There's good news! The post office has issued SOME of the stamps for the new first class rates which will take effect on May 11, 2009. A news release on the USPS website (and a discussion with postal employees) indicate that the remainder of the stamps are likely to be issued on or before May 11th as well.
In the 44-cent category, a photo Wedding Rings stamp, the Purple Heart stamp (previously available in 42-cent version), and a waving American Flag stamp are alternatives to the Simpsons cartoon stamp. There's also slated to be a 44-cent version of the Celebrate stamp (Love It!), a King and Queen of Hearts stamp (so-so), Seabiscuit, a Sailboat, and a customizable Forever stamp.
In the other postage rates, a photo Wedding Cake stamp (61-cents), a 64-cent Dolphin stamp, the Grand Tetons (98-cents), Zions Nat'l Park (79-cents), and a 28-cent Polar Bear may be good choices to use.
Check out Proskalo's earlier post "Wedding Postage Nightmare Part 1" for additional suggestions.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Squares, Short Siding, and the Dreaded Slot
Wedding Postage Nightmare - Part Two!
Getting the correct amount of postage on your wedding invitations is important...and also can be a nightmare. While post offices generally do a great job, when determining applicable postage, I have found a lot of inconsistencies.
What are some of the biggest problems I hear brides say they run into? Square invitations, addressing along the shortest side of the envelope (i.e. tea-length French flap envelopes), and the Dreaded Slot...Beware!
I can't stress enough - take your invitations to the post office for final determination on postage. The information below is not intended to be a set of rules that will guarantee adequate postage or your exhaustive, fail-safe guard against insufficient postage...these are just some descriptions and talking points that I have run across along the way that will at least help you get going in the right direction.
1. USPS Website - it's a good source, but it can lead you astray. My suggestion would be to use the "calculate your postage" option carefully -- and GO TO THE POST OFFICE to check your invitation postage prior to mailing.
2. Weight - how much your invitation weighs will in part determine the amount of postage you need to affix to the envelope.
3. Size - size can determine the rate of postage and whether your piece is mailable at all. The post office has minimum and maximum height and length restrictions for a piece to qualify as a letter. Under the restrictions? Not mailable. Over? Think extra postage as you're in the realm of Large Envelopes now.
4. Squares - many cool invitations are square. The post office classifies square envelopes as non-machinable, and at a minimum adds the current non-machinable surcharge to the amount of postage you need to affix. As per the USPS website, the minimum square size is 5 X 5.
5. Non-machinable - what does it mean? For starters, if you hear it, it means more postage! A piece is non-machinable if it must be physically sorted by a person because it can't be sorted through the USPS machines. Some non-machinable characteristics include: square, too rigid, clasps or other closures, address parallel to the shortest side of the envelope (more on this later), uneven surface (more on this later too), length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
6. Short Siding - a sometimes popular option is to address tea-length invitations parallel to the shortest side of the envelope, using a long French-flap envelope. Again, this is cool and shouldn't be discouraged, but keep in mind that it will mean you need additional postage.
and finally...(hear the Jaws music)
7. The Dreaded Slot - many have fallen prey to the innocent-looking cardboard sheet with the slot. Postal workers look are your slightly thicker invitation and turn for this weapon. Then, casually, with one eye on you and a disapproving look waiting in the wings, they slip your invitation through the slot. If it makes it through the slot - one less additional postage charge...but if it doesn't fit through, it can mean an additional cost to you!
Even the most diligent can fall into postage traps - the best you can do is be prepared, know the terminology, and in true Type-A fashion, check at the post office, then check, check, check again...and then go home with your fingers crossed!
Don't forget about the May 11 postage increase - information and tips are posted below in an earlier message.
Getting the correct amount of postage on your wedding invitations is important...and also can be a nightmare. While post offices generally do a great job, when determining applicable postage, I have found a lot of inconsistencies.
What are some of the biggest problems I hear brides say they run into? Square invitations, addressing along the shortest side of the envelope (i.e. tea-length French flap envelopes), and the Dreaded Slot...Beware!
I can't stress enough - take your invitations to the post office for final determination on postage. The information below is not intended to be a set of rules that will guarantee adequate postage or your exhaustive, fail-safe guard against insufficient postage...these are just some descriptions and talking points that I have run across along the way that will at least help you get going in the right direction.
1. USPS Website - it's a good source, but it can lead you astray. My suggestion would be to use the "calculate your postage" option carefully -- and GO TO THE POST OFFICE to check your invitation postage prior to mailing.
2. Weight - how much your invitation weighs will in part determine the amount of postage you need to affix to the envelope.
