Writing thank you cards after the wedding

There’s a lot of effort involved in planning a wedding, but even after you tie the knot, there’s still some work to do. Sending out thank you notes is as essential as packing for your honeymoon. Your guests traveled from near and far to attend your big day and get you a special gift to celebrate you and your spouse’s new life together. Here’s everything you need to know about sending and writing thank you cards:

Who do you send them to?
Anyone who gave you a wedding gift should receive a thank you note, even if they couldn’t attend your nuptials. As the gifts arrive, create a list of what each gift is and who gave it to you. Having this information on hand will make it much easier for you to write your thank you cards in a timely fashion. Even if a guest who attended didn’t get you a present, that person still deserves a thank you note. After all, they likely spent money to get to your wedding destination.

Guests aren’t the only people who deserve a sincere thank you, however. Did any of your vendors go above and beyond to make sure your wedding was perfect? If so, take a few moments to show your appreciation with a thank you note. Your vendors will love being recognized for doing their job well, and they may even keep it to show to future customers.

When do you mail the cards?
It’s never too late to send a thank you note, but keep in mind that the earlier you send it, the better. Cards should be sent out within three months of your wedding day. It’s best to start writing thank you notes as soon as the gifts arrive, so it’s important to stock up on thank you cards well before your wedding. Many gifts come in a few weeks before your big day. This will provide you with the opportunity to get a head start on the notes.

What do you write in the cards?
While it may be faster and more convenient to write out the same message in every card, this is in no way sincere. You should make sure to personalize each card based on the gift and who gave it to you. Thank that person for the present, and let them know why the gift was great or how you’re going to use it in the future. If you receive money as a gift, send a thank you card dictating how you’re going to put that money to use, whether it’s on a new home or saving up for the future.

You don’t have to write a long note in the cards – keep the message short and sweet. Nobody’s going to want to read two pages of wording (we all have short attention spans these days). You can say thank you in a sincere way without writing a novel.

How do you get updated addresses?
Instead of having to track down each and every one of your guests to get their updated address after your nuptials, take care of it on your wedding day. Next to your guest book, keep a stack of blank envelopes. Ask your loved ones to write down their address on the front of the envelope. Not only will you have accurate contact information, you’ll have a lot less work to do when it comes time to mail those notes.

How do I get all these done in time?
Tackling a stack of 200 thank you notes is overwhelming, no doubt. This task can definitely be a two-person job. Split the work between you and your new spouse. Maybe he can handle notes for his side of the family, while you complete the cards for your loved ones. You may also want to take breaks – don’t expect to write and address all of them in one sitting. Plan to write them over the course of a few weeks instead.