How to Mail Wedding Invitations + Etiquette Tips

Mailing your wedding invitations seems pretty straightforward, right? Not so fast…there are a few important things to remember before sending them out. Here’s a step-by-step to show you how to mail wedding invitations so that they get delivered to your wedding guests without any snafus.

Step 1. Stamp and address all of the response card envelopes.
This is standard wedding invitation etiquette and an important courtesy to extend to your guests. Feel free to hand address the response card envelopes with your return address or use labels. Guests will find it that much easier to drop their responses in the mail, which means you get a more accurate head count without having to call so many late responders.

Step 2. Stuff the envelopes with your wedding invitation ensembles.
Do you know how the different pieces should be arranged before going into the envelope? It can be tricky, but no worries – we also have advice on how to Assembling Your Wedding Invitations.

Step 3. Have one stuffed envelope weighed at the post office.
Many wedding invitation ensembles can be mailed for one standard postage stamp or the cost of a wedding stamp. However, if you choose a uniquely shaped invitation (square, for example) or if you upgrade to a thicker paper, you may surpass the weight limit per stamp.

Avoid having your invitations returned due to insufficient postage but simply taking one ensemble to the post office to have it weighed.

Step 4. Stamp Your Wedding Invitations
Get some pretty stamps for mailing those beautiful wedding invitations. The post office has a few options for wedding stamps or you can have fun using limited run stamps that show off your personalities.

Step 5. Drop them in the mail.
Mail your invitations 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding date, or up to 3 months in advance for a destination wedding.

Final Tip: Request Hand Canceling

There’s nothing worse than having your gorgeous invitation envelopes damaged by sorting machines. To avoid this, you can request to have your invitations hand-canceled. What is hand-canceling? It means that an actual person hand-stamps (or cancels) your invitation envelopes, instead of putting them through the machine.

To request this service, simply go to the service window at your post office and request your beautiful invitations be hand-canceled.

Best wishes, brides and grooms!