44 cents 1st class mail starts today

The cost of mailing your invitations just went up, again. If you stocked up on the "forever stamp" you're okay for 1 ounce, but otherwise here are two new designs for your first class 1 ounce postage.

On May 1, 2009, in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue a 44–cent Wedding (Rings) special stamp, designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland.
The new Wedding (Rings) stamp features a photograph of two gold wedding rings resting on a small white pillow; a slender ribbon of white silk unites them. The photograph was taken by Renee Comet of Washington, DC.
On May 8, 2009, in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue a 44–cent, Love: King and Queen of Hearts definitive stamp with two different designs in a convertible booklet of 20 stamps. The stamp was designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, and Jeanne Greco of New York, New York.

Always weigh your invitation with all the pieces you're including inside of it first to make sure you've covered the weight with the proper postage. Just bring one, put together, to the Post Office and have them tell you the postage required. You want to be sure your guests receive your invitation and you don't get them back!

Keep it all under two ounces and then you can use this new wedding cake stamp

On May 1, 2009, in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ will issue a 61–cent 2–ounce Wedding (Cake) special stamp, designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland.
This new 2–ounce stamp features a photograph of a wedding cake taken by Renee Comet of Washington, DC. The photograph depicts a three–tier cake topped with white flowers, their stems and leaves a delightful contrast to the cake’s creamy white frosting, and is sure to add a touch of beauty and romance to wedding correspondence.

Here are the new rates for mailing a letter:

1 ounce	$0.44
2 ounces	$0.61
3 ounces	$0.78
3.5 ounces	$0.95

Keep all this in mind when choosing your invitations. And remember... there is an additional up charge for a square.