Thank You Note Template Featured
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Quick and Easy Thank You Note Template

Quick Easy Thank You Note Template Title

Thank You Note TemplateNow that the summer wedding season is over, how many of you brides are still working through your thank you notes? How many of you are paralyzed by the enormity of trying to thank every single one of your guests in a heartfelt and authentic way? You’re not alone. Many brides struggle with this. That’s why I have a treat for you today. I’m going to swoop in and save the day with a handy template you can use to get your thank you notes done quickly and painlessly!

First, let me give you a tip: Write your thank your notes as the gifts arrive!

And now another: As you get closer to your wedding day, the gifts will come in more frequently. To stay on top of your thank you cards, set a quota for each day. I think that five thank you notes per day is a perfect amount. It’s a steady pace that won’t burn you out, and will still get you to the end of your list.

The last tip — and this is the mother of all tips: Use a template to save time and reduce the effort that each note takes.

Here’s a sure-fire formula for writing the perfect thank you note every time.

Etiquette Alert

DO NOT write a single, general thank you note in a MS Word document, print out 100 of them, and simply sign and send. I rarely judge brides’ choices on this blog because I feel like each wedding is personal and beautiful in its own way, and that personal decisions should be respected. However, being lazy with your thank you notes isn’t “personal”, it’s just tacky. (There, I said it.)

The Perfect Template

Dear {beloved friend / relative},

Thank you so much for the lovely / beautiful / generous / wonderful {gift}. We {plan to use it / have already used it}. {Add one sentence about how you have used it or plan to use it in detail}. Seeing you at the wedding meant so much to us, and we appreciate you having traveled so far to be there {if applicable}.

Again, thank you for such a generous / thoughtful / dear gift. We will cherish / use it for years to come.

Love,

Hubs and Wifey

Example

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright,

Thank you so much for the wonderful Dutch oven. We have already roasted a chicken in it. We used your recipe and it’s the best we’ve ever had! Thank you too for coming to the wedding. Seeing you there meant so much to us, and we appreciate you having traveled so far to attend.

Thanks again for such a lovely gift. We will cherish it for years to come.

With Love,

Christie and Dustin

Why It works

  • A three to five sentence handwritten note will take less than ten minutes to write, but it goes a long way to show true appreciation for not only the gift, but also that fact that weddings can be expensive for guests, with travel, hotel costs, perhaps a new outfits, AND a gift;
    • Again, DON’T print out a generic form and fill in the blanks – unless you want to be known as the family ingrate. Ideally, you’ll order your thank you notes with your invitation suite. If you’re on a budget, Target has wonderful letterpress-style thank you cards that you can pick up at around $15 for 50 of them;
  • Address the note with the names of all the gift givers, even if you know that Uncle Harry had nothing to do with the selection of crystal candlesticks you received, and it was all Aunt Edna’s idea;
  • Always mention the gift by name. Make sure you keep a record of each gift and its giver. A simple Excel spreadsheet will do, but you can also find spreadsheets for tracking online at planning sites, like The Knot;
    • Saying, “thank you for the generous gift” without mentioning what it is or how you plan to use it screams that you just don’t give a crap;
  • Say how you have used or plan to use the gift. Even if that monogrammed table runner will never see the light of day, mention how you look forward to using it when company comes, or during the holidays. (Keep in mind that you may have to pull that bad-boy out for Aunt Millie’s visit!);
  • If the guest attended the wedding, acknowledge the special effort they went to, just to be there. If the guest helped out with DIY projects or any other task, thank them for that and let them know how special it was to have their help;
  • Close with a final, “thanks again for the generous gift”. You can be generic AFTER you’ve been specific, and
  • Make sure both you and your husband sign the card. I mean in ink, with different looking signatures. The effort is minimal on your part, but makes a difference in showing that you care.

Other tips:

  • For cash, say specifically what you used it for. That is, “Thank you for your generous gift of $200. We used it to buy a chainsaw. We’ve already harvested much of our wood for the winter, and will think of you every time we enjoy a cozy fire”. (What?! I’m a mountain girl!);
  • Send your thank you notes within six weeks of receiving the gift. NOT six weeks after your wedding, and certainly not a year after your wedding. Get them done. Just do a few a day, for crying out loud!
  • If the guest didn’t attend the wedding, mention how you look forward to seeing them soon, chatting on the phone, or otherwise connecting in whatever fashion is appropriate to your relationship. If your mother’s boss couldn’t make it, and you don’t otherwise have a relationship with them, omit this part. Just skip to the final thank you;
  • Keep signature closings traditional for your more formal relationships, but go ahead and get creative with friends and close family members, and
  • Signature closings may include:
    • Sincerely, (formal)
    • Warmly, (formal)
    • With love, (semi-formal)
    • Bisous! (which means kisses in French and is informal)
    • XOXO (informal)

Stationery: Ambrosia Wedding | Photography: Le Hai Linh | Via: Style Me Pretty