3. Size - size can determine the rate of postage and whether your piece is mailable at all. The post office has minimum and maximum height and length restrictions for a piece to qualify as a letter. Under the restrictions? Not mailable. Over? Think extra postage as you're in the realm of Large Envelopes now.
4. Squares - many cool invitations are square. The post office classifies square envelopes as non-machinable, and at a minimum adds the current non-machinable surcharge to the amount of postage you need to affix. As per the USPS website, the minimum square size is 5 X 5.
5. Non-machinable - what does it mean? For starters, if you hear it, it means more postage! A piece is non-machinable if it must be physically sorted by a person because it can't be sorted through the USPS machines. Some non-machinable characteristics include: square, too rigid, clasps or other closures, address parallel to the shortest side of the envelope (more on this later), uneven surface (more on this later too), length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
6. Short Siding - a sometimes popular option is to address tea-length invitations parallel to the shortest side of the envelope, using a long French-flap envelope. Again, this is cool and shouldn't be discouraged, but keep in mind that it will mean you need additional postage.
and finally...(hear the Jaws music)
7. The Dreaded Slot - many have fallen prey to the innocent-looking cardboard sheet with the slot. Postal workers look are your slightly thicker invitation and turn for this weapon. Then, casually, with one eye on you and a disapproving look waiting in the wings, they slip your invitation through the slot. If it makes it through the slot - one less additional postage charge...but if it doesn't fit through, it can mean an additional cost to you!
Even the most diligent can fall into postage traps - the best you can do is be prepared, know the terminology, and in true Type-A fashion, check at the post office, then check, check, check again...and then go home with your fingers crossed!
Don't forget about the May 11 postage increase - information and tips are posted below in an earlier message.
Postage Rate Increase - May 11, 2009
Wedding Postage Nightmare - Part One!
Imagine this: your invited wedding guest opens their mailbox, revealing a beautifully appointed cotton envelope with a lovely design, hand calligraphy, and...a stamp with a funny guy in a Hawaiian shirt -- and another stamp with a turquoise necklace??
Or WORSE: you hear the mail truck, and anticipating your first delivery of RSVP notices, rush out. You open to your mailbox only to be assaulted by Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie!
Don't laugh - it could be you! On May 11th, the first class postage rate will increase by 2-cents, and unfortunately, the post office has not currently issued wedding or love stamps in the new rates. Indeed, at the present time, in the new first class, 1 oz. rate - 44 cents - the only available stamps display the Simpsons in wild colors!
Postage is an important consideration for your wedding invitations. This is true whether you are doing your invitations yourself, purchasing a manufactured invitation from a national line, or hiring an invitation designer to create a custom piece. Obviously the CORRECT amount of postage is important for the delivery of your invitations, but the LOOK of the postage is also important. An unappealing stamp can detract from the beauty of the envelope and the overall design of the invitation. Choose the appropriate stamp - and don't forget, if affordable, using a higher rate postage stamp than necessary can be one solution.
There are two main postage concerns related to wedding invitations: (1) Wedding Invitation, and (2) RSVP Envelope.
RSVP Envelope
Generally speaking, most RSVP notices require a first class, 1 oz. stamp (currently 42-cents, soon to be 44-cents). Make sure to check with the post office as to your specific RSVP notice so that you have the correct postage. Size, shape, rigidity, and weight all can affect the postage rate.
May 11 is the date of the rate increase, but even if you mail your wedding invitation prior to May 11th, you may still need the higher rate on your RSVP notices. Why? Because if your wedding guests will be mailing their RSVP notices AFTER May 10th, the postage must be correct on the day a piece is mailed - meaning the new rate.
As I mentioned above, the only 44-cent stamp currently released is The Simpsons stamp. This really doesn't scream wedding and everlasting love, so here are a few suggestions:
1. The Forever Stamp (nicely designed bell - neutral color)
2. Personalized Postage (Zazzle's got the new rates) - but note the size of these stamps is larger
3. Two of either the 27-cent tropical fruit postcard stamps or the 28-cent polar bear stamps
4. 42-cent stamp and either a 2-cent stamp, 4-cent stamp, or 5-cent stamp. My favorite 42-cent stamps: Celebrate, Love: All Heart, Wedding Hearts, Purple Heart, Sunflower
5. 59-cent wedding heart stamp or the 62-cent dragonfly stamp
Wedding Invitation Envelope
Required postage for wedding invitation varies widely, and again, size, shape, weight, and rigidity can all affect the amount of postage necessary. It is essential that you check multiple times to ensure that you have the correct postage on your invitations! Don't just assume you have interpreted the postal rules correctly - take your invitation to the post office for a professional opinion. Generally, the lowest rate used for wedding invitations is 59-cents (61-cents after May 11).
