Wedding Thank You Card Wording Samples and Etiquettes – Do and Don’t You Should Know (2022)

Congratulations newlyweds! We know the massive stack of thank you notes might be daunting after your wedding. Our hope is by the end of this article, you will see why wedding thank you card wording is essential and what to put in a thank you card. Discover the why’s and how’s of writing thank you notes. Whether you are the bride or groom, you will learn how to use the right wording and sayings. These will help convey your heartfelt thanks to your guests and wedding party. We’ve even included samples to give you some inspiration.

Related post: 21+ Unique Wedding Invitation Ideas To Inspire Your Big Day in 2021

Why Wedding Thank You Notes Matter?

What’s the big deal with thank you notes anyway? In our technological age, isn’t snail mail just a little outdated? Why not send a thank you email? There are plenty of reasons why we ought to write wedding thank you cards. Yes, the paper ones, not the digital ones. For one, they have always been classier than sending an email or, God forbid, a DM. Handwritten cards also show your recipients that you have given them time and thought. Nothing makes your messages more genuine. Imagine that! Half of the battle is won just by the fact that it is a handwritten card.

The other half of the battle lies in how to write a thank-you note. Giving special thought to your wedding thank you card wording entails love and care. Through your wording, you’ll show guests how much you appreciate their attendance and acknowledge any gifts given. Receiving a well-written note from the bride and groom goes a long way in showing guests their significance to you.  

Wedding Thank You Card Etiquette

We now know the importance of sending wedding thank you notes. Let’s get into some important details to ensure that you have all your bases covered. There are many things to consider for proper wedding thank you card etiquette. This includes who to send a card to, when to send it, and proper wedding thank you card wording.  

Who needs to receive a thank you card after the wedding?

You’ll want to make sure you don’t forget anyone. How might one of your guests feel when they see everyone else received a thank you note except them? That’s a really awkward situation, and you don’t want to be that sort of host!

Basically, you should cover everyone who attended your wedding or helped to make it happen. This includes people who were there with you in their thoughts, vendors, and anyone who might have contributed. You can’t forget people who weren’t able to make it but still took the effort to send you a gift. 

It is essential to include our parents and wedding party members on this list. Sometimes we take people closest to us for granted. We often don’t think to handwrite cards for those we see every day. Also, be mindful of people who contributed in small ways to make your day special. This can include people who did airport runs or offered to help out while you were busy with planning. 

When should you send your wedding thank you cards?

Guests familiar with proper etiquette expect to receive a nice thank you note within three months of your wedding day. We know life gets in the way sometimes. If you are not able to get all your cards written at once, you should prioritize. Guests who put the most effort into being at your wedding should receive a thank you card first. You should also give priority to anyone who has given you a gift or contributed financially. But remember, you should send wedding thank you cards to everyone. Only prioritize when necessary. 

Dos and Don’ts for writing your wedding thank you cards

DO: 

• Be sure your wedding thank you notes are delivered no later than three months after your wedding.
• Thank everyone who attended or contributed to your wedding, not only the people who gave you gifts. Some guests might have spent their financial resources on traveling to your wedding location. They may not have the means to get you a gift on top of that. Remember that your wedding thank you card wording is not merely to thank guests for what they give you. They are also a way to let them know that having them in your life means the world to you.
• Personalize your thank you wedding cards by adding details to your wording. If someone has given you a particular gift, you should express your gratitude. You can also add a personal touch by including a memory of the person.
• You may script part of your message to save some time. However, you should do your best to add details that will make each card personal. You should always use your best handwriting. 

DON’T: 

• Mention the specific amount of money given if their gift is monetary. Instead, you can write about what it is going to help you accomplish. 
• Lose track of your gifts and cards. You should make a list of people who wrote you a note or gave you a gift. This will help you when it comes to personalizing your special thank you note later on.
• Forget to thank everyone who helped make your special day happen. Even if they were not able to be there on the big day, send them a note.
• Do it alone. These thank you cards are meant to thank your guests for celebrating your new union with your spouse. By doing this together, you are embodying the very thing your guests came to celebrate! 

