The USPS Is Increasing the Cost of Postage Stamps Again—Here's What That Means for Your Wedding Invitations

With intricate designs and beautiful script, wedding invitations are a meaningful way to announce your upcoming nuptials. But since you’re mailing these paper products to a considerable group of guests, the price quickly adds up. The average cost of 150 wedding invitations is about $312—and that’s without accounting for the various printing methods, type of paper, and illustrations that you include or any other elements in your suite.

While postage stamps might seem like a marginal expense to factor into the total bill of your invites, each envelope requires multiple first-class stamps (otherwise, the invitations won’t make it to your loved ones’ mailboxes, says Le'Trice Penn, the founder and creative director of Lepenn Designs). Multiply that by the number of guests you’ve invited, and you have a pretty hefty fee to cover. On top of that, if you’re putting an RSVP card and return envelope in your suite, you’ll have to apply another stamp, which is an additional expense to take into account.

For the past six months, the price of First-Class Mail Forever postage stamps has been 68 cents—a price that the United States Postal Service raised in January 2024 from 66 cents. On July 14, 2024, however, the government entity is increasing the price once again to 73 cents. While the five-cent increase is part of the Postal Service’s plan to achieve financial stability and keep up with inflation, the additional cost will have an impact on consumers’ wallets—especially those planning to tie the knot.

Wondering how this price change will affect your wedding invitations and overall budget? Read on to learn more.

Why the Cost of First-Class Mail Forever Postage Stamps Is Increasing

As part of its 10-year plan toward profitability, the USPS is increasing the price of the First-Class Mail Forever postage stamp from 68 to 73 cents. Penn explains that the Postal Service is constantly changing the cost of stamps to account for inflation, staff shortages, heightened wages, and the labor required to send invitations. Plus, since more and more people are mailing digital invites, there’s more supply of stamps than demand, so boosting the price is an attempt to counteract the monetary loss, per Penn. 

How the Increased Price of Postage Stamps Will Affect Your Wedding Invitations

Since the average wedding invitation suite weighs about two ounces, according to Penn, each standard invite needs one to two stamps. Before the price change takes effect, the cost of First-Class Forever Mail postage stamps for one average invitation is between 68 cents to $1.36, which translates to $102 or $204 for a total of 150 wedding invitations. With the new five-cent increase, your total bill for postage stamps for the same number of invitations will be $109.50 or $219, depending on whether you need one or two stamps. For larger-sized invitation suites—which Emily Gaikowski, owner of Heartthrob Events, says can be as heavy as 10+ ounces—you’ll need even more postage stamps (and thus, you’ll have to spend more money). And that’s before factoring in stamped response envelopes for RSVPs.

How to Save Money on Wedding Postage Stamps

Although the price of First-Class Forever Mail postage stamps is jumping five cents per stamp, there are steps you can take to ensure that these add-ons are budget-friendly.

Opt for Smaller Invitations

To save money on your wedding invitation postage, Penn recommends keeping your invites less than six by nine inches. Since heavier invitations require more postage, a relatively smaller size will keep costs down.

Minimize the Number of Inserts

Compiling invitation suites with three or more parts will add more weight to your stack, so each envelope will require more stamps, Gaikowski says. Rather than designing suites with multiple inserts and creating a larger tab, Penn advises printing double-sided invitations, so you can include all of the necessary information for less money. Then, instead of including a separate printed card for RSVPs with additional postage, Gaikowski encourages you to direct guests to your wedding website (with a mention on your invitation) to respond digitally.

Choose Thin Paper

Penn explains that invitations with double ply or thick stocks will increase the weight of your invitations, so each envelope will need additional postage stamps. For a more affordable bill, opt for thin paper like vellum or traditional card stock.