A Flavorful New Look

As promised, here is an update from my last post with the new flavorful stamp designs for the increased postage rates (which go in to effect on April 17). Postcards will now cost $0.29 and can be mailed with one of these beauties (on sale on April 7):

I love the natural look of this stamp and think it will work perfectly within a wedding ensemble (for an RSVP postcard)! Definitely much more wedding friendly than the previous polar bear design. Here's what USPS.com had to say about the new design:

"Artist Teresa Fasolino, created original oil paintings for each stamp. Each stamp depicts a particular species in bloom, as well as a typical leaf and flower or seed capsule. The species shown are Origanum vulgare (oregano), Linum perenne (flax), Digitalis purpurea (foxglove), Lavandula angustifolio (lavender), and Salvia officinalis (sage)."

For the increase in the 2 oz. rate, the USPS decided to keep the same look of the $0.61 wedding cake stamp and just increase the postage to $0.64.

New Postage Rates Start Next Month

Earlier this year, the USPS announced new postage rates which will go into effect on April 17. Luckily, the normal first class stamp (1 oz. or less) will stay at $0.44 and they'll even be introducing some new Forever Stamp designs, like this wedding themed one (available later this year):

Unfortunately, the rest of the rates will be increasing slightly (the new designs for these stamps have not yet been announced):
- Postcards will go from $0.28 to $0.29
- 2 oz. mailings (like invitation outer envelopes) will go from $0.61 to $0.64
- 3 oz. mailings (for more complex invitations) will go from $0.78 to $0.84

If you're sending out your invitations in the next month and you're planning to use an RSVP postcard, this applies to you! If your "return by" date for your RSVPs falls on or after April 17, you'll need a $0.29 stamp on the postcard.  Currently there isn't a $0.29 stamp so you'll have to add a $0.01 to the $0.28 stamp or use a $0.44 stamp like this beautiful spring one:

And if you have a heavier invitation (most are over 1 oz.) then try to get them in the mail before April 17th to same yourself a little bit of money.

I recommend taking a sample invitation to your local Post Office to have it weighed before you buy stamps so that you know how much and what type of postage to plan on. I will keep you updated as soon as the USPS releases the designs for the new stamps! Fingers crossed for some elegant wedding styles!