Post Office Rules and the Mailing of Invitations

It has become increasingly confusing to discern how to mail an invitation according to USPS rules. Postage is now based on shape and rigidity, as well as weight. Postal workers themselves are confused when they give you rates. Visiting three post offices can result in three different rate quotes.

Many post offices refuse to do hand canceling for invitation clients, even for a fee. It can also be a challenge to purchase attractive stamps for wedding invitations. They are not inventoried in any manner that is reliable. Ordering stamps online can take too much time.

A client of mine just recently ran into an issue while mailing her daughter’s wedding invitations. The postal worker “helping” her refused to take the invitations from her because the return address on the backflap did not include a name. She became very upset, and asked to speak to a manager. The postal manager agreed to mail the invitations for her, but insisted that she put the three internationally addressed envelopes in the mail box “at her own risk.”

I have been helping clients mail wedding invitations for over three decades, and I have never heard of this issue before. We hardly ever put a name on the backflap of a wedding invitation. Many etiquette authorities suggest that you do not. I was both stumped and annoyed that my customer was made to feel as though she had done something wrong, and that her invitations would be delayed or not delivered.

In order to research this topic, I visited many stationery websites and blogs, and asked industry experts their opinions.  My findings corroborated the fact that there would be no issue with her mailing, as long as the mailing addresses were correct. However on a deeper level, the USPS prefers that you place the return address in the upper left corner on the face of an envelope.  I do not believe I have ever printed a wedding invitation order that way. No client has ever told me that deliverability has been an issue due to an insufficient return address, or its placement on the backflap.

I was also informed by a couple stationers that after 9/11 the post office requires that international pieces of mail have a complete return address, including a name. I have not verified this “fact” but I can see how it might be true. However, even if you mail an invitation to an international invitation with the proper full return address, you will not get return mail from abroad if the guest address is incorrect…which defeats the purpose of having a full return address from the sender’s point of view.

An interesting point was raised by another stationer during my research. She indicated that she had been told NOT to put a name on the return address BECAUSE the post office might send the piece of mail back to the sender by mistake. If you have been in this business for any amount of time, you will be reminded of invitations being mailed back to the sender by mistake because the optic scanners at the post office read the return address as the mailing address (even though the mail is supposed to go to the address on the side of the envelope with the postage.)

My takeaway from the “return address” incident of my customer, is that you make sure your guest addresses are as accurate as possible. If an envelope to a US location is not properly addressed, the USPS will indeed endeavor to return the piece of mail to the sender.  As for your internationally addressed mailings, you should confirm addresses with your guests before mailing and perhaps email them pertinent facts, while letting them know that a formal invitation is on its way.

I wish there were an easier answer to these issues. Everyone loves to receive a beautiful invitation in the mail to attend a fantastic event. Accuracy of your mailing list and leaving sufficient time for your invitations to be received are key. Confirming your postage amount and erring on the side of caution help as well, and remember to ask a professional!