by: Wedding Etiquette 104: How To Write Thank You Notes
It's time. Is your writing hand ready? Your fab new pens in hand? Oh, and I guess don't forget to have your stack of thank you notes ready to go. Let's be honest, it's a task a lot of us have not loved doing since we were kids ... writing out dozens of thank you notes following all the planning and celebration. It's kind of the final step of your wedding planning journey, so it is even kind of a bit sad (and that is okay!). And now you have to figure out how to write your thank you notes, besides! Knowing how and what to write on your thank you cards is easy once you get the hang of it. Follow these easy tips ... and you'll be done before you know it!
But first, a PSA:
If you have not yet ordered your custom thank you notes ...please do not type the same long canned message into your custom thank you cards. Your names and a simple little generic message is fine, but please leave room to write (with a pen) a personalized note to each and every guest/family. There really is no substitute for an old-fashioned hand-written thank you card. It's timeless and says a lot about your character. A handwritten note tells your wedding guests that you are taking the time during your busy life to show your gratitude.
Who gets oneEveryone who sends you a gift or performs a special service. Some of the more obvious recipients include your parents, wedding party, and officiate. You might even consider writing thank yous to those vendors who went above and beyond for you!
When to sendAs soon as possible. A good rule of thumb is to send your thank yous within two weeks of receiving the gift and up to one month after your honeymoon (if it is immediately following your wedding day).
What to include (3-4 simple sentences)Thank the gift-giver for sending a gift, acknowledge any special effort on their part (travel, wedding day help, etc.), and mention the specific gift and perhaps how you will use it.
Remember: Keep it sincere, and avoid spelling or grammar errors!
Writing tips:
- Use your guest list (with addresses) to keep track of "who gave what"
- Sign your thank yous with both your names (it's okay to have this pre-printed)
- Find somewhere comfortable to write out your notes
- Use a high-quality pen (makes a big difference)
- Devise a plan of writing a certain number of notes each day (you don't have to do them all in one sitting ... ouch!)
- Find a thank you that showcases your style and personalities
- Photo thank you cards with pics from your big day are a great keepsake for recipients!
- Order extras. They won't go to waste.
- Include your new name and address information
Thank You Card Examples
To Friends/Family
Dear Aunt Mary,
What a blessing to see you at the wedding. We are so glad that you were able to make the trip! We also want to thank you for your generous gift and are looking forward to many wonderful home-cooked meals in our new cookware.
With love,
Thomas and Josie
To Officiant or Vendor
Dear (vendor name),
We writing to thank you for the outstanding professionalism you and your staff provided on our wedding day. The (product/service) was excellent! Our family and friends especially commented on how fabulous the (product/service) was. Thank you again. We will gladly recommend you to all of our friends and family.
Kindly,
Thomas and Josie Burton
