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A Smooth Send-Off: Tips for Mailing Wedding Invitations With Minimal Stress

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Cari

Categories: in WEDDINGS

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE MAILING YOUR INVITATIONS TO AVOID DELAYS AND EXTRA COSTS

You’ve carefully curated every detail of your wedding invitations — elegant paper, romantic wax seals, silky ribbons, and maybe even a few dreamy insert cards to tell your story. But before you send those beauties off into the world, there’s one more detail to think about: how to mail them properly.

Mailing wedding invitations may seem straightforward, but when it comes to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring your invitations arrive on time, intact, and without added stress (or surprise fees). Here are some essential tips to make your mailing process seamless — plus a heads-up on how certain design choices can impact delivery time.

1. WEIGH AND MEASURE A SAMPLE INVITATION FIRST

Before you buy stamps or head to the post office, create one complete invitation suite—including all inserts, envelopes, embellishments, and seals—and take it to the post office to be weighed and measured. This will:

Ensure you purchase the correct postage.
Help you determine whether your invitation is classified as a "non-machinable" item (more on that below).
Avoid returned mail or delayed delivery due to insufficient postage.

Tip: Always bring an extra copy to the post office to test, especially if your suite includes non-standard shapes or bulky elements.

2. KNOW THAT YOUR INVITATION WILL PROBABLY BE MARKED AS "NON-MACHINABLE"

USPS machines are designed to process standard-sized, flat envelopes. If your invitation is:

Rigid (due to layers or thick paper)
Square-shaped (rather than rectangular)
Over 1/4 inch thick
Weighs over 1 oz, or
Includes embellishments like wax seals, silk ribbon, or other raised elements

…it will likely be considered non-machinable. This means it must be hand-sorted, which requires additional postage (usually around $0.40 extra per piece). Because most invitations are dropped at USPS locations in very large batches, it may also mean it's moved to a larger sorting facility to begin the sorting and mailing process.

While non-machinable mail adds charm and elegance to your invitations, please know it also increases the likelihood of:

Delays in delivery due to manual processing
Damage to fragile details, like wax seals or silk ribbon details
Returned or lost mail if postage is incorrect

3. REQUEST HAND CANCELING (But Don’t Rely on It)

Hand-canceling is when a postal worker manually marks your stamps instead of running the envelope through a sorting machine. This can protect your invitations from damage, especially if they include wax seals or raised lettering.

However:

Not all post offices offer hand-canceling. It’s also not guaranteed, even if you request it. Large batches may not be feasible for some locations. If the invitations are hand canceled, be sure to remember this will add another layer of USPS processing and may prolong the overall delivery time.

If you’re set on hand-canceling, call your local post office ahead of time to ask about their policy. Consider splitting your mailings across a few visits or stations.

5. USE CLEAR ADDRESSING + AVOID FANCY CURSIVE FONTS

While calligraphy and specialty fonts look gorgeous, they can sometimes be hard for USPS scanners (or even human eyes) to read. To keep things running smoothly, our best recommendations are:

Use dark ink on light envelopes for contrast
Keep the address in a simple block font that is easily legible (to add beauty to the envelopes, consider printing only guest names in calligraphy)
Consider using printed labels for return addresses or RSVP cards to save time and reduce error

6. MAIL EARLY TO ACCOUNT FOR DELAYS

Even under perfect conditions, USPS delivery times can vary. It's also important to keep in mind that certain months are much busier than others (spring & summer months are busy wedding invitation months, and of course, the holiday card season!). Add in manual sorting for thicker and embellished suites, and delays become more likely. Aim to mail your invitations 8-10 weeks before your wedding date, and even earlier for destination weddings.

Add extra buffer to this timeline time if your design is heavily layered or requires special handling.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Beauty and Function Can Coexist

Your wedding invitations are a reflection of your love story — and it’s perfectly okay to go all-out with design elements that speak to your style. Just remember that the USPS operates within certain limitations, and the more you accommodate those, the more seamless your mailing process will be.

By planning ahead, testing your suite, and understanding how the post office handles non-standard mail, you can strike a balance between form and function—ensuring your guests receive your invitations in perfect condition, right on time.

Need help figuring out if your invitation suite will require extra postage? Reach out to your stationer or local USPS branch for guidance — or drop us a message, and we’ll help guide you through it!

Reminder: Etiquette absolutely allows for hand delivering your invitations! If you'd like to cut back on USPS mailing stress, hand those beauties out in-person for an extra special & personal delivery method. ♥

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Boho Eco-Friendly Fall Wedding at Artisan Acres in Noblesville Indiana | Custom Wedding Invitations in Indianapolis

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Cari

Categories: in WEDDINGS

I'm always looking for ways to make my business and products more eco-friendly. So it's easy to say this particular wedding is especially near & dear to my heart!

Maggie and Nic wanted to ensure their wedding paper was as minimally-wasteful as possible. I loved their approach, and took this challenge on with pure admiration. For their invitation, we created an invitation suite that was a single folded card. When folded, the card was held closed with clear mailer seals and needed no envelope. The invitation unfolded to reveal a custom watercolor painting of their venue (Artisan Acres) and a detachable response postcard.

Maggie and Nic were thrilled on the amount of paper preserved!

This earth-friendly day was planned by Lori at Boldly Chic Events - who is always great at translating the clients' personal style into a perfectly curated wedding day!

Sarah Kriner was the talented photographer on-site for Maggie and Nic's wedding day. We are loving all of these dreamy, earthy snapshots of their ceremony and reception at Artisan Acres....

