How To Write Wedding Thank You Cards

How To Write Wedding Thank You Cards

Admit it. One of the best parts about getting marriedbesides making an official, lifelong commitment to your soul mateis racking in the wedding gifts. Even better, if youve opened a bridal registry online or at your local department store, youre receiving items youve specifically chosen for yourself. Score!

Of course, for every wedding present that lands on your doorstop, you need to send a handwritten note of thanks to the generous giftgiver. For wedding presents, a quick email, a phone call or computergenerated letter is not going to cut it. Your best friend, your coworker and your Great Aunt Edna took the time to purchase a giftor give you cashto mark your nuptials, so the least you can do is handwrite a thankyou note, address an envelope, stick a stamp on it and send it on its merry way.

Keep track of all gifts received. Theres so much to remember in the weeks prior to a wedding ceremony, celebratory reception and honeymoon. Did you write your vows? Whos picking up the flowers? Wheres our hotel confirmation? With all the thoughts cluttering your brain, its extra important to keep a written record of gifts youve received. Whether its by notebook and pen, a Microsoft Word list or an Excel spreadsheet, take the time to jot down who sent what and when. As you write a thankyou note, youll mark that next to each entry to keep track of whom youve already thanked.

When I got married, I used an Excel spreadsheet to record the proper names and addresses for all the people I invited to my wedding. I added a column for yay or nay once I received their RSVP cards to mark whether or not they were attending. Then I added a column to list any gift they sent, and another for whether or not Id sent a thankyou note. Each persons mailing address was already on my master list, so addressing an envelope for a thankyou card was easy.

Invest in some nice stationery. Sure, you could go down to the dollar store and pick up some cheap wedding thank you cards, but since youre only getting married once you hope!, why not purchase some quality cards to do the job? Classy note cards and the perfect, highquality pen might even make the task more inviting. You may be able to order matching thankyou cards when you purchase wedding invitations. This is a nice touch, but not necessary. Thank you cards can look expensive, without costing you very much. Consider shopping at places such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Shutterfly, Snapfish, or other online thank you card retailers. If you purchase a large quantity, the price will generally be less expensive.

Keep it brief. You dont need to write an epic letter espousing the virtues of the gorgeous glass vase your cousin sent you. In fact, each thankyou note only needs to be a few lines. If you make each note longer than it has to be, youll quickly run out of enthusiasm for the task.

Try to write notes as the packages come in. If you have the time, write a note and mail it soon after you receive a gift. Facing dozens of blank thankyou cards after you come home from your honeymoon can be daunting.

Start each note with a heartfelt thank you, mentioning the gift by name. For example: Dear Aunt Mary, Thank you so much for the blender.

Follow this with an explanation of how you will use the gift. We cant wait to use it for our breakfast smoothies!

End with a mention of their attending or not your wedding. It was such a treat to visit with you at our wedding reception. Were so glad you were able to make the drive from California. Or, if the gift was received before your wedding date: We look forward to seeing you at our wedding celebration next month. Or, if she couldnt attend: Were sorry you werent able to attend our wedding ceremony; Sarah said shed share some photos she snapped when she sees you next month. You can also view them online at http://www.

Wrap up with another thank you. Again, we really appreciate your thoughtful gift. Love, John and Sue.

If the gift is money, let the giftgiver know what you might do with the cash. Dear Grandpa, Thank you so much for the generous gift of money you sent us for our wedding. It will certainly come in handy as we renovate our new house. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness. Love, John and Sue.

If youre not sure what the gift is, its okay to be vaguebut only as a last resort. Maybe you received a decorative object that might be a fruit bowl? A wall hanging? An ancient African artifact? Seek advice from others as to what the gifts purpose ismaybe even search the Internet if you have any clues from the packaging. But if youre really not sure what the item is, I think it would be insulting to ask the giftgiver directly for an explanation. In that case, the cards wording could be on the generic side: Dear Uncle Bill, Thank you so much for the wedding present. We really appreciate your generosity. It was wonderful to see you at the wedding receptionwe look forward to visiting with you again at the family reunion this summer. Love, John and Sue.

Split the duties. Finally, to keep the notewriting task from becoming overwhelming, split the job between you and your new spouse. If you take turns writing, your thankyou notes will be mailed in no time!

Writing thank you notes for your wedding gifts may seem daunting, but just remember how thoughtful it was of your family member or friend to make this purchase in celebration of your marriage. Since gifts arent generally opened at the reception, this is also a nice gesture to acknowledge that you received the present. Its time to get motivated! Pull out your list of gifts and your stationary. Start recalling the happy memories you have of that person and your wedding day. Feel thankful as you write your cards. Your sincerity will come through when the recipient reads your heartfelt comments.