Saying Thanks

Thursday, July 19, 2012

It's wedding season, which means invitations are flying and gifts are being exchanged. There's nothing better than celebrating the happiness of your nearest and dearest, but if you're anything like me, an etiquette misstep can spoil some of the fun. My biggest pet peeves? Invites addressed to"& Guest", registry information printed just below "First Presbyterian Church", and no-show thank you notes. But the good news is that these errors are easy to avoid! I've rounded up my best advice on sending your thanks, and I hope it serves you well this wedding season!

Cards made to match your wedding invitation are darling, but I've rounded up a collection of chic thank you cards from Wedding Paper Divas that are perfect for sending your thanks from the announcement of your engagement to your first married Christmas!

 Ever Arrow

Who? 

Anyone who sends a wedding gift gets a thank you note, of course, but the list doesn't end there! Well-wishers who send presents in celebration of your engagement or attend your bridal shower should also receive thank you notes, as well as the sweet friends or family members who host these celebrations or help you during the planning process. There's no need to flood your best friend's mailbox for every favor she helps you fashion, of course, but letting people know how much you appreciate their generosity is always in good taste.

 
 Elegantly Entitled 

What?

Anatomy of a thank you note: 

Thank the giver for the specific gift, whether it's the chrome KitchenAid mixer you registered for, or the coffee table book on Monet (don't let on if you prefer Miró).

Explain how you'll make use of the gift, particularly if it's a cash donation. Your aunt will love to know that her check went to a beautiful dinner on the beach–and if it doesn't delay sending out your thanks, why not include a photo? 

Include a personal line or two. Maybe you're looking forward to seeing them at your family's Fourth of July picnic, or grabbing lunch once you've shaken the sand out of your carry on.

 Standing Together

When?

Maybe you've heard that you have your first newlywed year to send out thank you notes for wedding gifts, or just three months. But here's the real reason to send your thanks sooner rather than later–your guests want to know that you got their gift! Packages go missing in the mail, your baby sister might have left a wedding present behind at the end of the night, and when your guests don't hear from you, they worry that something's gone wrong. 

Etiquette isn't just for nitpicking Type A's–it's a code of conduct that lets the people are us know how much we respect them. After all, who do you appreciate more than the friends and family who celebrate your happiness, and shower you with presents? 


Tell me, what are your best tips for writing thank you notes, or your biggest etiquette pet peeve?

19 comments:

  1. Thank you notes are always a must! I usually send packages more than just notes... I add some stationery or little interesting things I collect ;)

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  2. im saving this for when its my turn. haha

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  3. These are great tips and reminders. I've received a thank-you note thanking me for the a gift I didn't give! I think the trick is writing the notes immediately, either as you open the gifts or the morning after.

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  4. I love getting thank you notes from my happy Brides & Grooms so please send a sweet thank you note to any of your wedding vendors that went the extra mile to make your wedding special!

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  5. So important to send a note of thanks. And it's always nice to explain how you used the gift.

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  6. personalizing the thank you note is a must. I hate getting those generic notes. Its like why even send one out if you arent gonna put some effort into...

    Stop by & enter my Skincare RX gift card giveaway!

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  7. This is perfect advice!! No thank you note HAS to be my biggest pet peeve. A nice, super simple note goes such a long way.

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  8. My biggest pet peeve is when people don't send out thank yous!! I have a co-worker that never thanked me for her baby shower gift which I find so rude! xx

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  9. I have personalized thank you cards, nd I'm not even married!

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  10. Ah, love this. We are on the same page today! An old-fashioned thank you note will never go out of style!

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  11. lol you are sooo funny Lena! loved reading about your pet peeves. Thanks for this post it's very helpful xoxoxo!

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  12. I love this! It's a dying art and I'm so glad you posted this. Always classy!

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  13. such good advice and totally agree! we sent our thank yous as soon as the gifts starting arriving, even before the wedding!

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  14. ugh thank you notes... MY drug of choice.
    velvetcupcakes

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  15. Great post! I wish I would have read it yesterday! I just sent out a "&guest" invite...YIKES!

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  16. This is such a wonderful post - one I'm sure so many can appreciate!

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  17. awesome tips...i have to say writing thank you's for MONEY, specifically, is weird and hard, yeah?

    thanks for the advice, we're getting REALLY close to needing it!

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  18. I am so with you on the etiquette! I think you should make this a series! :)

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  19. Lena, I'm just now reading this post and it's SO GOOD. I'm posting it everywhere for people to read--this one irks me in both my personal and business life. Say thank you, people! It's such a small but HUGE gesture.

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