How to Write a Wedding Thank You Note
The wedding is over, the presents have been unwrapped and now is the time to write thank you notes. Some old-fashioned ideas can be set aside for new, modern weddings, but writing a thank you letter is never out of style. In fact, your guests deserve a note thanking them for their time, attendance and gift.
- Get simple thank you notes. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to have matching thank you notes or purchase anything elaborate. A simple card that folds in half with the words, “Thank you” printed on the front will suffice. It's also very common to receive a lot of stationery with the bride's new name knowing it will be put to very good use.
- Write out each thank you note by hand. Do not try to mass produce thank you notes by printing them on a computer. If you have hundreds of thank you cards to write, consider printing a statement and then adding a nice hand-written note at the end. A hand written note shows sincerity and thoughtfulness.
- Put the name of the person or persons first on the card prefaced by “Dear Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Dr.” Use appropriate salutations.
- Thank them for attending your wedding or sending you a wedding gift.
- Mention the gift in your statement by saying something, “Thank you for the money. We will use it to purchase our first home.” Whether you use the money for a home is not the issue. It is simply showing the giver that the gift will be used wisely.
- Make sure that your thank you note is no less than three sentences long. It can be longer, but should not exceed the length of the thank you card. If you need more room for certain people or certain gifts, purchase a special card to fit the circumstance and your thankfulness.
- Sign the note with your first names, husband and wife. You can also sign as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, showing your new salutation as a couple.
- Send the notes within three weeks of the wedding. Waiting more than five weeks is unacceptable and rude. Even if you have to write three or four thank you cards several times a day, get it done. Your guests took time out of their schedule to share your special day and give you a gift. A thank you note is a sign of appreciation for their efforts.