diff --git a/examples/hello/hello_test.go b/examples/hello/hello_test.go
index cbb68e2..a019943 100644
--- a/examples/hello/hello_test.go
+++ b/examples/hello/hello_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/pact"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/party"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/phrasebook"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/postcard"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/surf"
 )
 
@@ -142,6 +143,35 @@ func TestHelloPluginResolvesLang(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestHelloPluginSendsMail(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, err := compass.Load("config")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	app := backpack.New(cfg)
+	if _, err := party.Activate(app, []string{"golem15.hello"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	mail, ok := app.Lookup[postcard.Mailer]()
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("mailer not published")
+	}
+	if err := mail.Send(t.Context(), postcard.Message{
+		Template: "golem15.hello::mail.hello",
+		To:       []string{"ada@example.test"},
+		Vars:     map[string]any{"Name": "Ada", "URL": "https://example.test"},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := mail.Send(t.Context(), postcard.Message{
+		Template: "golem15.hello::mail.hello-en",
+		To:       []string{"ada@example.test"},
+		Vars:     map[string]any{"Name": "Ada", "URL": "https://example.test"},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestTypedItemRoute(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, err := compass.Load("config")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/examples/hello/plugins/base/plugin.go b/examples/hello/plugins/base/plugin.go
index 137db2f..7e58d6c 100644
--- a/examples/hello/plugins/base/plugin.go
+++ b/examples/hello/plugins/base/plugin.go
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	_ pact.HasConfig = (*Plugin)(nil)
-	_ pact.HasLang   = (*Plugin)(nil)
+	_ pact.HasConfig        = (*Plugin)(nil)
+	_ pact.HasLang          = (*Plugin)(nil)
+	_ pact.HasMailTemplates = (*Plugin)(nil)
 )
 
 //go:embed config
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ var configFS embed.FS
 //go:embed lang
 var langFS embed.FS
 
+//go:embed views/mail
+var mailFS embed.FS
+
 // Plugin is the golem15.hello plugin.
 type Plugin struct{}
 
@@ -32,6 +36,19 @@ func (p *Plugin) Boot(*backpack.App) error     { return nil }
 func (p *Plugin) ConfigFS() fs.FS { return configFS }
 func (p *Plugin) LangFS() fs.FS   { return langFS }
 
+func (p *Plugin) MailTemplatesFS() fs.FS { return mailFS }
+func (p *Plugin) MailTemplates() []string {
+	return []string{
+		"golem15.hello::mail.hello",
+		"golem15.hello::mail.hello-en",
+	}
+}
+func (p *Plugin) MailLayouts() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string{
+		"hello": "golem15.hello::mail.layouts.hello",
+	}
+}
+
 func init() {
 	party.Register(&Plugin{})
 }
diff --git a/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello-en.htm b/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello-en.htm
index 33db1cb..878d504 100644
--- a/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello-en.htm
+++ b/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello-en.htm
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 subject = "Hello {{ .Name }}"
 description = "English hello greeting"
-layout = "default"
+layout = "hello"
 ==
 Hello **{{ .Name }}**.
 
diff --git a/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello.htm b/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello.htm
index 9a28c78..8508b5d 100644
--- a/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello.htm
+++ b/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/hello.htm
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 subject = "Witaj {{ .Name }}"
 description = "Hello greeting"
-layout = "default"
+layout = "hello"
 ==
 Witaj **{{ .Name }}**.
 
diff --git a/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/layouts/hello.htm b/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/layouts/hello.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6747b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/hello/plugins/base/views/mail/layouts/hello.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+name = "Hello"
+==
+-- {{ .Content }} --
+==
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
+<style type="text/css">{{ .brandCss }}{{ .css }}</style>
+</head>
+<body>
+<div class="layout-hello">{{ .Content }}</div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/party/registry.go b/party/registry.go
index 54e9be6..524d6be 100644
--- a/party/registry.go
+++ b/party/registry.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/backpack"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/pact"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/phrasebook"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/postcard"
 )
 