Related post: Top 10 Wedding Invitation Etiquette Questions You Should Know

How to Write Wedding Thank You Cards

What do you say in a wedding thank you card? Choosing your wedding thank you card wording is key to a great card. If you don’t quite know how to start, here are some tips. These tips will ensure you have well-written thank you note cards delivered on time to everyone. 

Get Organized

Don’t let your wedding thank you note writing be an afterthought. Set out a plan to track names you’ll need to thank even before you send your invitations. You can start by making a spreadsheet to track all the invitations you’ve sent and track their responses. You can also include what you received from a particular guest and the date you received it. Give it a checkmark to note when your thank you card has been written and sent. 

Start Right Away

Don’t procrastinate! If you get an early start, it will keep you from being overwhelmed later on. Write your thank-you notes as you receive gifts or help. When you are exhausted from your wedding day, you’ll be thankful you knocked a bunch out already. 

Have a System

Opening gifts is exciting, we know. Ripping through them like a hyperactive toddler on Christmas morning is going to leave you not knowing who sent what! Use some self-restraint and open your gifts in a systematic and organized manner. Take note of each gift and the sender. This important information will help you create the best thank you notes. 

Work in Batches

It’s unlikely you can write your five-foot stack of thank you notes in one sitting. We recommend you tackle this massive task in batches. Try to work on scheduling a couple of focused hours in your day and write what you can. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed.  

Share the Workload

Don’t try to do all of it yourself! Share the load as evenly as possible with your new spouse. A great strategy is to divide the recipients into “team bride” and “team groom.” It is best for each of you to write to the guests you know better. Tip: Plan to treat yourselves after with a romantic night to stay motivated to finish the task! 

Keep Your Stationery on Theme

If you have the means and access to customized stationery, do it! Completing your wedding thank you note with monograms can be a great way to keep your cards looking classy. This is, of course, entirely optional. But do try and keep your fonts and colors consistent with the overall theme of your wedding. 

Make It Specific

Add specific details to your wedding thank you card wording. Expressing what you intend to do with the gift is the best way to personalize your note. Where in the house is that new picture frame going to be hung? How great is all that bacon going to taste out of that cast iron skillet during Sunday brunch? Write all that down! Your sincerity and appreciation will shine by your carefully chosen words. This applies to monetary gifts as well. Let your guest know what that money will be going towards and how their generosity has blessed you. 

Wedding Thank You Notes Samples

Writing can be daunting. Finding the right words to say can be even more so. Your wedding thank you card wording should be personal and meaningful. Here are some wedding thank you note examples for inspiration. Let’s get the ball rolling! 

To Who Gave a Gift

Most of us won’t admit it, but getting gifts is one of the most exciting prospects of our wedding day. Be sure to enthusiastically convey your gratitude through your wedding thank you card wording. As we have mentioned before, add specific, personalized details to your wedding thank you notes. These details produce a sincere and thoughtful card. 

Dear XXX,
Thank you so much for the espresso machine!
[Partner’s Name] and I have become serious coffee friends, and are excited to be able to make our own drinks at home. We’d love to have you over for brunch soon so you can see it in action! Thank you again for being a part of our wedding day.
Best,

Dear XXX,
Thank you so much for the platter set.
Now we can entertain in style and have the right sized platter for any occasion! It was very kind of you and we’ll think of you every time we make a platter! Having you with us on our wedding day meant the world to us. Thank you for sharing such a special moment with us, and we look forward to more happy memories in future!

To Who Shared in a Group Gift

If you have invited a group of mutual friends or a whole family, they might share a gift. In this case, send notes to each one. Thank you cards for wedding group gifts should include sayings that are specific to the individuals. They also need to mention the entire group somewhere in the note. 

