Sending a thank you note is traditional and expected by most wedding attendees. It’s a heartfelt gesture of gratitude, but it can seem like an endless task. If you had a big wedding, the list of thank you cards to wedding guests could be massive!
So, if you’re wondering how to write a thank you card to wedding guests in a kind but efficient way, we’ve got you set. Below we cover the thank you card basics and then provide example templates you can use to get the job done fast!
The meaning of a thank you card for weddings is to show gratitude to those who took part in your big day. Most guests have given the new couple a gift of monetary value, and all guests have given the gift of their time. So when it comes to saying thank you from a place of honest appreciation, a thank you card should be thought of as a gift, as well.
Picking the correct wedding well wishes should not be taken lightly. You should not write a generalized, simple thank-you message – it should be specific to the wedding theme. Family and friends who were part of your day, whether their roles were large or small, and likely planned and travelled to be there for your special day deserve a sincere thank you card expressing your genuine love and appreciation for having them there. Make sure to pick a card that is tasteful, thoughtful, preferably of higher value, and ensure the message is personal to he recipient.
There are five things that every wedding thank you card should contain:
It’s a pretty simple formula, but the task can still seem overwhelming. When there are hundreds of cards to write, you might find yourself lacking in creativity and time.
What do you say about the off-registry birdfeeder your coworker decided to give you? And what about the people who didn’t bring a gift at all?
Don’t worry; we’ve seen it all, and we know exactly how to respond graciously. Below we’ll lay out everything you need to write the perfect wedding thank you card. Let’s start with how to make your life easier: spreadsheets.
When you sent out your wedding invitations, hopefully, you used a spreadsheet. Most couples do, because a spreadsheet is the easiest way to keep track of the guest, their address, their RSVP, and food choices.
As long as you did that, you’re in luck. Just copy the name and address of every wedding guest you invited into a new spreadsheet for thank you cards. Then add columns for the name of the gift, when you received it, and whether you sent a thank-you yet or not. This will help you keep track as you move through the wedding thank you card process.
As tempting as it is to wait to send thank you’s, it’s not a good idea. Start as soon as possible, and the task will seem less insurmountable.
You’ll likely receive gifts before your wedding or wedding party, and there’s no reason you can’t start penning thank you’s then (if you have time). You can even send them early if you’d like.
We also recommend opening and making note of gifts on your spreadsheet as you receive them. It’s tempting to wait until after the wedding to create a Christmas-morning-like thrill, but it’s harder to make a note of each gift that way. If you receive gifts early, open them, note them, write a thank you, and send it. It makes the process that much easier after the wedding.
As with any never-ending task, it’s best to take things in small bites. Schedule an hour into your evenings or a few hours every weekend to work on it, and you’ll be done before you know it.
On that note, remember that this doesn’t need to be one spouse’s task. You both received the gift and are both capable of writing thank-you cards. Assigning thank-yous by who knows the guest better is a great option.
We know it’s tempting to type thank you cards. Typing is always faster, and it looks neater too. However, digital thank you’s come off as less heartfelt. You want to show you appreciate the gift and don’t want to insult anyone, so handwriting thank you’s is important.
You want to show you appreciate the gift and don’t want to insult anyone, so handwriting thank you’s is important.
If you have terrible handwriting, consider hiring a professional. You can find handwriting services online at reasonable prices, with Handwrytten cards starting at just $3.25 each. No one has to know you didn’t write them yourself.
When someone gives you money, it’s polite to specify the amount in the thank you card. This is to ease the sender’s mind. That way, they know you received the entire amount you were supposed to, and they don’t worry about any of it being stolen or lost.
Writing thoughtful thank you cards after a wedding should be an important part of the post-wedding experience. The thoughtful gift and thoughtful words to go with it should go together and make for a thoughtful experience, both for the sender and receiver. Specific thank you card wording can help express sincere gratitude to people who attended your wedding and make them feel special. It is important to pay attention to those details for a better impact on those who have celebrated this joyous occasion with you.
For example, let’s think about some different types of gifts received from wedding guests:
You don’t want to just use a generic statement in these situations; saying “thank you for your generous contribution” without actually acknowledging what they gave you would leave a sour taste in their mouth.
Instead, using our below templates, adjust the thank you card wording so that it falls more in line with who you are sending the thank you note.
Writing thank you cards can quickly lead to writer’s block. It helps to have a template that works for each gifting situation.
