Wedding Planning - Thank You Note Guidelines

Your wedding day is approaching soon; the invitations have been sent out and you begin receiving wedding gifts at your home. With every gift you receive, more excitement for your upcoming wedding day begins to build. Whether the gift is familiar to you- you remember registering for the item with your fiancé at the department store- or you receive a gift that the guest picked out on their own, a prompt thank you note to the sender is required. If the thought of sitting down and writing out 100 thank you notes at one time is not your idea of a pleasant afternoon, then you will find it best to stay on top of your thank you notes by sending one out immediately after you receive each gift. So, clear off a table, supply yourself with a few good-writing pens, and get started. Here are some quick thank you note guidelines to help you.

Before starting, remember these two very important guidelines when writing out your notes of thanks:

• Don't use a preprinted thank you card or any kind of stationary that simply has the words "Thank You" printed on the front.
• Never assume that verbally thanking the gift giver in person can replace a handwritten thank you note. There is no way around sending out a handwritten note, and it is only proper that you take the time to write out your words of gratitude to the ones that have thoughtfully took the time to go out and purchase and send you a gift.

1. Folded card stock in white or ivory are still a good choice for writing your thank you notes on. You may wish to monogram your initials or have your names printed on the front of each card. If you decide to do this, remember to also have a set of cards with your maiden name to send out before the wedding.
2. Use a pen in blue or black ink that writes clean and smoothly. Take your time when writing the notes out and be extra careful of your penmanship
3. Be sincere in your notes and show that you are genuinely thankful for the gift. Always write more than a brief "thank you for the vase". Be sure to express your thanks by stating how much the gift will be enjoyed, and always mention what the gift was in your note (For example: Dear Aunt Jane, thank you so much for the coffeemaker you sent us. Steve and I will delightfully think of you as we share our morning cup of coffee together each day...) It's also a great touch to let your guest know how much their presence was enjoyed at the wedding. If you received a gift from a guest who was unable to attend, you may want to mention how much you would have loved to have them share your special day and that their presence was surely missed.
4. If you receive a gift from a large group of co-workers or friends, it is acceptable to send a single note addressed to all of them. Though if you do this, you must also be sure to thank each of them individually in person.
5. When you receive a monetary gift, it's best not to mention the dollar amount that was given to you in the thank you note. Instead, if possible, mention what you both plan to use the gift on. (For example: Dear Uncle Mark, Jill and I are very thankful for the generous gift you sent us. As you know, we have been saving up to put a down payment on a new home, and with the help of your gift we are much closer to reaching that goal...)
6. Never mention that you received a gift in damaged condition. Instead call the department store from which the gift was bought and let them know that you received the gift in a damaged state. If the store from which the gift was bought is unknown, and the sender did not insure the package, it is still improper to notify the sender of the damaged condition the gift was received. It is however OK to let them know, only if the sender asks you about it themselves.
7. If you receive a gift that doesn't exactly fit your tastes, it is still important that you send a sincere note of thanks. Remember that the sender put thought into the gift they bought, and you should recognize that rather then mention that you have no use for the gift in your note.
8. Enlist the help from your new spouse. It is perfectly fine for the two of you to share the task, and the process will be completed quicker. It is recommended that you both sign the thank you note, though it is fine if you don't, so long as both of your names are mentioned in the body of the letter.
9. Promptness is key in thank you note writing. Send out your thank you notes no later than two weeks for any gifts that were received before the wedding day. For gifts received after the wedding date, be sure to send out a note within four weeks after the honeymoon.