Dear [Guest’s Name],
Thank you so much for the wine fridge. It will definitely be getting a lot of use in our new home! We are so lucky to have friends who know us so well, and can’t wait to have you all over to open a bottle or two!
Warmly,

Dear [Guest’s Name],
Thank you very much for the monogrammed decanters you gave us for our bar area in our new home. William and I can’t wait to host holiday parties for years to come. You are all such a wonderful group to work with and I really appreciate each and every one of you.
Sincerely,

To Bridesmaid or Groomsmen

Thank you notes to your bridesmaids as well as your groomsmen should be written with care. These will be some of the most personal and appreciative cards you’ll write. They may or may not give you a gift, but that pales in comparison to the gift of their friendship. You should emphasize what their friendship means to you. And, of course, thank them for their gift if they had given you one.  

Dear XXX,
Thank you for all your help before and on our wedding day! We loved having you by our sides for this special moment and were so happy that you could share in the celebrations. Thanks for making our wedding day unforgettable. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Lots of love,

Dear XXX,
Thank you for being my bridesmaid/ groomsmen. To have you here supporting me is something that I treasure. Our friendship has no boundaries, that alone is hard to measure. I know you will be guiding me and keeping me so calm. A gentle hug when needed most  is all part of your charm. So thank you is my message here, but not just for today. For always being my best friend and knowing what to say. We’ll always have our memories of our past and future too. When you are here to witness as I turn to say I Do.
Best,

To Guests Who Have Traveled Far

Don’t forget to thank guests who went to great lengths to be with you on your wedding day. It shows a great deal about how much they care for you. They carved out the time and also the money to make it to your special day. Be sure to include how much you appreciate them for doing that! If they have not given you a gift, remember that their traveling expenses and time are just as valuable. 

Dear XXX,
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for going out of your way to be at our wedding. It meant so much to look out and see your smiling face while we said ‘I Do’, and to have a chance to talk and catch up at the reception. Words can’t describe how much we appreciate it. Our big day was even more unforgettable because you were there to celebrate it with us.
With love,

Dear XXX,
From the very bottom of our hearts we would like to say thank you for travelling so far to be part of our wedding day. Your presence was the greatest gift we ever could have received, and we are truly grateful. Our big day was even more memorable because you were there to celebrate it with us.
With love,

To Your Wedding Suppliers

Without your wedding suppliers, your guests would be hungry, or worse – they might not have a venue to go to! Whether you realize it or not, your wedding suppliers are a crucial piece of your wedding planning puzzle. You should let them know how vital their service is and how much you appreciate them. 

Dear XXX,
Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge and wedding planning expertise for our recent wedding. You made our entire wedding planning process run smooth and made sure that nothing was out of place — everything looked absolutely perfect! We owe it all to you and your wonderful team. I look forward to recommending your services to all my friends and telling them what a great job you did! Thank you so much again,

Dear [Supplier’s Name],
[Partner’s Name] and I want to thank you for the beautiful photographs you took at our wedding. We will treasure them always. We are so pleased you were part of our wedding. You definitely helped bring our vision to life.
Sincerely,

To Your Attendees

You should strive to send everyone who attended a wedding thank you note. Even if some guests did not send you a gift, thank them. They still deserve to be acknowledged for taking the time to celebrate your special day with you. Let them know how their presence made your wedding day all the more special. Recall a particular thing a guest did on that day to help. Include this special thing in your note to make it more personal. 

Dear [Member of Wedding Party],
Thank you so much for being my [Role]. You mean so much to [Partner’s name] and I. Having you by my side throughout this process and on our wedding day made it all the more special. We can’t wait to share more meaningful experiences with you!
Kind regards,

Dear [Member of Wedding Party],
Thank you so much for being there on our wedding day, you helped make it truly unforgettable. It meant the world to us that we could celebrate with you. We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did.
Kind regards,

To Someone Who Didn’t Attend

The wedding thank you card wording for someone who didn’t attend can be tricky, but here are some ideas. Most people would have sent you a gift or a card to let you know they will not attend. You should let them know how you wished they could have made it. Also, you should add how you are grateful that they are thinking of you. Remember: be specific if possible, and send thank you notes sooner than later. 

