Thank-you note etiquette

Thank-you note etiquette never changes, even with our culture’s growing menu of communication options.

In other words, you should send your thank-you notes on personal stationary or nice thank-you cards. Emails, Facebook messaging, texting, and phone calls don’t cut it.  Each note should be personal.  Fill-in the blank notes are worse than sending no note at all.

Even more, your thank-you notes should go out within three months of receiving wedding-related gifts. For starters, gift givers want to be sure you actually received their gift, especially in the case of those who had something shipped to you.  But even those who brought their gift to the wedding want to be sure you actually got it.

Who needs to receive thank-you notes?

A well written thank-you note is pure gold.  You should send notes to anyone who gave you gifts at an engagement party, wedding shower, and your wedding itself.

Be sure to send notes to those who hosted those events.

In addition, send a nice note to your entire wedding party, including the officiant.

And, of course, you should send notes to anyone who helped pay for your weddings (such as parents) and even those who helped plan your wedding. If in doubt, send a thank-you note.

The best-written thank-you notes are personal.  Acknowledge receipt of the gift, name the gift, and if possible, how you will use the gift.  For example:

Dear Aunt Sarah and Uncle Joe:  First of all, thank-you so much for attending my wedding wedding.  That meant everything, because you have been special to me my entire life.  Sean and I will think of you every time we use the new grill you gave us.  We look forward to having you over when things settle down to break in the grill and thank-you properly.

Thanks again from us both.

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