Saying thank you for something you wanted is the easiest part, but in case you’re stuck, try something like this:
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for the monogrammed towels! They look gorgeous hanging in our bathroom, and they’re so fluffy and soft! We loved seeing you on our wedding day and look forward to getting together again soon! Thank you again for being a part of such a wonderful day.
Love,
You and Your Partner’s Signature
For an off-registry item that you’re not sure you’ll use, like that handmade birdfeeder, try to keep the focus on the person rather than the gift.
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for helping to make our big day so special! (Your Partner’s name) and I loved seeing you, and the bird feeder is lovely. We are both so lucky to count you as a friend!
Thank you for the thoughtful gesture,
You and Your Partner’s Signature
As noted, for a cash gift/monetary gift, it’s a good idea to include the exact amount you received. It’s also nice to let them know what you’ll do with the money.
Dear Guest,
Thank you for spending our wedding day with us; you truly made it special! We really appreciate your generous $100 gift and look forward to using it on our honeymoon. We’ve been eyeing paddle-boarding lessons and will be sure to send you pictures!
Warmly,
You and Your Partner’s Signature
If you receive a gift from multiple people, each person should receive a thank you card. However, you should shout out the group as a whole, like so:
Dear Guest,
Thank you for making our day so special, and thanks for the pellet grill! We’ve been using it to cook dinner almost every night! Once we get the hang of it, we can’t wait to have you all over for a BBQ night.
From our entire family to yours,
You and Your Partner’s Signature
Even if a guest doesn’t bring a gift, etiquette states that you say thank you for coming. After all, they joined in your big day! If possible, try to include a personal story from the wedding.
Dear Guest,
We are so glad you made it to our wedding! It truly made the day that much better! Seeing your photo booth pictures were especially fun. Who would have thought you could rock a mustache like that?! We hope you enjoyed the night as much as we did! Your attendance meant a lot to us.
Love,
You and Your Partner’s Name
If someone couldn’t be there but sent a gift, be sure to mention that they were missed! And, if they’re on a future guest list, mention that you look forward to seeing them at the next event.
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for the dinnerware! It was so thoughtful of you to send a gift. We missed you at the wedding. It just wasn’t the same without you there. But we look forward to seeing you for the holidays and can’t wait to show you the pictures!
Best,
You and Your Partner’s Name
If someone sent you a substantially large gift – perhaps contributing a large amount to your honeymoon funds – you should acknowledge them slightly differently than your other wedding guests.
Dear Guest,
We are so grateful for your generous gift of ______. It was thoughtful and it truly makes this day even more special. We are so lucky to have you in our lives, and we want you to know how much it means to us. Thank you for your generosity and friendship.
Warmly,
You and Your Partner’s Name
It is up to you if you want to mention the amount. It has been considered a faux-pas in the past, but the thinking around this has since changed in recent years (Green Envelope). Now, wedding etiquette suggests indicating specific amounts of gift money received is a positive thing, as it can tell the giver whether or not the correct amount was received, and also just shows that you’re being mindful and attentive of people’s hard earned cash. For example:
Dear Aunt Jackie and Uncle Michael,
Thank you so much for the $200! We appreciate you and your generosity. We plan to put the money towards a new couch that will keep us comfortable for many years to come.
Thank you for being a part of our special day,
Ben and Chloe
Most wedding presents that come from the registry are given during a bridal shower, so a thank you has probably already been sent for that generous gift. However, guests sometimes bring a wedding present to the ceremony, which requires special recognition. Here is a thank you card wording example.
Dear Tom and Taylor,
Thank you for the crystal wine glasses! They remind me of my grandmother’s set. They will go perfect on our mantel, and we are sure to make great use of them!
Thank you so much,
Terry and Pauline
Parents, grandparents, bridal parties, friends, or others may contribute a group gift of money, specifically for you to put towards the wedding or honeymoon funds. These beautiful humans deserve an extra dose of gratitude. Getting a wedding photographer and putting photos or a honeymoon photo within a custom wedding card is a great way to show them how special they are to you.
Dear Grandma Ida,
Thank you so much for the money that went towards our honeymoon! We never thought we would see paradise the way we could view it on this trip. Here’s a picture of us standing on the beach while seashell hunting.
We would not have been able to do this without your love and support.
