Write out state on invite addresses?

ljsquintz

I was under the impression that the state is supposed to be spelled out on guests' invite addresses (New York as opposed to NY).  What is correct?  Thanks!

Maggie0829

Spell it out.

DramaGeek

E Post, Cranes, etc say to spell it out but I've always been told that the post office doesn't like that.

kaos16

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_write-out-state-on-invite-addresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:aadf1877-9dc5-47da-8f58-aa0f0ed1ce58Post:2916e44f-f762-47cf-9bba-df9b8c3eb6b9">Re: Write out state on invite addresses?</a>:
[QUOTE]E Post, Cranes, etc say to spell it out but I've always been told that the post office doesn't like that.
Posted by DramaGeek[/QUOTE]

I wonder why the post office wouldn't like that. . . . I thought they really just focused on the zip code.

lbarr088

Spelling it out is the proper way to do it.  With that said, I completely forgot to do that when I sent mine out.  

achiduck

I used the abbreviations, but I'm in Canada and I was told by CP that they don't like it either.

ljsquintz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_write-out-state-on-invite-addresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:aadf1877-9dc5-47da-8f58-aa0f0ed1ce58Post:481ab612-a51d-4241-9e23-f04efaeeed23">Re:Write out state on invite addresses?</a>:
[QUOTE]You're supposed to spell it out but the USPS automatic mail sorters have issues reading it.<strong> Sometimes they get spat out and have to be hand sorted and slowed down.</strong> I used abbreviations on mine because FIL works for USPS and warned me ahead of time.
Posted by KindaSparkly[/QUOTE]
If this happens, will they get returned to me, or will it just take them more time to reach their destination?  So helpful that your FI works for USPS!

jgreer9604

oops, a whole lot of people are talking about me, I abbreviated everyone of the states on my invites.  Etiquette fail. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_write-out-state-on-invite-addresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:aadf1877-9dc5-47da-8f58-aa0f0ed1ce58Post:b2430532-cd19-485e-9009-9e585d35ce3b">Re:Write out state on invite addresses?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Write out state on invite addresses? : It's my father-in-law.  He used to hand sort mail back in the dark ages and its one of his many gripes with the new automated sorting system.  Usually it just takes longer but adding extra steps to processing your mail just increases the likelihood of it getting lost or mis-sorted. I still had one invitation returned to me with the correct address, postage amount and everything.
Posted by KindaSparkly[/QUOTE]

A lot of brides request that their invitations be hand-cancelled (sometimes requires extra postage) so as to avoid the mail sorter stamps on their envelopes.