Even though there is not currently a 61-cent stamp out, there is some good news if your necessary postage is 61-cents. Several stamps with higher rates are already out and available. My suggestions for invitation envelope postage are as follows:
1. 62-cent Dragonfly stamp
2. Personalized Postage stamp (Zazzle has the new rates)
3. Additional Postage in the form of the following: Virgin Islands stamp, 13-mile Woods stamp, Great Smoky Mountains stamp, Yosemite stamp
4. Two 42-cent stamps (see favorites above)
5. 59-cent Wedding Hearts stamp plus one 2-cent turquoise necklace stamp
Remember, postage is an important consideration. Don't just assume that guidelines from the post office or something you've read on the internet are enough to go by - TAKE YOUR INVITATIONS TO THE POST OFFICE AND CHECK THE POSTAGE IN PERSON!
Imagine this: your invited wedding guest opens their mailbox, revealing a beautifully appointed cotton envelope with a lovely design, hand calligraphy, and...a stamp with a funny guy in a Hawaiian shirt -- and another stamp with a turquoise necklace??
Or WORSE: you hear the mail truck, and anticipating your first delivery of RSVP notices, rush out. You open to your mailbox only to be assaulted by Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie!
Don't laugh - it could be you! On May 11th, the first class postage rate will increase by 2-cents, and unfortunately, the post office has not currently issued wedding or love stamps in the new rates. Indeed, at the present time, in the new first class, 1 oz. rate - 44 cents - the only available stamps display the Simpsons in wild colors!
Postage is an important consideration for your wedding invitations. This is true whether you are doing your invitations yourself, purchasing a manufactured invitation from a national line, or hiring an invitation designer to create a custom piece. Obviously the CORRECT amount of postage is important for the delivery of your invitations, but the LOOK of the postage is also important. An unappealing stamp can detract from the beauty of the envelope and the overall design of the invitation. Choose the appropriate stamp - and don't forget, if affordable, using a higher rate postage stamp than necessary can be one solution.
There are two main postage concerns related to wedding invitations: (1) Wedding Invitation, and (2) RSVP Envelope.
RSVP Envelope
Generally speaking, most RSVP notices require a first class, 1 oz. stamp (currently 42-cents, soon to be 44-cents). Make sure to check with the post office as to your specific RSVP notice so that you have the correct postage. Size, shape, rigidity, and weight all can affect the postage rate.
May 11 is the date of the rate increase, but even if you mail your wedding invitation prior to May 11th, you may still need the higher rate on your RSVP notices. Why? Because if your wedding guests will be mailing their RSVP notices AFTER May 10th, the postage must be correct on the day a piece is mailed - meaning the new rate.
As I mentioned above, the only 44-cent stamp currently released is The Simpsons stamp. This really doesn't scream wedding and everlasting love, so here are a few suggestions:
1. The Forever Stamp (nicely designed bell - neutral color)
2. Personalized Postage (Zazzle's got the new rates) - but note the size of these stamps is larger
3. Two of either the 27-cent tropical fruit postcard stamps or the 28-cent polar bear stamps
4. 42-cent stamp and either a 2-cent stamp, 4-cent stamp, or 5-cent stamp. My favorite 42-cent stamps: Celebrate, Love: All Heart, Wedding Hearts, Purple Heart, Sunflower
5. 59-cent wedding heart stamp or the 62-cent dragonfly stamp
Wedding Invitation Envelope
Required postage for wedding invitation varies widely, and again, size, shape, weight, and rigidity can all affect the amount of postage necessary. It is essential that you check multiple times to ensure that you have the correct postage on your invitations! Don't just assume you have interpreted the postal rules correctly - take your invitation to the post office for a professional opinion. Generally, the lowest rate used for wedding invitations is 59-cents (61-cents after May 11).
Even though there is not currently a 61-cent stamp out, there is some good news if your necessary postage is 61-cents. Several stamps with higher rates are already out and available. My suggestions for invitation envelope postage are as follows:
1. 62-cent Dragonfly stamp
2. Personalized Postage stamp (Zazzle has the new rates)
3. Additional Postage in the form of the following: Virgin Islands stamp, 13-mile Woods stamp, Great Smoky Mountains stamp, Yosemite stamp
4. Two 42-cent stamps (see favorites above)
5. 59-cent Wedding Hearts stamp plus one 2-cent turquoise necklace stamp
Remember, postage is an important consideration. Don't just assume that guidelines from the post office or something you've read on the internet are enough to go by - TAKE YOUR INVITATIONS TO THE POST OFFICE AND CHECK THE POSTAGE IN PERSON!
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