How to Write the Perfect Wedding ‘Thank You’ Note - 7 Examples
Oh dear… You’re stuck, trying to figure out what to write inside your wedding ‘thank you’ cards.
The blank emptiness is daunting, and you want to fill them with wise-cracks and witty words. And if that’s not the case just yet, then it might be in the future.
But don’t worry, because you’re not the only one.
Being lost for words is a nightmare everyone can relate to. Especially when you want your recipient to know how thankful you really are.
Oh, how frustrating the whole ordeal can be.
You’d like to show your appreciation for the amazing gifts you’ve received, or their attendance, but when there’s a lot of cards to sign, staring at the blank pages for too long only makes the process more daunting.
It’s not something you’d want to leave to the last minute, either. As prolonging the task might force you to rush it when the time comes.
But fear not. How to sign wedding ‘thank you’ cards will be a worry of the past once you’ve read this article. We’re here to help you get it done, the right way.
Avoid the rush and show your recipient that you really care about their efforts, in a way that they’ll remember and appreciate.
Here are seven cards to write for, and the best ways to respond. But first, let’s talk about…
Why ‘Thank you’ notes matter
And I know what you’re thinking… “They’re just cards. They can’t be that important?”
Well, there’s actually a fair bit of science behind the importance of the ‘Thank you’ note. So, to start, I’m going to briefly describe why you need to implement the ‘Thank you’ note after your wedding.
1. Appreciation goes a long way
A truly grateful and personalised ‘Thank you’ note is not only the right thing to do, but you’ll make a good impression and create a platform to further build new friendships.
Also, by showing the recipient that you dedicated time out of your day to express your gratitude for their wedding gift, you’ll cement and tighten your bond with them.
They’ll be appreciative, and likely hit up your email or phone, with, “Hey! Just received the card! Glad you enjoyed the gift! :)”
2. Gratitude is elixir for the brain
There are hundreds of different studies conducted on the benefits of practising gratitude. It’s no wonder it’s a popular method, world-wide!
This study by Harvard medical school clearly outlines the benefits that gratitude has on the mind. That’s why we believe it is so important to practise gratitude, in any way possible. This is just one of them.
3. They’ll love your handwriting
Well, they COULD love your handwriting… but that’s not the point.
The point is that they’ll really appreciate a handwritten note, over a typed one. It shows that you put in more effort and personally demonstrate your gratitude.
Nobody wants to think that they’ve been sent a batch message that was forwarded to an email list of one hundred plus people. Yawn! They want something genuine. Something authentic and real. They want to see your handwriting.
So, I hope that clarifies just some of the reasons to include a ‘thank you’ note for all the gifts you receive at your wedding.
Now, let’s move onto the different types of wedding ‘Thank you’ notes to write for, starting with…
‘Thank you’ for wedding gifts
Trying to figure out what to write in a wedding thank you card is a traditional problem. You, and millions before you, have experienced similar frustration.
So, welcome to the club. We’ve got tea and cakes.
And while weddings are slowly becoming a thing of the past, the ‘thank you’ note remains a testament untouched by time and a seamless way to show appreciation.
Sprucing-up every ‘thank you’ note will always be adored by the recipient, but it can be time consuming. So, without further ado, here’s a little advice for how to structure and what to say in your wedding ‘thank you’ cards…
Start with structure, then add the juice
Ugh… boring. I know. But it truly makes a difference. Trust me.
Because a properly structured note will make the reading experience a lot smoother for the recipient. Also, if you follow the same structure, you’ll be able to fire out card-after-card in no time.
So here it is…
(Remember; use your handwriting!)
1. Start with their name
Too obvious? Sorry. But that’s everyone’s favourite word.
Say something like, “Hey, [name/nickname/personal joke]”. It’s a personal start and ensures that the reader knows that it’s YOU who is communicating with them. Not some rubbish computer. Ew.
2. Acknowledge the pressie they gifted you
This is important.
You see, most people would say, “thank you for the gift, from [name]”. But that’s staler than chewing on cardboard. It shows that you got in and got out as soon as you could.
Mention the gift and what you like about it. Does it bring up memories? Does it help you in any way? Does it aid something you already have?
Anything that demonstrates that you are personally writing to them, is the key.
3. Give them a compliment
Now, what to say in your wedding ‘thank you’ cards could be related to the wedding gift, although it is not strictly reserved for that.
It could tie into the previous point, ‘Acknowledge the pressie’ they gifted you. And if you have already given the present, then try to find something else to compliment the reader on.
