typically around $0.20 to $0.46 per letter, depending on the weight and dimensions. For a 1 oz letter, you will need a $1.19 stamp instead of the standard $0.73 stamp. If your wedding invitation weighs 2 oz, you will need a $1.47 stamp instead of the usual $1.01 stamp. It is always a good idea to check with the USPS for the current rates before purchasing your stamps.

To ensure you have the correct postage, it is recommended to take a sample invitation to your local post office for weighing and measurement. They can advise you on the exact amount of postage required, taking into account any additional factors such as thickness, rigidity, closures, and weight.

Other factors that may result in a postage surcharge include envelopes that are more than 1/4" thick, have clasps or strings, are too rigid, or do not bend easily. These characteristics make the envelopes nonmachineable, and the postal service will typically charge one surcharge even if your envelope has multiple nonmachineable traits.

The weight of your invitation will affect postage cost

The weight of your wedding invitation will affect postage cost. In general, the heavier your invitation, the more postage you will need to pay. This is because heavier items typically cost more to ship due to the increased resources required for transportation.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) charges additional postage for envelopes that weigh more than 1 ounce. This means that if your wedding invitation weighs more than 1 ounce, you will need to pay extra postage. The exact amount of extra postage will depend on the weight of your invitation. For example, if your invitation weighs between 1 and 2 ounces, you will need to pay a higher rate.

There are several factors that can affect the weight of your wedding invitation, including the thickness of the paper, the number of cards included, the presence of a pocket-fold, and any embellishments such as ribbons, twine, or wax seals. These additional elements can quickly increase the weight of your invitation, pushing it over the 1-ounce limit and incurring extra charges.

To avoid unexpected costs, it is recommended to take a completed invitation to your local post office to have it weighed and measured. This will allow you to determine the exact amount of postage required and ensure that your invitations are mailed without any issues. By considering the weight of your invitation in advance, you can make adjustments to your design or paper choices to minimize postage costs.

Additionally, square wedding invitations are considered "odd-sized" or "nonmachineable" by the USPS, which also results in a higher postage price. The non-standard shape requires hand sorting, which incurs an additional charge. This extra cost is separate from any weight-related charges and must be factored into your postage budget.

The thickness of your invitation will affect postage cost

The thickness of your wedding invitation will have an impact on the overall postage cost. This is because the United States Postal Service (USPS) considers letters that are more than 1/4" thick to be "nonmachinable", resulting in a higher price for postage. This additional charge is called a "nonmachinable surcharge" and is currently $0.20.

The thickness of your invitation can be affected by various factors, such as the inclusion of a ribbon, twine, or a wax seal. These embellishments can cause the envelope to become thicker than the 1/4" threshold, triggering the need for the surcharge.

To avoid unexpected costs, it is recommended to take a complete wedding invitation to your local post office for weighing and thickness testing. They can provide accurate guidance on the required postage based on the specific dimensions and weight of your invitation.

Additionally, square wedding invitations are also considered "nonmachineable" due to their shape, resulting in an extra cost of $0.20 per invitation for the first ounce. This brings the total surcharge for a square invitation that is also thicker than 1/4" to $0.40.

It is important to be mindful of these thickness considerations when creating your wedding invitations to ensure you budget accordingly for postage costs.

The shape of your envelope will affect postage cost

Square envelopes will cost you an extra $0.20 to $0.46 per letter in addition to the postage required for the weight and dimensions of your envelope. For 1-ounce letters, this means you'll need a $1.19 stamp instead of a $0.73 stamp. If your wedding invitation weighs 2 ounces, you'll need a $1.47 stamp instead of a $1.01 stamp.

To avoid any surprises at the post office, it is recommended that you take a full wedding invitation to your local post office to have them weigh it and advise on the correct postage. They can also test your invitation through a thickness template to ensure accurate estimates.

The stiffness of your envelope will affect postage cost

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many factors that can affect the cost of postage. One of the most important considerations is the stiffness of the envelope. If the envelope is too rigid or does not bend easily, it will be subject to a "nonmachinable surcharge" by the USPS, which means it will cost more to send. This is because stiff envelopes cannot be processed by the postal machines and require hand-cancelling, which is when the stamps are manually cancelled to prevent reuse.

The stiffness of your envelope can be affected by several factors, such as the thickness of the paper, the presence of a liner, or the use of a ribbon tie. If you want to avoid the non-machinable surcharge, it's important to consider the flexibility of your envelope. Choose thinner papers and avoid adding too many inserts or embellishments that might make the envelope stiff.

One way to test the stiffness of your envelope is to try bending it. If it bends easily without creasing or cracking, it's likely to be within the flexible range accepted by the USPS. However, if it's difficult to bend or feels like it might tear, it's probably too stiff and will incur the extra charge.

It's also worth noting that square envelopes are considered "odd-sized" or "nonmachineable" by the USPS due to their shape, which also incurs an additional charge. So, if you're using square envelopes, be sure to factor in the extra cost, regardless of their stiffness.

To be absolutely sure about the postage cost, it's always a good idea to take a complete invitation, including all inserts and embellishments, to your local post office. They can weigh and measure your invitation and let you know exactly how much postage you'll need.

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