 // Plugin is the required descriptor every compiled plugin implements.
@@ -120,7 +121,13 @@ func activate(registered []Plugin, app *backpack.App, ids []string) ([]Plugin, e
 	if err := phrasebook.Activate(app, ordered); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("party: lang: %w", err)
 	}
+	if err := postcard.Activate(app, ordered); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("party: mail: %w", err)
+	}
 	for _, p := range ordered {
+		if err := postcard.BootPlugin(app, p); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("party: boot %s: %w", p.ID(), err)
+		}
 		if err := p.Boot(app); err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("party: boot %s: %w", p.ID(), err)
 		}
diff --git a/party/registry_test.go b/party/registry_test.go
index 43fda14..5273435 100644
--- a/party/registry_test.go
+++ b/party/registry_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/compass"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/pact"
 	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/phrasebook"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/postcard"
 )
 
 type tracePlugin struct {
@@ -455,3 +456,65 @@ func TestActivateMalformedLangFailsWithPluginContext(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("error %q should name the plugin and path problem", msg)
 	}
 }
+
+type mailPlugin struct {
+	id        string
+	fsys      fs.FS
+	templates []string
+	layouts   map[string]string
+	sawMailer *bool
+}
+
+func (p *mailPlugin) ID() string                           { return p.id }
+func (p *mailPlugin) Requires() []string                   { return nil }
+func (p *mailPlugin) Register(*backpack.App) error         { return nil }
+func (p *mailPlugin) MailTemplatesFS() fs.FS               { return p.fsys }
+func (p *mailPlugin) MailTemplates() []string              { return p.templates }
+func (p *mailPlugin) MailLayouts() map[string]string       { return p.layouts }
+
+func (p *mailPlugin) Boot(app *backpack.App) error {
+	if p.sawMailer == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	_, ok := app.Lookup[postcard.Mailer]()
+	*p.sawMailer = ok
+	return nil
+}
+
+func TestActivatePublishesMailerBeforeBoot(t *testing.T) {
+	var saw bool
+	p := &mailPlugin{
+		id:        "golem15.hello",
+		sawMailer: &saw,
+		templates: []string{"golem15.hello::mail.hello"},
+		layouts:   map[string]string{"hello": "golem15.hello::mail.layouts.hello"},
+		fsys: fstest.MapFS{
+			"views/mail/hello.htm": {Data: []byte("subject = \"Hi\"\nlayout = \"hello\"\n==\nHi.\n")},
+			"views/mail/layouts/hello.htm": {Data: []byte("name = \"Hello\"\n==\n{{ .Content }}\n==\n<div>{{ .Content }}</div>\n")},
+		},
+	}
+	app := backpack.New(&compass.Config{})
+	if _, err := activate([]Plugin{p}, app, []string{"golem15.hello"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("activate: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !saw {
+		t.Fatal("mailer must be published before Boot")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestActivateMissingMailTemplateFailsBootWithName(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &mailPlugin{
+		id:        "golem15.hello",
+		templates: []string{"golem15.hello::mail.hello"},
+		fsys:      fstest.MapFS{},
+	}
+	app := backpack.New(&compass.Config{})
+	_, err := activate([]Plugin{p}, app, []string{"golem15.hello"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected missing template error")
+	}
+	msg := err.Error()
+	if !strings.Contains(msg, "party: boot golem15.hello") || !strings.Contains(msg, "golem15.hello::mail.hello") {
+		t.Fatalf("error %q should name the boot plugin and missing template", msg)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/postcard/mailer.go b/postcard/mailer.go
index 4c13441..c675be9 100644
--- a/postcard/mailer.go
+++ b/postcard/mailer.go
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@ package postcard
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/backpack"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/pact"
 )
 
