The USPS Just Increased the Cost of Postage to 78 Cents—Here's What It Means for Couples Mailing Wedding Invitations in 2025 and Beyond

With intricate designs and beautiful script, wedding invitations are a meaningful way to announce your upcoming nuptials, but since you’re likely mailing these paper products to a large group of guests, the price tag associated with them can be hefty. The average cost of 150 wedding invitations is about $312—and that’s without accounting for the various printing methods, type of paper, and illustrations that you include or any other elements in your suite. The more ornate you choose to go, the more expensive your final cost will be.

While postage stamps might seem like a marginal expense to consider when budgeting for your wedding invitations, it's important to remember just how many stamps you'll really need: Each envelope requires at least one first-class stamp, but likely more (otherwise, the invitations won’t make it to your loved ones’ mailboxes, says Le'Trice Penn, the founder and creative director of Lepenn Designs). Multiply that by the number of guests you’ve invited, and you have a pretty hefty fee to cover. On top of that, if you’re putting an RSVP card in your suite, you’ll have to apply another stamp to those self-addressed return envelopes, which is an additional expense to take into account.

For the past year, consumers paid 73 cents for each first-class stamp—a price that the United States Postal Service raised one year ago, on July 14, 2024, which was up five cents from the previous cost of 68 cents per stamp. This week, the USPS raised prices again, and the cost of each Forever stamp is now 78 cents. These repeated five-cent increases are part of the Postal Service’s plan to achieve financial stability and keep up with inflation, but the additional cost will have an impact on consumers’ wallets—especially those planning to tie the knot.

Wondering how this price change will affect your wedding invitations and overall budget? Read on to learn more.

How Much Does It Cost to Mail a Wedding Invitation in 2025?

As of July 13, 2025, the price of a First-Class Mail Forever postage stamp is 78 cents. Since a standard wedding invitation suite with an RSVP card will require at least two first-class stamps, mailing each one will cost couples $1.56 per envelope. If you're sending 150 invitations out to guests, that's an additional $234 to bake into your stationery budget. And if your dream wedding invitation suite is made from a heavy cardstock, features uniquely shaped envelopes, or contains a number of inserts, your outer envelopes will require additional postage.

Why Did the Cost of First-Class Mail Forever Postage Stamps Increase?

As part of its 10-year plan toward profitability, the USPS is increased the price of the First-Class Mail Forever postage stamp from 73 to 78 cents. Penn explains that the Postal Service is constantly changing the cost of stamps to account for inflation, staff shortages, heightened wages, and the labor required to send invitations. Plus, since more and more people are mailing digital invites, there’s more supply of stamps than demand, so boosting the price is an attempt to counteract the monetary loss, per Penn. 

How Much Will the Increased Price of Postage Stamps Affect Your Wedding Invitations?

Since the average wedding invitation suite weighs about two ounces, according to Penn, each standard invite needs one to two stamps. Before this latest price change took effect, the cost of First-Class Forever Mail postage stamps for one average was between $109.50 or $219, depending on whether the suite required one or two stamps. For larger-sized invitation suites—which Emily Gaikowski, owner of Heartthrob Events, says can be as heavy as 10+ ounces—you’ll need even more postage stamps (and thus, you’ll have to spend more money). And that’s before factoring in stamped response envelopes for RSVPs.

To be on the safe side and ensure your invitations make it to your guests, always have one of your complete, assembled invitation suites—which should include any decorative elements, like a belly band or wax seal—weighed at the post office so you know exactly how much postage you need.

How to Save Money on Wedding Postage Stamps

Although the price of First-Class Forever Mail postage stamps is jumping five cents per stamp, there are steps you can take to ensure that these add-ons are budget-friendly.

Opt for Smaller Invitations

To save money on your wedding invitation postage, Penn recommends keeping your invites less than six by nine inches. Since heavier invitations require more postage, a relatively smaller size will keep costs down.

Minimize the Number of Inserts by Going Digital Where Possible

Compiling invitation suites with three or more parts will add more weight to your stack, so each envelope will require more stamps, Gaikowski says. Rather than designing suites with multiple inserts and creating a larger tab, Penn advises printing double-sided invitations, so you can include all of the necessary information for less money. Then, instead of including a separate printed card for RSVPs with additional postage, Gaikowski encourages you to direct guests to your wedding website (with a mention on your invitation) to respond digitally.

Choose Thin Paper

Penn explains that invitations with double ply or thick stocks will increase the weight of your invitations, so each envelope will need additional postage stamps. For a more affordable bill, opt for thin paper like vellum or traditional card stock.

Skip Some Weightier Add-Ons, Like Wax Seals

Wax seals are beautiful, but they add extra weight to an invitation suite. If you're looking for cost-effective ways to mail your invites to guests, skip these details and focus on more beautiful paper designs instead.

Planning a Future Wedding? Buy Stamps Now

As its name implies, Forever postage is good forever—if you're tying the knot next year, consider purchasing postage now, before future postage increases can be enacted. First-class Forever stamps will always be valid, so you may be able to save yourself a little money by stocking up at the current price.