Mailing Your Invitations -- Postage Rate Increase

If you're sending invitations this spring, it's more important than ever to take a completed invitation into the Post Office to find out the exact mailing cost before buying all the stamps.

On May 14 the rate for a regular letter will increase to 41 cents.

If you're using response cards and self-stamping the envelopes, don't forget to use the new stamps if those cards will be mailed back after May 14. (Another vote for not using response cards, in my opinion. Those pennies can add up!)

But, according to CNN.com, "folks sending heavier letters -- such as wedding invitations -- will see a reduction in the price ... because the 41-cent rate is for the first ounce, but each additional ounce will cost 17 cents, down from the current 24 cents."

Also, "Shape-based pricing is also included in the new rates." That means those square envelopes, which already cost more to mail than a regular first-class envelopes, will most likely have a price change too.

If you're sending invitations internationally, take one from each country into the Post Office to find out the specific postage for each.

After you send those invitations, the last thing you want is to have them returned for insufficient postage.

A summary of some of the rate changes that may affect invitations, response cards, and save-the-date cards:
*Letters, bill payments, greeting cards: 41 cents for the first ounce, up from 39 cents
*Wedding invitation (2-ounces), 58 cents, down from 63 cents
*Postcard, 26 cents, up from 24 cents
(from CNN.com)