Writing wedding thank you cards may be the last thing you feel like doing when you get back from your honeymoon. But it is a vital step every bride (or groom) must tackle as gracious wedding hosts.
Whether you had a large wedding or only a few guests, writing your wedding thank you cards may seem like a tricky task. That’s where we come in. To help you power through the process, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide that not only includes proper wedding thank you card wording, but how to make the entire process flow more smoothly from start to finish.
In This Article
Wedding Thank You Card Survival Guide
If you have a pile of wedding thank you cards to pen, here are some simple steps to help streamline the process.
Get Organized
Before you even start to think about wedding thank you card wording, it’s important to have an organization plan in place.
That’s because the No. 1 mistake brides make when tackling their wedding thank you notes is not having a system operational to track their progress.
One of the easiest ways to stay organized is by creating a spreadsheet to record your guest list. This task is best done when you are sending out your wedding invitations so that you can not only keep track of who is coming to your wedding but who has sent a gift, what you received and when it was sent. You should also create a column that you can check off once the thank you card has been written and another for when it has been mailed out.
If you don’t like spreadsheets, you can do it the old fashioned way with a notebook and a pen.
Choose Your Stationary
One of the best ways to ensure you’re prepared to tackle your thank yous after the wedding is by having the cards ahead of time. One of the easiest ways to shop for thank you cards is by ordering them as part of a packaged deal with your wedding invitations. Not only will you have your notes ahead of time, but they’ll match the color scheme and vibe of your wedding.
Start Early
While most guests will likely bring your gift with them to your wedding, you may receive some presents early. If you do, why not write your thank yous right away? Sending out cards as you receive gifts, means you’ll have fewer to write after your honeymoon.
Record, Record, Record
Whether you receive actual presents to open, cards with checks or a mixture of both, it’s vital that you keep track of who gave you what. And that means taking the time in between each gift to add info to your spreadsheet or to jot info down in your notebook.
It may not be as fun as tearing into all of your wedding gifts one after another, but it will make your life a whole lot easier once you sit down to write your thank you notes.
Make a Schedule
Remember, proper etiquette dictates that your friends and family receive their thank you cards within three months of your wedding day. Setting aside some time dedicated to writing thank you notes is the best way to make sure they are completed in a timely fashion.
Whether you block out two hours every Saturday until your cards are written or take 20 minutes every evening to tackle the job, make sure you have a system. While you may not be able to write 200 thank yous in one sitting, you can commit to writing 10 every evening or 50 every weekend.
Don’t Forget to Share
While thank you notes have traditionally fallen to the bride to complete, there’s no reason why you can’t attack the job together. You can divide the notes in half or write notes according to who knows the giver best. If your spouse doesn’t have good penmanship, he can still help by plugging info into the spreadsheet and by stuffing and stamping envelopes.
Wedding Thank You Note Etiquette
Every properly written thank you note contains three simple elements:
- A thank you.
- Reference to the gift given.
- A comment or compliment about the gift.
The note should also be:
- Hand-written.
- Mention everyone who signed the wedding card or gift tag.
- Specific. Writing a general thank you is in bad taste.
The note should be sent:
- Within two weeks of the gift’s arrival if received prior to the wedding.
- Ideally within one month of the gift’s arrival if received after the wedding, although up to three months is acceptable.
Who else receives a thank you?
While you likely know you need to send a card to thank anyone who gave you a gift, did you also know you should thank guests who didn’t give you anything? Etiquette dictates that you send a thank you to everyone who attended your wedding, whether they gave you a gift or not.
Also, if you haven’t already done so, it’s a good idea to thank them for any other gifts they’ve given you, such as those from the wedding shower. If you already sent a thank you for the shower gift, you don’t have to mention it a second time.
You should also consider sending a card to anyone who made your wedding day special, whether that was your DJ who kept the party going for hours or your florist who went above and beyond to make your wedding magical.
Now that you have a handle on the etiquette, let’s dive into some easy wedding thank you card wording ideas.
Wedding Thank You Card Wording Samples
Our handy wedding thank you card wording examples are just what you need to banish writer’s block. Use our wedding card wording examples as a base and make it your own message complete with creative touches and details.
Wedding Thank You Cards For Your Parents
While you’ll obviously want to thank both sets of parents in person for their help with the wedding and any gifts they gave, sending them each a thank you note is still a nice touch. This style of thank you note can also be used for other loved ones — such as a sibling — who helped out a lot with the wedding.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for everything you did to make our wedding so special. It meant the world to me to have you both walk me down the aisle. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you so much for the $3,000 you gave us to purchase new appliances. It’s something we could never have afforded on our own, but your generosity made it possible. We can hardly wait for you to see them in our new house over the holidays. We love you so much.
Love,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Cards For Members of Your Wedding Party
Not only did they buy you a lovely wedding gift, but they also took the time to play an important role in your big day. Be sure to thank them for both precious gifts.
Dear [Wedding Party Member],
Thank you so much for being my [Role]. It meant so much to me to have you at my side on my wedding day. You really went above and beyond, both as my (role) and with the special wedding gift you got for [Partner’s name] and I. We absolutely love the personalized throw pillows and blanket. They will look wonderful in our bedroom. Thank you for being an amazing friend!
