How to Write Thank-You Cards After the Wedding

Writing wedding thank-you notes is a task that all newly married couples must complete. It does not matter if your wedding was a small, intimate affair or a large celebration with hundreds of guests. Any gifts that a bridal couple receives must be properly acknowledged with a note of appreciation.

A thank-you note is always the appropriate response when you receive a gift. However, many people procrastinate writing the note because it may seem time-consuming, complicated or they simply do not know what to write. Writing thank-you notes for wedding gifts does not have to nerve-wracking for newlyweds. The notes can be written simply, elegantly, and without angst when a plan is in place.

Organization + checklist = time savings

The modern bridal couple has put together a well-organized wedding from the prewedding details to the actual event. Whether your wedding took three months to plan or more than a year, you were organized and most likely had several checklists. To make easy work of writing wedding thank-you notes, refer back to the guest list.

If a spreadsheet program was used for the guest list, add two more columns labeled Gifts and Thank-You Cards. For each guest, write in the corresponding gift. The gifts list is most easily compiled as the gifts are opened; simply write the gift description on the card next to the guest's name.

Second phase of organization

You have your list with the descriptions of the wedding gifts received and who gave each gift. The second phase of organizing the writing of the wedding thank-you notes is gathering supplies. It does not matter if you are using formal thank-you cards that match your wedding theme or basic note cards purchased at a stationery shop.

What matters is keeping it all organized to avoid irritation, headaches, and lost note cards. Keep the cards, stamps, pens, address information, and guest/gift list together in a box or container and always return everything to the box when your card-writing session is done each day.

Teamwork

You are now a married couple and it is time to work as a team. Agree to split the work. If one is more comfortable penning the sentiment, then do it. The other can then take the task of addressing the envelopes. Another way to split is for each person to write the wedding gift thank-you to his or her friends and family.

Do not procrastinate

According to the etiquette experts at EmilyPost.com, a wedding thank-you note should be sent within three months of receiving the gift. A wedding planner may even suggest mailing the thank-you notes within six to eight weeks following the wedding. If the thought of writing 200 thank-you notes has you panicked, relax.

Anyone can tackle a large task by breaking it down into smaller portions. Do not try to write 50 thank-you notes in one sitting. Set a goal of 10 or 12 each day. Ten a day, written only on weekdays, equals 50 wedding thank-you notes a week. In four weeks, 200 thank-you notes can be completed.

Short, sweet and specific

Any thank-you note needs to be personal. The best way to personalize is to hand-write your wedding thank-you notes. Be specific and name the gift received, then mention how you have used or plan to use the gift. If the guest traveled a distance to share your wedding day, express your thanks for that special effort. Did they make a toast, participate as an usher or help in any other way at your wedding? Be sure to offer specific appreciation.

Thank-you notes do not need to be long letters. Including pictures from your honeymoon is not appropriate. Combining the thank-you notes for a bridal shower gift and wedding gift is not appropriate either. Two separate notes should be sent. Even if you thanked a guest in person, a handwritten note is still proper etiquette and simply nice manners.

Writing wedding thank-you notes is part of every newly married couple's responsibility, but it does not have to be a daunting task. Share the joy of each gift with your spouse as you write the notes. Talk about the gift and the guest. Remember a moment from the wedding shared with that guest. Your enthusiasm will translate into your note and your appreciation will be evident.