What about their outfit on the day? Maybe some of the banter they shared? Their wicked (or odd) dance moves? Anything goes, here.
4. Finally, it’s time to exit.
End it with another ‘Thank you’. “Really?”
Yup. There’s no need to go extra on this. You already put a lot of effort into the card. A simple, “Thanks again!”, will do just fine. However, this depends on the person you’re writing to. Feel free to let creativity run wild on the exit.
To end, here’s an example for what to say in your wedding ‘thank you’ cards, for wedding gifts:
“Hey [Name]!
Thank you so much for turning up!
And Thanks for the [present]! Me and [Name] love the [feature of present] and we will be using it when [event].
Btw, you looked dashing!
Take care, with love,
[You and your spouse’s names]”
So, there you have it. You’re now well-equipped to fire away and burn paper with an ink-tip. Though, make sure they’ll still be able to read your notes!
Next up?
It’s…
‘Thank you’ for wedding shower gifts
Ah yes… the wedding shower.
Formally known as the ‘Bridal shower’, this is an opportunity for the couple and their close friends and family to celebrate before the big day.
It’s also time for the guests to offer their first “Congratulations!” gift, upon hearing the big news.
And what to write on your wedding ‘thank you’ cards for this occasion, differs a little, compared to others.
Here’s how…
- Remember, keep it handwritten when you can. The more personal and genuine, the better.
- Always open with a simple, “Hey [Name]”. If you can make it more personalised, for example a nickname, then even better – a mutual joke, then go with that.
-
Express what you AND your spouse like about the gift.
- If you can, add a few words on how you’re currently using it – or have used it.
- Exit with a touch that shows you’re open for future dialogue. Something like “We look forward to chatting again!”, will work wonders.
Understandably, your hand might start aching pretty soon when writing out all of the ‘Thank you!’ notes.
Solution? Get your partner to chime in! You’re a team now, so use your combined powers (two writing hands). Here’s an example of what to put in a wedding ‘thank you’ card for your wedding shower...
“Hey [Name]!
Thank you so much for turning up to my wedding shower! You made the event a blast 😊 And I can’t believe you actually got me X! I can’t wait to use it on Y.
Look forward to seeing you at [Event].
Love, from [Signed by you and your spouse].”
Pretty simple, right?
Exactly. So, with a sign off, let’s take a look at...
Saying ‘Thank you’ for money or gift cards
Whenever you accept these kinds of gifts, it’s important to know that it shouldn’t be written off with a simple, “Thanks for the money!”.
Is that too obvious?
Sorry. I just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page. So, let’s start with...
-
Money
With gifted money, you have the freedom to spend it how you like.
So, it’s essential that you let the person who gave you the cash know that you really appreciate this freedom.
With that said, here’s how to address ‘thank you’ cards for your wedding when you receive money or gift cards.
After the routine of handwriting, “Hey [Name]”, then it’s time to...
- Thank them for the money,
- How it’ll help with X,
- And include a few ideas for how you’re going to spend it.
This’ll make the person who gifted you the money feel that their present wasn’t overshadowed by other, more material gifts that you received.
They’ll love this. And they’ll see that your emotional intelligence is through the roof, too. With that covered, next up, we have...
-
Gift cards
Since gift cards can be bought from nearly any supermarket, you can recognise that the buyer of the gift card had put some thought into it. This is your opportunity to show them that you acknowledge their personal touch to your gift, with a simple “Thank you! I needed this!”, or “Now I can buy X!”
To put this into play...
Begin with the usual (a handwritten, personal greeting). Then, follow it up with your personal statement (examples above), related to the gift card.
More examples, are:
Finally, end it with another personal note.
This could be completely neutral, or something that relates to your relationship with them, or a reference to an event. Check out these examples below:
So that does the cash and gift card gifts. Feel free to check out our collection of ‘Thank you’ notes and cards.
Next up...
‘Thank you’ notes for attending the wedding
Hopefully you didn’t have (or won’t have) any wedding crashers. However, if they showed up and had a blast with the guests, then maybe throw their names into a few ‘Thank you’ notes?
I don’t know... just my suggestions.
But on a serious note, when it comes to your wedding attendees, these are your true friends and family. These are the people who will be with you from start to finish, so it’s important to show them that you recognise this.
By now, you’re well-versed with what to put in a wedding ‘thank you’ card. So, for the greeting, you can get more creative and extend further than the general “Hey [Name]”, showing your appreciation.
Here are some examples:
From there, it’s time to address the topic, which is...