Artisan Acres Wedding by Boldly Chic Events, Noblesville Wedding Invitations by Interprintations, Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas

The wedding party bouquets and reception table centerpieces featured florals that were sourced from Artisan Acres' own floral gardens. The fall tones pair perfectly with the bride and groom's earthy wedding vibe. The florals were picked and arranged by the talented RK Florals, our favorite Indianapolis wedding florist!

To cut back on printing material waste, the couple incorporated hand calligraphy on repurposed elements.

Their welcome sign was hand written on a vintage mirror that the couple will later use in their home.

Following the wedding ceremony inside the beautiful Artisan Acres barn, guests were treated to a charcuterie cocktail hour. The delectable spread was fit for old-world royalty! In place of a traditional printed seating chart sign, Maggie and Nic sourced vintage clay pots and hired a calligrapher to write guest names and table numbers on them. They will later repurpose these vases for use in their home.

Guests dined outdoors under the loveliest of twinkle lights, as they watched the couple's first dance and cake cutting. Tiny paper place cards adorned each place setting, with repurposed fabric ribbon tied on them for extra color and catering coding (designating entree selections for the caterer's serving staff).

Don't you love how RK Florals used non-floral elements to add color and texture to the table decor?

What a beautiful way to incorporate all of Earth's beauty into this outdoor wedding reception.

Tables were marked by hanging table signs by Interprintations. The pennant cards featured the table number and menu details, and hung delicately from copper pipe and wood stands. The couple planned to repurpose these stands by passing them along to another married couple to use.

I hope this wedding blog feature gives you some inspiration on how to incorporate Earth-friendly elements into your wedding day!

Maggie and Nic are a beautiful couple inside and out, and we especially love their deep adoration for the environment. What a legacy they'll leave for their next generation. Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Leblang!

The incredible vendor team.....

Photographer: Sarah Kriner

Venue: Artisan Acres

Wedding Planner: Boldly Chic Events

Florist: RK Florals

Rentals and Linens: AClassic

Wedding Invitations and Wedding Day Paper: Interprintations

Catering: Ritz Charles

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Classic Elegant Black and White Wedding at The Country Club of Terre Haute | Wedding Invitation Studio in Carmel Indiana

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Cari

Categories: in WEDDINGS

Our signature invitation design style is classic and elegant, with unique details to make your invitation suite an original.

This signature style of ours paired well with Mary Kate and Collin's wedding day paperie vision. Their custom wedding invitations featured incredible details: thick white cotton cardstock, black raised thermography printing, a unique and delicate invitation border, a chunky Yellow Gold silk ribbon, and a custom monogram printed on their envelope liner.

Classic Elegant Black and White Thermography Wedding Invitation Shop in Carmel Indiana

The bride's parents were hosting the wedding, so they opted for traditional wedding invitation wording. To continue the traditional wedding invitation style, they gave guests a classic response card and envelope for them to return their RSVPs via mail.

The wedding party chose to take their group photos at the bride's childhood home. Isn't the Etling estate lovely? What a perfect spot for wedding day photos! The brides wore black dresses and held all-white bouquets to match Mary Kate's bouquet. They all wore their hair down for an effortless bridal party look.

The full mass Catholic wedding ceremony was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Terre Haute, Indiana. This historical church was established over 175 years ago, and has been in it's current building since 1910.

Guests were given a folded wedding ceremony program upon arrival. The wedding program booklet included details about the full mass wedding ceremony, including congregational responses and hymns used throughout the wedding ceremony.

Upon their exit from the wedding ceremony, guests waived pretty white ribbon wands. They made for such lovely "grand exit" photos! Following their exit, the bride and groom hopped in the family's white Mercedes convertible and made their way to the wedding reception.

A trolley service awaited guests as they exited the church. The trolleys transported guests to the wedding reception held at The Country Club of Terre Haute.

The Country Club of Terre Haute's ballroom was dressed up with elegant white draping along the ceiling, and white hydrangeas hanging from all of the gold chandeliers. Each table featured either a tall or short full hydrangea floral centerpiece.

Each guest's place setting was marked with a personalized place card. The borders varied on each card and denoted the guest's pre-selected meal choice (one line for beef, two lines for chicken, no line for vegetarian). This is our go-to meal coding technique for place cards - it's super easy for servers to see, and guests are none-the-wise about the design variations!

Some may not know that Collin played college basketball at Indiana University! It was only fitting that his custom groom's cake was decorated with an IU Basketball theme.

Table numbers were printed on White cotton cardstock and framed in Gold floating glass frames. They were the perfect compliment to the other Gold on the table, such as the gold flatware and gold rimmed charger plates.

Upon being seated, guests received a custom menu card tucked into a White napkin. The menu was designed in fonts to correspond with their wedding invitations, and was printed on our signature White cotton cardstock.

It was such an honor to work with Mary Kate and Collin on their custom wedding stationery! They were so laid back and easy to work with, which of course made the design process a breezy one. Wishing them both the best & we hope they enjoy their happily ever after!

Wedding Vendor Team:

Photographer: Ivan & Louise

Wedding Venue: The Country Club of Terre Haute

Wedding Planner: Plum and Poppy

Wedding Dress: Marie Gabriel Couture

Wedding Invitations and Wedding Stationery: Interprintations

Table Linens, Plates, and Silverware: AClassic Party Rental

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I’m a country girl, small business owner, wife, mother of three, and proud alum of Purdue University (Boiler Up!). My world revolves around thoughtfully designed stationery, joyful celebrations, faith and family life.

This blog offers insight into the world of weddings + the wonderful workings of our little studio.