Love,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Card For Anyone Who Bought Gifts off of Your Registry
Remember, your registry items are things you specifically asked for, so be sure to let your wedding guests know how grateful you are. How? Tell each gift giver how much you love the gift, how often you’ll use or enjoy it or how helpful it will be to you.
Dear [Guest(s) Name],
We can’t thank you enough for the fabulous knife set! I love to cook and [partner’s name] loves to eat, and the knives will make it so much easier to whip up all of our favorite dishes. We’ll be sure to have a special meal prepared the next time you come over! Thank you for being a part of our special day.
Yours truly,
[Your name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Card For a Guest Who Gave Cash or a Check
If you feel stumped about how to write about a monetary gift, not to worry. Simply talk about how you’ll use the money they gave you.
Dear [Guest(s) Name],
Thank you so much for your generous $200 gift. Thanks to your thoughtfulness, we were able to buy an antique wine rack we’ve had our eyes on and that we’ll be sure to enjoy for many years. Thanks again for your generosity and being a part of our special day! We’d love to have you over for a glass of wine and a visit. Feel free to drop by any time!
Love,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Cards For People Who Gave a Group Gift
If a group of your friends or family went in together to buy you a larger gift, be sure to send each individual or family a thank you note referencing the gift. As an example, we’ll provide inspiration for a note to send to good friends.
Dear [Guest’s Name],
We are absolutely thrilled with the beautiful coffee table and can’t thank you enough for your generosity. We feel incredibly blessed to not only have such thoughtful friends, but friends with incredibly good taste too. We can’t wait to have you over to see how amazing it looks in our living room. Thanks for being a part of our special day!
Love,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Card For a Guest You Don’t Know Well
If you invited a friend of your dad’s or a cousin of your mom’s that you’ve never met before the wedding, it can be hard to know what to write. Referencing the person you have in common will remove any awkwardness from the thank you card wording.
Dear [Guest’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I were so thrilled to receive the lovely set of silver candlesticks from you. Thank you! They make a beautiful centerpiece on our dining room table. After hearing all of dad’s stories about you, we were thrilled to meet you in person. Thank you for being a part of our special day and putting a big smile on dad’s face as well.
Sincerely,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Card For Someone Who Didn’t Attend but Sent a Gift
While proper etiquette dictates that anyone invited to a wedding send a gift even if they can’t attend, it’s not a rule that’s always followed. So, if you receive a gift from someone who couldn’t make it to your wedding, make sure you let them know that you not only appreciate their thoughtfulness, but wish they could have been there.
Dear [Gifter’s Name],
Thank you so much for the beautiful sheet set. The color matches perfectly with our bedroom and [Partner’s Name] and I were so touched that you would think of us. We do wish you could have been there with us on our wedding day. You were missed! Hopefully we’ll be able to see you soon!
Best wishes,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Cards For People Who Traveled to Your Destination Wedding (but Didn’t Bring a Present)
Even if some friends and family members didn’t buy you a gift, it’s important to thank them for making the trip to celebrate with you.
Dear [Guest’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I were so pleased that you could be a part of our wedding day. It really meant a lot to us that you’d travel all the way to Hawaii to celebrate with us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We had a blast — we hope you did too!
Love,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Card For Someone Who Gave an Unwanted Gift
You may not love every gift you receive, but there’s still a way to offer a genuine thank you to the giver. The key is to find something positive to say without being dishonest.
Dear [Guest’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I were so pleased that you could join us for our big day. It meant the world to us to see you there. Thank you very much for the vase. We’re honored that you would think of us on your travels and take the time to choose such a unique piece for our home. We’ll think of you every time we look at it!
Best regards,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Card For Someone Who Gifted You a Mysterious Item
If you’re stymied by a wedding gift that you received, you may be wondering how to write the thank you card. The key is to focus on the gift giver and just make a passing mention of the present.
Dear [Guest’s Name],
Thank you so much for celebrating our marriage with us, as well as for the thoughtful wedding gift. [Partner’s Name] and I feel so blessed that you were able to come and enjoyed having the chance to chat with you at the reception. We’ll look forward to seeing you again soon!
Best wishes,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Cards For People Who Gave a Gift Card
While it may be harder to gush about a gift card then it is to lavish praise on an actual gift, you can still show your gratitude by saying how you’ll use it.
Dear [Guest’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I wanted to express our gratitude for your generous gift. We’ve been wanting an area rug for our living room and your gift will help us to purchase the one we’ve had our eye on. Thank you for celebrating our marriage with us.
Best regards,
[Your Name(s)]
Wedding Thank You Cards For Vendors
Wedding vendors who provide exceptional service should also be on your list of thank you card recipients. From photographers to DJs to florists, there can be a lot of service providers to thank. Here’s a few wording examples you can use for inspiration:
Dear [Vendor’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I can’t thank you enough for the beautiful photographs you took on our wedding day. We will always treasure each memory you captured. Thank you for all of your hard work.
Sincerely,
[Your Name(s)]
Dear [Vendor’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for the fantastic job you did at our reception. You played all of our favorite songs and kept everyone up on the dance floor for hours. We had a blast.
Sincerely,
[Your Name(s)]
Final Thoughts
Now that you’re familiar with wedding thank you card wording, you can make sure that each and every note you craft contains your own unique message to friends and family as well as other wedding guests.
