Start with the “Who”
Hopefully you did your prep work and already have a general list of all your guests and maybe even what gift they gave you. You should also be sure to include anyone that did anything to help out such as planning, running errands, decorating or anything else related to the event.
“What” to Say
Writing a good thank you card isn’t rocket science. There is no need to use fancy wording or write anything good enough to get published. The trouble most people have is trying to write too much or too little. The most important thing to remember is to sincerely show how much you appreciate the gift or hospitality.
Start with a greeting.
- Be sure to use the correct form and spelling just like on the invitations.
- Dear Aunt Ellen and Uncle Denny,
- Dear Robert and Jessica,
Express your thanks.
- Thank you so much for…
- I’m so grateful you were there when…
- I appreciate the…
- I am thankful for…
Add specific details.
- Name the gift and why you are thankful. Be specific (don’t just say “gift”) and briefly tell them how you plan to use or display their gift.
- The money you gave us will help us make the needed updates to our kitchen that we’ll enjoy for years to come.
- Being the go-to person on my wedding for questions allowed me to fully enjoy the day and not have to worry about anything.
- Here’s a photo of the frame you gave us with one of our favorite wedding pictures hanging in our family room.
Add a closing statement that “looks” ahead.
- This should be specific to the person you are thanking, not a generic phrase. Mention the next time you may see them or let them know you are thinking of them.
-
- We would love to have you over for dinner soon to see our new house.
- We look forward to seeing you both when you are in town for the holidays. Be sure to let us know ahead of time what your schedule is.
- We look forward to seeing you at Julia’s birthday party in September.
Restate your thanks (optional)
- You can reiterate your thanks by adding details to thank them in a different way.
-
- We felt so blessed that you made the trip to be with us on our wedding day. We can’t wait to see you again soon.
- Thank you again for your generosity.
Sign the note with your regards
Depending on your relationship with the person or people you are thanking, sign your name using:
- Sincerely,
- With Love,
- Many thanks,
- Yours Truly,
“When” to Send Them
It is always best to send out your thank you notes as quickly as possible. For events like weddings or showers, a general rule of thumb is to send out the thank yous within a month after the event. If you have passed that amount of time by a month or more, that is not an excuse to not send them at all. It is always best to do it as soon as you can no matter how late they may be.
See below for a few examples: