Thank You

Wedding styles and traditions have changed over the years, however one form of etiquette remains, and that is the thank you note. Some believe that if you thank the gift giver in person or via the phone this is sufficient, and this is just not acceptable. With technology today there are several savvy ways to send a thank you, but the old fashioned hand written thank you note is still the way to go. Three rules to remember are...

• Thank you notes are mandatory
• Thank you notes should be sent to anyone who gives you a gift
• Thank you notes should be received in a timely manner

Exactly what does in a timely manner mean? Several etiquette sources mention three months, six months or even a year. My personal recommendation is three months, as one year is too long, and six months is pushing it.

The groom is also responsible for writing his share of the thank you notes as well, so do not hesitate to divide the list in half. (If you saw the movie You Me and Dupree, hopefully he wont have his friend Dupree write his share)

Thank you notes should also be sent to your wedding vendors whose services you were happy with. Also include family members and friends who volunteered time, service or donated items (or money) to assist you with your wedding.

If a gift arrives broken avoid mentioning the fact that it was broken to the gift giver. Instead if it was sent by a department store, contact the store direct to request a replacement. If you receive duplicate gifts and have to return some, never mention this to the gift giver, and most definitely do not thank them for the gift you exchanged their original for.

Make the thank you note writing fun. Don't consider it a chore. After all your friends and family thought enough of you to make sure your marriage gets off to a good start by showing their generosity in a gift. Find your inner Shakespeare and lets write some thank you notes!