 // Message is the Send contract for plugin callers.
@@ -70,3 +74,44 @@ func (m *mailer) Send(ctx context.Context, msg Message) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// Activate publishes an app-scoped Mailer before plugin Boot. Catalog files
+// are validated later at each plugin's Boot transition.
+func Activate[P interface{ ID() string }](app *backpack.App, _ []P) error {
+	if app == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("postcard: app is nil")
+	}
+	opts := Options{}
+	if app.Config != nil {
+		opts.From = strings.TrimSpace(app.Config.String("mail.from"))
+		opts.CSS = app.Config.String("mail.css")
+		opts.BrandCSS = app.Config.String("mail.brandCss")
+	}
+	m := &mailer{
+		catalog: NewCatalog(),
+		driver:  NewMemoryDriver(),
+		opts:    opts,
+	}
+	if err := app.Publish[Mailer](m); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("postcard: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// BootPlugin registers a plugin's declared mail templates and layouts.
+// Missing files and unknown layout aliases fail with the dotted name.
+func BootPlugin[P interface{ ID() string }](app *backpack.App, p P) error {
+	hm, ok := any(p).(pact.HasMailTemplates)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	got, ok := app.Lookup[Mailer]()
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("postcard: mailer not published")
+	}
+	m, ok := got.(*mailer)
+	if !ok || m == nil || m.catalog == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("postcard: mailer not published")
+	}
+	return m.catalog.Register(p.ID(), hm.MailTemplatesFS(), hm.MailTemplates(), hm.MailLayouts())
+}
diff --git a/postcard/mailer_test.go b/postcard/mailer_test.go
index 01e4b01..fb8d28e 100644
--- a/postcard/mailer_test.go
+++ b/postcard/mailer_test.go
@@ -102,3 +102,74 @@ Hello **{{ .Name }}**.
 		}
 	})
 }
+
+func TestMailLayoutSmoke(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fsys := fstest.MapFS{
+		"views/mail/note.htm": {Data: []byte(`subject = "Hi {{ .Name }}"
+layout = "hello"
+==
+Body **{{ .Name }}**.
+`)},
+		"views/mail/layouts/hello.htm": {Data: []byte(`name = "Hello"
+==
+-- {{ .Content }} --
+==
+<div class="layout-hello">{{ .Content }}</div>
+<style>{{ .brandCss }}{{ .css }}</style>
+`)},
+	}
+	cat := NewCatalog()
+	if err := cat.Register("golem15.hello", fsys, []string{"golem15.hello::mail.note"}, map[string]string{
+		"hello": "golem15.hello::mail.layouts.hello",
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Register: %v", err)
+	}
+	drv := NewMemoryDriver()
+	mail := NewMailer(cat, drv, Options{CSS: "p{color:red}", BrandCSS: ".brand{color:blue}"})
+	if err := mail.Send(context.Background(), Message{
+		Template: "golem15.hello::mail.note",
+		To:       []string{"ada@example.test"},
+		Vars:     map[string]any{"Name": "Ada"},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Send: %v", err)
+	}
+	got := drv.Messages()
+	if len(got) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("stored %d messages", len(got))
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got[0].Text, "-- Body **Ada**. --") {
+		t.Fatalf("text wrapper = %q", got[0].Text)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got[0].HTML, `class="layout-hello"`) || !strings.Contains(got[0].HTML, "<strong>Ada</strong>") {
+		t.Fatalf("HTML wrapper = %q", got[0].HTML)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got[0].HTML, "p{color:red}") || !strings.Contains(got[0].HTML, ".brand{color:blue}") {
+		t.Fatalf("shared css missing: %q", got[0].HTML)
+	}
+
+	t.Run("missing template fails with name", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := NewCatalog().Register("golem15.hello", fsys, []string{"golem15.hello::mail.missing"}, nil)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "golem15.hello::mail.missing") {
+			t.Fatalf("missing template error = %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("unknown layout fails with name", func(t *testing.T) {
+		bad := fstest.MapFS{
+			"views/mail/note.htm": {Data: []byte("subject = \"Hi\"\nlayout = \"plytarium\"\n==\nHi.\n")},
+		}
+		err := NewCatalog().Register("golem15.hello", bad, []string{"golem15.hello::mail.note"}, nil)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "plytarium") {
+			t.Fatalf("unknown layout error = %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("missing layout file fails with full name", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := NewCatalog().Register("golem15.hello", fsys, nil, map[string]string{
+			"hello": "golem15.hello::mail.layouts.missing",
+		})
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "golem15.hello::mail.layouts.missing") {
+			t.Fatalf("missing layout error = %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}