... the wedding itself.
But because it’s a broad topic to write for and depending on how things went (hopefully VERY well), you can create a brainstorm of different ways to address it.
Think about the experience everyone shared, the afterparty, the food, the drinks, their dance moves... anything!
For example:
Applying a personal touch always goes a long way, and they’ll love you for it when they read their ‘Thank you’ notes.
Moving on, it’s time to sign out.
My advice would be to keep it as personal as you can with the closing of this note. Their attendance meant everything to you, so try your best to demonstrate that.
Here’s a complete example, to pick at your imagination:
“Where do I begin, [Name]?
I wish I had more space to write.
Thank you so much for attending, and gracing us with your expertly timed, awkward dancing.
I’ll cherish that memory, forever.
Love, from X and Y
P.S. See you at [Event].”
To see our list of ‘Thank you’ cards, check out our collection.
Where were we? Oh, that’s right...
‘Thank you’ notes for helping make the wedding an amazing day!
Where would we be without our wedding helpers, hey? Well, I’ll tell you...
We’ll (likely) be without a wedding for a start! So, it’s majorly important to express your gratitude for their help.
Similarly, to the previous topic, you can get creative with...
- The greeting,
- Acknowledging their job,
- What they did,
- And signing out.
You can also keep it simple - if that’s your flow. A simple, “Thank you for your help, [Name]. It means the world to us!”
Here are a few more examples of an opening:
From there, it’s time to add a little sentence or two about how they made the wedding an amazing day. For example:
Then, it’s time to sign out.
It’s entirely up to you on the best route to take. Of course, if you are close with the recipient, mentioning something mutual will always be the best option.
The ‘Thank you note: money and gift card’ section shares a few generic examples, but if you wanted to add a little flavour to the ending, here are a few ideas:
A finished example:
When it’s all put together, using example 1 from each section, it’ll look like this:
“Hey [Name]! You did an astounding job! Your help with X made everything run smoothly. We’ll be sure to refer you to anyone who’ll need your services. Thanks again!”
You can check out our ‘Thank you’ cards, right here!
Next in line, cards for saying...
‘Thank you’ to parents
Your parents are your best supporters. From graduation to wedding, they’re the first to arrive on your big day, and the last to leave. So, it’s best to show them how much you care about their attendance, wise words, and dad jokes, with a card that reciprocates your love.
As always, put pen to paper, and scribble away with a short (or long) greeting. The creativity doors are wide open when it comes to your old folks, so let loose and make it something to remember.
You could also open with reference to something that happened on the wedding day that is light and humorous. Here are a few ideas to help get the cogs turning:
Once you’ve tied up the greeting, it’s time to add a sentence or two. These can be personal, reference the wedding, spark humour, or end with a generic statement (boring!).
You can use the previous examples above to help you think of something creative, or you can refer to the examples below...
Yes, they’re cheesy, but it stands out, and they’ll appreciate the humour – I hope!
If that’s not the route you’d like to take, then of course it’s fine to extend your thanks with a heartfelt message.
Finally, write your ending with a simple, “Love, [your name]”, especially if you’ve expressed a lot of humour in your note.
A finished example:
“Hey [Mum/Dad], it meant the world seeing you there...
I can’t wait to see you in [Days/weeks/months] for our traditional [meal/event/activity], Love [your name].”
You can check out our ‘Thank you’ cards, right here!
Conclusion
How to address and properly structure your ‘Thank you’ note, including the right things to say, will show your readers that you put in extra effort to express your gratitude. Plus, while personally expressing how grateful you are, you’ll simultaneously train your mind to be in a happier state, more often.
A great thing to do is see this not as a chore, but as an opportunity to start a new habit of expressing your gratitude. Starting a new habit takes time, of course, but thinking about this activity in a positive light, will help you complete it sooner and more creatively.
Also, writing your notes by hand will not only have a positive effect on your mind, but your readers will be far more intrigued to see what you wrote, compared to a typed one.
And when it comes to the content, it’s always best to open with a personalised greeting. A simple “Hey [Name]...” will work just fine but extending your imagination to something more creative will likely show your readers that you really appreciate their presence/work/time at your wedding.
The following writing in your note should be inspired by a personal touch; something that the reader can relate to, or something that shows you’re making the note personal to them.
Comments about their work, dress style, and how they helped make the wedding a good day, will do wonders. You can’t go wrong with a little comedy, too.
If you’d like to find out more about thank you cards Boomf offers that you recipients will love, then you can check out our collection.