Being showered with gifts just for committing to spend the rest of your life with your best friend can seem too good to be true. Lucky for you and your spouse one of the many wonderful parts of having a wedding is receiving gifts on your big day (though we should remind you that they are never to be expected).
Sending a thank you note after receiving a gift is an important part of the wedding process. In fact, it’s the number one “no ifs, ands or buts” task on the list. People spent a lot of time and money to celebrate with you so the least you can do is show your gratitude, no matter how daunting or tedious the task of handwriting all those cards might seem. Yes, they need to handwritten.
When it comes to sending thank you cards it’s best to operate on the mantra of the more personal, the better. Guests love to be made to feel special and sending them a generic thank you message will make it seem as though you couldn’t be bothered to find the time to say “thanks.”
Personalizing your thank you cards doesn’t need to be a timely task. Thanking guests for bringing a gift to your wedding follows a consistent checklist. Show your gratitude for their attendance, thank them for the gift, expand on how you plan to use it. Before you know it your stack of cards to write will be a stack of cards to mail. Easy as that. In fact, we’ve practically written them for you.
Here’s how to say thank you, no matter the circumstance…
For a gift from your registry
Dear ___,
We are so happy you were with us to celebrate our special day! (Insert anecdote from the wedding if you have one. For example, “Thank you for keeping the dance floor alive.”) Thank you so much for the ___. We can’t wait to start using it for ___. (Suggest a future get together to use the item if it’s applicable and actually a plan you’d like to act on. For example, Thank you so much for our new blender. Margarita night soon?) Thanks again!
With love,
For a gift shared among guests
Thank each guest separately and as if the gift was from only them.
Dear ___,
We are so happy you were with us to celebrate our special day! (Insert anecdote from the wedding if you have one. For example, “Your daughter was definitely the cutest one the dance floor!”) Thank you so much for the ___. We can’t wait to start using it for ___. (Suggest a future get together to use the item if it’s applicable and a plan you’d like to act on. For example, Dinner party soon to break in the pot and pan set?) Thanks again!
With love,
For a gift from someone who didn’t attend
Don’t just create your thank you note list based on who attended. All gifts deserve thank yous so make sure your system takes into account the people who didn’t attend whether it was because they couldn’t make it or they weren’t invited such as a friend of your parents or a gift your coworkers pitched in to get.
Dear ___,
Thank you so much for your generous gift! (If this is from someone you don’t know well, add in a story of how you know them. For example, “My parents are always talking about how thoughtful you are. Obviously they’re right!”) We are so grateful to have (family, friends, people) like you in our lives. (Include plans for how you will use the gift whether in your home, yard or what you’re saving toward if it was a cash gift).
With love,
For a gift you don’t like
Even if someone ignored the registry and got you a gift you have absolutely no use for, it’s still important to thank them. After all, they did spend time and money to pick something out especially for you.
Dear ___,
Thank you so much for celebrating our special day with us. (Insert specific wedding memory of them if you have one). We appreciate your (name of gift) and are so grateful you were able to spend our special day with us!
With love,
For cash
Don’t mention the monetary amount. Do share how you plan to use it.
Dear ___,
We are so happy you were able to celebrate our wedding day with us. (Insert specific wedding memory of them if you have one). We are so thankful for your generous gift! We greatly appreciate you helping us save toward our ___ (honeymoon fund, new home, home remodel, new family, etc.)
With love,
For coming without a gift
Gifts are not to be expected, especially if a lot of travel was involved in them getting to your wedding. If someone attends your wedding without a gift still take the time to thank them for attending. Don’t draw attention to the fact they did not bring a gift. Do thank them for sharing your special day with you.
Dear ___,
Thank you so much for being a part of our special day. We are so happy you were there to celebrate with us. (Insert a special memory you shared together at your wedding.) We are so lucky to have (friends, family, people in our life) like you.
With love,
For a donation in your name
Whether you registered for your guests to donate to a charity of your choosing or your guest opted to donate on your behalf on their own, always be sure to thank them for their generous donation.
Dear ___,
Thank you so much for being part of our special day. We greatly appreciate your generous gift to (organization). Your donation will be very helpful toward their mission of ___.
With love,
