Writing out your wedding thank you cards is one of the last wedding-related tasks you’ll ever have to do. Hooray! But, it can also be a bit daunting — especially if you’ve had a sizeable soiree! When you think about it, though, it’s really a time to soak in the special moments of the day, and to really appreciate the generosity of all your friends, family, and loved ones.
Whether it be engagement gifts, shower gifts, or wedding gifts, showing you are appreciative is not only proper etiquette – but it also is a great way to thank your guests for their attendance, their time, and in sharing in your most special moments.
Our best advice? As soon as those gifts start coming in, it’s best to start writing those thank-you notes. So, we’re sharing our tips on when to send them, your wedding thank you card wording, and showing off our favorite designs.
Timeliness
Instead of sitting down to tackle a mountain of thank you cards, we strongly recommend writing them as your gifts are received. It becomes less of a mountain and more of a task that can take just a few moments each day.
Of course, if you’re writing out your thank you cards after the big day, chances are you received your wedding gifts in bulk. That’s okay, too! We recommend thank you cards be sent out within a month of your big day, so divide it up to do a small batch each day, or a medium size batch each weekend instead of all at once. Slow and steady wins the (thank you card) race!
DO: Send you thank you notes within a few weeks after you received them, and ideally no later than 1-3 months after your big day.
Need wedding planning help? Our wedding e-book will teach you everything you need to know!
Addressing
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend addressing the thank you card in the manner that your gift was signed. So, if you received a gift from Mr. & Mrs. Smith, address it that way. If you received a gift signed from one individual, address it to them specifically, and the same thing goes if you received something from an entire family!
The most important thing is to make sure you have the correct address – but thankfully you’ve probably already have them organized somewhere from your wedding invitation spreadsheet!
DO: Keep a spreadsheet of the gifts you received (and for which event. IE: Bridal shower, Engagement party, wedding, etc.)
Get free recipient addressing with Minted
Minted has so many options when it comes to wedding invites AND thank you cards. And the best part? You’ll receive FREE custom envelopes AND guest addressing with each. Just select the guests from your Minted address book, and you’re done! Honestly, addressing those cards can take way longer than writing them, so having them pre-addressed will save you so much time.
Be Specific!
Generic thank you’s save time, but you’ll want to be specific in your wedding thank you card wording. Trust us, it goes a long way. It not only shows that you know who gave you what, but that you are appreciative and grateful.
If you’ve already used the gift – tell them about the experience! Did you make incredible cookies with the mixer? Or use the money you received as a down payment on a new home? People love to hear personal anecdotes of what their gift means to you, so go the extra mile if you can!
FOR YOU: 10 Rustic Wedding Invitations We Love
Here are a few examples of wedding thank you card wording do’s and don’ts:
DON’T:
Dear Uncle Bob and Aunt Grace,
Thank you for the plates. They are really great. We are looking forward to using them.
Sincerely,
Judy and Nathan
DO:
Dear Uncle Bob and Aunt Grace,
We are so happy that you were able to make it to our wedding. It was such a wonderful and special day for us, and having all of our family and friends there to help us celebrate made it even more memorable. Thank you for being a part of it.
We also wanted to thank you for the beautiful plates from Crate & Barrel. Nathan and I absolutely love them! We look forward to using them for many years to come, and will think of you every time we do. 🙂
Thank you again, and we hope to see you and the rest of the family very soon!
Love,
Judy and Nathan
Also, if you receive a cash gift, you’ll want to be specific with that, too! An example of what you could says includes:
Dear Uncle Bob and Aunt Grace,
We can’t thank you enough for your incredibly generous gift. We are already planning to put it towards our Parisian honeymoon, and will think of you both as we sip champagne and eat baguettes along the Seine! In the meantime we are so excited to celebrate with you at the wedding next month in Maine! We can’t wait to see you both. Thank you so much again!
Lots of love,
Judy and Nathan
Remember: Your guests have likely spent a lot of time and money not only on your wedding, but your gift. So be sure to express that in your wedding thank you card wording!
Picking Out Your Cards
If you use a site like Minted for your wedding invites, you can select a design that matches your wedding invitation suite for consistency. You can also choose a completely new design, or even show off your favorite wedding photos!
Our Faves
The Plaza design is the perfect way to share your favorite wedding photo on the cover, and you can customize the color theme. The front and back of the envelopes are elegantly addressed and the inside is blank, awaiting your custom message of gratitude.
If space for one photo just isn’t enough, a collage-design is always a great idea, too. The Engraved Paisley design showcases three photos on the cover with a blank inside. Modern Glitz has space for two photo selections on the front. And the Soho design suite has space for three!
For a unique twist, thank you post-cards are always a great idea, too. The There Will Be a Party suite really spells it out with a heartfelt message on front, and still leaves space for a photo, message, or both on the other side.
Whichever design you choose to go with, the important thing is to enjoy the process as you design, write, and send out your wedding thank you cards. It’s a great way to relive the magic and love from your special day.
The biggest don’t? Forgetting to send a thank you note for any gift you’ve received. No matter how big or small, it’s a gesture that means a lot.