Dear XXX,
We are so sorry that you weren’t able to make it to our wedding. That was a beautiful day, and we were thinking of you. We would like to make sure that you know how much you were missed and that we are so appreciative for the gift that you sent us.
Best wishes,

Dear XXX,
Thank you for thinking of us on our wedding day. We are beyond grateful for your abundant generosity and kindness with your gift. We love you and can’t wait to celebrate the future with you!
Best wishes,

Dear XXX,
Thank you for being a part of our lives and supporting us through our journey. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. Your generosity is greatly appreciated on our wedding day.
Best wishes,

To Someone Who Wasn’t Invited  

Let’s be honest, writing a wedding thank you card wording for someone who wasn’t invited is awkward. However, you can still use the same principles from other wedding thank you notes. You don’t have to mention the wedding when thanking someone for a gift. Thank them for their thoughtfulness and humble gesture. 

Dear XXX,
Thank you so much for your generous gift and well-wishes. We went to X for our honeymoon and thanks to you we were able to do XYZ which was wonderful – definitely something
to remember! We’re so thankful for your love, support and kindness.
We hope to see you when we’re next in X.
Love,

Dear XXX,
Thank you so much for the very generous gift!  It is so nice to have some extra money to use to complete our registry and continue to make our apartment our own.  We really appreciate you thinking of us!
We hope all is well with you and the family and hopefully we’ll see you next time we’re back in X!
Thanks again!

To Who Gave a Monetary Gift or Gift Card

Knowing how to write a thank you card for money or a gift card can be a little tricky. You don’t want to sound too forward in your wording at the risk of sounding greedy. Keep your monetary gift thank you wording simple. Let them know how you appreciate their gift and how you intend to use the money. If someone has given you a gift card, tell them something you like about that place. Be personal and include what you’re going to use it for. Don’t just say, “Thank you for the gift card,” as a caveman would. Get creative and use good grammar!  

Dear XXX,
We had a lovely day and were so happy that you were there. We are so grateful for your generous gift, that we will be adding to our honeymoon fund. We’ll be sure to send you a postcard. Thanks again for joining us to celebrate our marriage.
Kind regards,

Dear XXX,
From the bottom of our hearts we would like to thank you for celebrating our special day with us, and making it one of the most memorable days of our lives. We can’t wait for our trip to Europe at the end of June, and this wouldn’t have been possible without your generous gift. Thanks again and we look forward to sharing many more memories with you!
With love,

To Parent(s) and Family

Your parents and family are the primary reason you are where you are right now. Without them, it is safe to assume you wouldn’t be who you are today. Let them know how much you appreciate them. Tell them how much you are indebted to them. Let them know how their specific influences make you the person you are today. Fill this thank you note with specific milestones that have dramatically shaped you. 

Dear Mom and Dad,
I can’t fully express what your support, encouragement, and advice has meant to me these past few months! It was such a comfort to know that no matter what happened, you two were always there for us.
Our wedding was a day that Marco and I will never forget, and a big part of that was having you by our sides: walking down the aisle, toasting with us, celebrating with us. Sure, a wedding is about two people who love each other, but it’s also about everyone who loves those two people. We are two lucky people to have parents like you with us on this ride called life.
Thanks again, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything!
Love always,

Dear XXX,
We sincerely thank you for sharing with us the special moments of our wedding day. Your thoughts, generous gifts and good wishes made our day an occasion we will always cherish.
Love,

Your parents and family are the primary reason you are where you are right now. Without them, it is safe to assume you wouldn’t be who you are today. Let them know how much you appreciate them. Tell them how much you are indebted to them. Let them know how their specific influences make you the person you are today. Fill this thank you note with specific milestones that have dramatically shaped you.