How to Write Wedding Thank You Notes
Tips for Making this Large Task Easier to Complete
Nov 26, 2008
A well written thank you note is a polite and socially gracious gift back to the gift giver or for someone who has given you their time or services. Below are some tips for making your wedding thank you notes sincere and heartfelt.
Thank You Note Timeframe for Delivery
Whether the wedding is big or small, writing the thank you cards can be a draining task. If you have a large wedding of 50 or more, writing personal hand written notes can be a chore. Some gifts may come before the wedding ever takes place, along with news that guests can not attend. Some even come after the wedding with the "sorry we couldn't make" it notes. However, whether a gift comes before during, or after the wedding, all thank you notes should be sent out within the first eight weeks after the wedding. Try to send thank you cards in the order the gifts were received. This is a good tracking system to follow.
Write Thank You Notes in an Orderly Fashion
The best tactic is to fill out thank you cards as you unpack the gifts. As you open a box, write out a card. You can accomplish this by creating a note card set, so that you can write out cute notes very quickly. You might get a basket or box of some kind, and include various stamps, cards, stickers, or even pens with different colored ink. In most cases, the creative options will inspire you to write out a card.
Order your thank you notes at the same time you order invitations, so you will already have them available. Keep in mind that not everyone may have sent a gift, and some people prefer to give cash directly to the happy couple. You may need to consult with your new husband over cash gifts given directly to him.
Tips for Personalizing Thank You Notes
Relatives and Acquaintances
Do not stress over phrasing and repeating yourself. You can certainly reuse phrases. Your aunt in New York City is not going to compare her note to the one your uncle got in Seattle. However, make sure you do include personal thoughts in every card. For example, start your note with "It was good to see you at the wedding, Aunt Evelyn. Thank you so much for the ..." You might also mention the specific items and how you plan to use them in your home. You might say something like, "The new fondue set has been great for our book club meetings." You will also want to consider that you don't need to write a whole letter, but just a few sentences.
Close Relatives and Friends
You can spend a few extra minutes on those people who are closest to you or sent especially personal gifts. These are people that you will likely interact with on a daily or regular basis. You will know when you want to take this extra time, and it will be time well spent.
Get Your Spouse to Help
Split the thank you card writing in half. That is the great thing about marriage; you now have someone to help with those not so fun tasks. Divide the thank you cards by who invited the guest. You may need to negotiate a few guests that are friends with both people. In most cases, family members will appreciate hand written cards by the person that is their family member.
Make it a fun task you can complete together. You might have a friendly competition to see who can write out more cards in a set time or simply reward yourselves with a night out for all your hard work. You will have many more tasks to complete as a couple, and this can help you learn to complete large tasks together.
Writing thank you notes after your wedding is a tedious task. But, it is one that should not be ignored. People like to feel appreciated for the time they spent picking a wedding gift out for you. Buckle down and get into a groove. You will soon find that the task is ended, and you may actually enjoy reliving your wedding day through the writing process.
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