Prepping your wedding thank you cards is often the final step in the wedding planning process. It can seem like a daunting task, especially for those with a lengthy guest list. But mailing thank yous to your wedding party and other guests allows you to express gratitude for the time and money they invested in your special day. Here’s how you can write wedding thank you cards that show appreciation for all your loved ones.
Are wedding thank you cards required?
Wedding thank you cards are absolutely required. After all, your guests spent time and money celebrating your nuptials. Mailing wedding thank you notes lets you express gratitude for any wedding gifts you received while also acknowledging how much their presence at your special day meant to you. Following proper thank you card etiquette wedding guest lists is important to ensure everyone receives a thoughtful, handwritten note.
By this point in the wedding process, you’ve probably already sent your fair share of thank you notes, such as engagement gift thank you notes and wedding shower thank you notes. This final note neatly ties the bow on the entire experience.
What to Write in a Wedding Thank You Card
Wedding thank you notes should include: a personal note, gratitude for the time spent with you, and gratefulness for the gift you received. Address the guest (yes, it is okay to address couples with one card, especially if they were invited together) at the start of the card. Thank them for spending their time with you at your wedding. If you had a destination wedding, or if any of your guests traveled far to celebrate with you, make sure you thank them for investing in the journey. Try to mention a special interaction from the night, whether it was a hilarious maid of honor speech or someone cutting it up on the dance floor. Above all, thank them for their gift, whether it was monetary or from a registry. If it’s a physical object, note how you have already used it or plan to use it (ie making morning smoothies with a blender, or nice dishes for dinner parties). If they contributed to a honeymoon fund, mention something fun that money went towards, like a scuba diving excursion or a trip to the spa. Any way you can personalize wedding thank you cards will make them feel specific and authentic.
That being said, there is wedding thank you card wording that can help streamline the process. Here is a general wedding thank you note wording script you can follow:
Dear (guest’s name),
Thank you for joining us in (wedding location). It was so special to celebrate this personal milestone with you.
Thank you so much for the (insert gift). We think of you every time we (reference what you use the gift for – make coffee with gifted French press, serve cheese on enamel platter, continue to save for our forever home, etc.).
Our wedding was so memorable with you there. We can’t wait to see you again!
Best,
First names of the people in the couple, or refer to The (shared last name)
If someone sent a gift but did not attend your wedding, you still need to send thank you cards. Mention the gift, share how you used it, and say that their presence at your wedding was greatly missed.
Here is a script for a thank you card for someone who sent a gift but was not at your wedding:
Dear (guest’s name),
Thank you so much for the (insert gift). We think of you every time we (reference what you use the gift for – make coffee with gifted French press, serve cheese on enamel platter, continue to save for our forever home, etc.). Though we missed you at the wedding, it means so much that you shared such a thoughtful gift. You were with us in spirit!
Best,
First names of the people in the couple, or refer to The (shared last name)
When to Send Wedding Thank You Cards
Wedding thank you card etiquette indicates that you should send your cards up to 3 months after your wedding. If you receive a wedding gift before the wedding, you have up to 2 weeks to send the card. However, most guests understand that newlyweds get busy. You can easily wait until after the honeymoon to get started.
Depending on how extensive your guest list was, it’s smart to conquer the thank you cards in chunks. Getting a few done at a time makes the task less daunting. Start with anyone who gave a big-ticket gift, immediate family members, and anyone who might be offended by receiving their thank yous several months after the wedding. But most people will be pleased to receive your thank you wedding cards at any time – and, the more detailed your note is, the more any delay is justified.
Who do you send wedding thank you cards to?
Send wedding thank you cards to everyone on your guest list – your family members, your friends, your coworkers, etc. Make sure your thank you notes to members of your wedding party are extra thoughtful, since these people dedicated more time, energy, and money than the average person who attended your wedding. You can also express your gratitude to anyone else who contributed to your wedding. Send thank you cards to your wedding planner, makeup artist, hairstylist, caterer, officiant, photographer, and other vendors.
Do you have to handwrite wedding thank you cards?
Yes, you absolutely should handwrite your wedding thank you cards. This makes the note feel personal and genuine. While it’s not exactly frowned upon, typing up or emailing thank you cards doesn’t feel as intimate.
Wedding Thank You Postcards vs Wedding Thank You Greeting Cards
Both custom postcards and folded cards are options for your post-wedding cards. Greeting cards offer more space inside the cards to write a lengthy note of appreciation. Use these for a thank you card design that is mostly focused on artistic design. Thank you postcards are best used for photo cards. If you want to include wedding photos in your cards, then go with this route. We suggest using 14 pt. Gloss, but without the protective UV coating on the back. This allows you to handwrite your message.
Wedding Thank You Card Designs
By this point in the wedding planning process, your design theme is well established. Whether your style is elaborate art deco motifs or minimalist neutrals, your thank you cards should match that theme. Use similar design patterns, such as florals or lace, and color palettes, such as ivory and sage or blue and white. Browse GotPrint’s wedding thank you greeting card templates.
Another option is to design wedding thank you cards with photo prints. This is a great way to get use out of your wedding photos. Print your photo on one side of a postcard, then use the other side to write your messages. Browse GotPrint’s wedding thank you postcard templates.
Wedding Thank You Note Templates
Modern Black Marble
This elegant greeting card design features a textured black backdrop paired with delicate gold geometric shapes and text. Inside the black greeting card, one side is white, so you can easily handwrite your message.
Rosy Bride
These floral greeting cards have dainty roses in the corners. The empty white space on the 5×7 greeting cards lets you share appreciation with your guests.
Hues of Blue
Blue greeting cards offer a graceful style for your personalized thank you notes. Geometric shapes border the thank you on the cover alongside cute blue floral designs. Inside, pre-written text thanks people for attending your wedding. You can add a personalized note inside as well.
Faded Leaves
Upload photos from your wedding for these 5×7 postcards you can send as thank yous. A slight leaf pattern adds depth to the design. On the back. Customize text for you wedding thank you postcard.
Minimalist Thank You Card
These wedding photo postcards have a simple design that allows your image to shine. Customize a colorful backdrop behind your photo, then personalize the text inside the color block on the back of the card.
Wedding Stationery Suite
Since you’ve already mailed out save the dates, invites, and any other important notes for guests, you’ll hopefully have other wedding stationery supplies ready to go. Prep your thank you notes for mailing with wedding envelopes, address labels, and envelope seals. Make sure you’ve properly sealed and addressed your cards. Double-check people’s addresses, just in case someone has moved since you sent out your invites.