Postage for Invitations- More with ribbons?

swissarmymelody

I went to the post office today with a sample inviation to find out how many stamps I would need. They said it costs more because the ribbon around the invitation makes a  bump and it couldn't go through the machine. I don't mind paying a little extra, but I was just wondering if they really do separate them or do they put it through the machine anyways? I know some people have said that all the letters going out goes through a machine regardless, is this true?

I just don't want the envelopes to rip open. Thanks!

[Deleted User]

I think all the mail definitely goes thru a machine. I haven't heard about ribbons adding extra postage, but I have been told that if your invitations are square verses the rectangle ones, it adds more postage. When I was inquiring about invitations, the lady at the place said they had a bride who only put one stamp on some square invitations and they all were returned to her.

 I would think the best thing to do would be to go in and ask them what they will cost you. I know the PO offers a 61 cent wedding cake stamp that might be nice for you. Or they offer a gold wedding ring wedding stamp which we are going to use since our invities are just rectangle, no ribbon. Or a third option would be to try stamps.com. Good Luck!

jcrew_shopaholic

I have 5x7 pocketfolds with four inserts with a ribbon closing everything up and it will be costing me $.81 to mail.  To make everything look prettier though, I am just putting two $.41 stamps on the envelopes...close enough!

dibsontop

If the ribbon makes any part of the envelope more than 1/4 inch thick, you'll be charged more.

kristinanddan

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_postage-invitations-ribbons?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:1f9c90e7-e609-4f7f-a14a-774280fb25b7Post:75e09510-9e1f-4655-8c10-45449a2cdb6c">Re: Postage for Invitations- More with ribbons?</a>:
[QUOTE]If the ribbon makes any part of the envelope more than 1/4 inch thick, you'll be charged more.
Posted by dibsontop[/QUOTE]

Yup. There is at least one machine they won't fit through, so it costs more. Or at least that's what they say. Either way, it costs more.

swissarmymelody

Thanks for the confirmation! I just got major sticker shock when I bought stamps today!!

Lindze75

I know how you feel!  When I mailed my STDs I wanted them hand cancelled since everyone told me to have all stationary hand cancelled.  She told me it was more since the ribbon wouldn't allow the STD to go through the machine.  So I asked why it would go through the machine if I'm requesting a hand cancel anyway and you said that's ok??  She went in circles and really didn't know but said she had to charge me extra for the ribbon.  I walked out with my STDs and put them all in the drive thru mail box w/regular postage on them.  Everyone received them and I asked about the condition they arrived in and they all said good condition!  I've seen at least a dozen of them on friends' fridges and they were fine.

I pay the extra for the invites now that I know but it seems stupid that we're paying for a damn ribbon! Grr.   There must be more than one machine.  They will "hand cancel" them if you request but there must be another machine they go thru at some point.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

There are about 5 machines. They won't go through at least one, but they will go through some of them if they are hand canceled.