Getting married is a wonderful occasion. Your friends and family are likely to have shared in your joy and helped with the event. Some will have played important roles in your wedding, while others would have brought wedding gifts to celebrate your union.
All of these lovely people deserve a thank you for making your big day that much better! Not sure about the etiquette around wedding thank you cards? We'll provide you with all you need to know, including tips on making the process easier.
Who Should Receive Thank You Cards?
The short answer is pretty much everyone that was involved in your wedding. Each person who attended your wedding contributed, or made a sacrifice deserves some thanks! Here's a list of people you can consider sending cards to:
- Wedding guests, especially those who brought gifts
- People who couldn't attend but sent gifts anyways
- Anyone who contributed to the wedding. This could be financial aid, aid in the form of running errands, or any other contribution that helped you with your big day.
The Essence of the Wedding Thank You Card
You should tailor each card to the individuals they're for, but the essence of the card will be the same every time. Here's what your cards should contain:
- The names of everyone in the family. If a couple comes together, address both of them on the card.
- Give thanks for whatever part they took in the wedding. This could be for giving a gift, contributing somehow, or just for attending.
- When the recipient contributed in some way, mention what they did and be specific about how it's helpful. For example, if they sent a gift, name the gift and say how you intend to use it in the future.
Wedding Thank You Card Writing Tips
With the sheer amount of thank you cards for sending out after a wedding, it can certainly be a lot of work to get them all done. So here are some tips to improve the process:
Be Organised
Start preparing to write up thank you cards before the wedding even begins. First, create a spreadsheet that contains a list of all the guests you've invited so that you can track all the information you'll need. This info includes the names of all the family members and what they contributed to the wedding. You can fill this in as you get the information.
When it comes to opening gifts, be sure to do so with your spreadsheet nearby — filling out who got you what as you open them will prevent any mishaps later on.
Prepare Themed Stationary
An excellent option for your thank you cards is to order stationery that shares your wedding theme. Not only will that look lovely, but it will also make it immediately apparent to the recipient what the card is for. Of course, the perfect way to coordinate all the stationery for your wedding is to get one of Baileys' beautiful wedding stationery packs.
Don't Procrastinate, Start Early
Getting those thank you cards sent soon after your wedding is the best thing you can do. You'll be relieved they're done, and your guests won't feel like you've just forgotten to send them. Plus, the sooner you get started, the more time you'll have to complete them, preventing you from having a giant pile of cards to write in one day.
Don't Overwhelm Yourself
Unless you had a minimal wedding with only a handful of guests, you're probably going to have a lot of cards to write. It's important not to overwhelm yourself and work on the cards a bit at a time. They don't all need to be done immediately, so write a manageable amount each day until they're complete. Make sure to share the workload with your new spouse — that's what they're there for!
Have Fun Thanking Your Guests!
Writing out all the wedding thank you cards may be a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience at all. You can easily make it a fun process with your new spouse by opening up some wine and listening to your wedding playlist as you go through the cards together!
