Writing thank you notes is probably not the first thing on your mind right now as you plan your wedding. However, writing thank you notes is a very important part of the planning process. If you get organized now, writing thank you notes after the honeymoon will be a breeze! Today we’re showing you ten shortcuts for writing thank you notes PLUS inspiring you with thank you notes by the beautiful Nostalgic Imprints. In this post, you’ll find inspiration for thank you notes, ideas to get organized, find out how to save time + money, and be on your way to enjoying more of your honeymoon after the big day. Enjoy!

Writing Thank You Notes: 8 Shortcuts + Tips

1. Order thank you notes with your invitations.

If you order thank you notes with your wedding invitations, you’ll save time and money! Sometimes you can even pay combined shipping by ordering everything at once. Plus, you won’t have to spend time finding the perfect thank you notes after the wedding. (Want to use a wedding photo from the big day? You’ll need to order after the wedding, but you can save time if you find your stationer or printer before then. This will make ordering much easier when the time comes.) And… consider using a fun prop during your wedding to be used for thank you notes, like a ‘Just Married’ banner or prop signs. We love these “I’m Her Mr.” and “I’m His Mrs.” prop signs by Liddabits Design Shop (photo by Kelsey Lauren Photography).

2. Keep a list of gifts as you receive them.

Tip: Buy a simple notebook + keep it in your purse. Jot down gifts (with the name of the person who gave the gift) in the notebook for your engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, and after the wedding, along with gifts that arrive at your home. This will keep you organized when writing thank you notes for referencing each specific item.

3. Make a list of any additional thank you note recipients.

If you keep a list, you’ll stay organized (and you won’t forget to send a note to someone). In addition to thanking guests for gifts, writing thank you notes to bridesmaids, groomsmen, your parents, in-laws, anyone who hosted a shower or party, and any wedding vendors who went above and beyond is a great gesture. Send thank you notes to guests for attending your wedding and bridal shower, even if they didn’t give a gift.

4. Order return address labels or stamps.

Return address labels or address stamps will save plenty of time when addressing! You can find cute ones – like this custom return address stamp below! – at Paper Sushi.

5. Set a goal.

Traditionally, a couple has one year after the wedding to write thank you notes. However, we recommend writing them within three months if possible. Writing thank you notes for a bridal shower or party should be done much sooner — no later than two weeks after the event.

6. Brush up on your etiquette.

Here are a few tips to consider:

o If you receive a gift of money, be sure to mention how you’ll use it (you don’t need to mention the amount).

o Do not send a generic thank you; each note should be personalized and hand-written by you.

o Be specific when writing thank you notes. Mention the gift and something you like about it / how it will be useful to you.

o Never mention a duplicate item or something you plan to return. Be gracious, thoughtful, and sincere.

7. Address + stamp envelopes ahead of time.

Then, all you’ll need to do is write the note, place in its pre-addressed + stamped envelope, and mail! Easy. If you use thank you postcards, the process is even easier: just write the address on one side, add a postcard stamp (it’s cheaper than standard postage!), and write your note on the right side. Write small, though, to have enough space for a heartfelt message.

8. Get your fiancé involved.

Writing thank you notes doesn’t fall into one person’s lap: tackle thank you’s together. (Plus, it’s more fun to work on them together than solo.)

9. Write them in a timeline that works with you.

You can tackle writing thank you notes in a single weekend, or write just a few every day. Either way, stick to it and you’ll be done before you know it!

10. Late? Send ’em anyway.

While it’s ideal to write thank you notes on time, don’t skip sending them just because you’re late. Better late than never!

♥ Then… Celebrate!

Writing thank you notes is the conclusion to your wedding celebration. It feels sort of… complete. Make a celebration of it and grab dinner or plan a fun date after dropping the last thank you notes in the mail. Chat about your favorite parts of the wedding. Laugh about the things that went awry while planning. Enjoy the fact that all of your hard work + planning is now complete. (Oh, and don’t you stop visiting us at EmmalineBride. We try to tie in plenty of fun finds + DIYs applicable to your home, too!) ;)

If you’re looking for amazing thank you notes – like those shown in this post – check out Nostalgic Imprints, Featured Artisan in The Marketplace! Beverly can even touch-up a photo to make it look more “vintage-y” as you see in the examples above. Visit her shop to see thank you notes, save the dates, invitations, and more, and tell her Emmaline Bride sent you! (P.S. Bev is total sweetheart, so you’re in good hands!)

Happy Planning!

♥
-E.

About the Author

Emma Arendoski is the author of the ultimate wedding book, The Handcrafted Wedding, and editor of EmmalineBride.com. Grab a copy of her book here! You can follow her on Twitter @EmmalineBride.