Love and thanks,
Becky and Chris
The proper etiquette when sending out wedding thank you cards is to get out all thank yous within three months of the wedding day. Wedding guests fully understand that a lot happens between planning the wedding and the after-the-wedding-day responsibilities that can pile up. For example, a new bride has a ton of paperwork to fill out when changing her name, which can take a while to get through.
Even if no name changes are necessary, there are plenty of other obligations to handle after tying the knot, like approving wedding photos, updating medical documents, and perhaps, splitting up closet space.
It’s a good idea to grab a notebook and pen before opening up the cards and wedding presents that are given to you at your wedding party. Write down each name and the thoughtful gift that you received or the amount of cash that was gifted. It will be an excellent resource to reflect on when giving a personalized touch to the thank you card.
Having an idea of each guest’s role in your wedding will help determine what kind of thank you the guest will receive. Thank you cards can look the same from the outside, but what it says on the inside will make them unique for each role.
If you haven’t thought about it before, you should know that each guest attending your wedding day has a special role. That being said, giving them the proper recognition for their role in your wedding ceremony is essential. In addition, breaking down the roles into groups will make it easier for you to write thank you cards.
Here is a breakdown of who should receive a thank you message.
This is anyone who attended your special day, from extended family to close friends. Usually, these guests have given a monetary gift or a generous wedding gift.
Parents of both the bride and the groom need to be especially thanked for their role and participation in the glorious day. Many times, a parent will contribute a large sum of money or time to making that special day possible. It’s respectful to show your gratitude for such generous contributions by taking the time to write a thoughtful thank you note to show your appreciation.
The bridal party includes bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any junior members that were part of the wedding date like the ring bearer or flower girl. For example, you should send a special thank you note to the flower girl and her parents for their select participation on your wedding day.
These beautiful souls that couldn’t make the long distance to the party, but still found a way to celebrate you and your new life by sending a generous wedding gift. They deserve a big thank you for not only sending a thoughtful gift, but for saving you money, as well.
Wedding vendors deserve a thank you card for their participation on your wedding day. This includes wedding planners, florists, catering companies, venues, clergy, hotels, or anyone else that ‘worked’ your wedding day. It doesn’t have to be individual cards to each person per vendor, but a thank you to the company would be a kind gesture.
A thank you card should be given to anyone who gave a generous contribution to the wedding financially or in other ways, like running errands, hosting out-of-town guests, picking up guests from the airport, or doing anything that had made your special day less stressful.
Sending thank-yous is essential, but many couples dread the time it takes. Learning how to write thank you cards to wedding guests can make the process more efficient. If you’re still looking for more inspiration, check out this other blog post of thank you card messages. Either way, we want to remind you that these are simply card ideas. Your specific wedding may call for different kinds of wedding thank you cards, but these should give you a good foundation to work from. Using the tips and tricks above, you’ll be done before you know it!
If you would like to use us to send thank you notes for you, browse our great selection of thank you cards and we can do the writing for you.
Now that you know what to say and how to say it in a thank-you card, let’s go over a few lingering questions.
Standard etiquette demands that you send thank you cards to wedding guests promptly, ideally within 2-3 weeks of any event. However, guests know that you’re in newlywed bliss, and if you’re celebrating a honeymoon, 2-3 weeks isn’t always a feasible option.
So, no one will look down on you if you take a little longer to send thank you cards. Aim to get it done within three months of the wedding date, and you won’t offend anyone.
In an ideal world, you should send your thank you cards within a month or two of your wedding day. Additionally, all of the details about your special day will be fresh in their minds and will help make their card even more sentimental.
It’s not necessarily rude to not send thank you cards, but even still, sending a thank you card is generally expected and appreciated. If you don’t, it indicates that you don’t value your guests’ presence or their gifts. So, etiquette dictates that sending a note of thanks is the polite thing to do.
Writing from the heart and adding a personal note about the generous gift you received is a great touch when sending out wedding thank you cards.
When you receive money as a wedding gift, it’s appropriate to send a thank you card telling the person how much you appreciate their generosity and that it will go towards something valuable in your marriage.
A wedding thank you card shouldn’t sound too formal or forced. Instead, it should be an endearing message to express your gratitude for their absolute love and kindness.
From a guest standpoint, the appropriate way to thank a bride and groom for wedding invitations to their wedding is by giving a present or monetary gift that is at least comparable to the price of your wedding dinner plate. It is customary to double the plate cost if you attend the wedding with a plus one.
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