As we’ve discussed here on the blog, it often takes months and months of planning to coordinate a single day – your wedding day! Soon-to-be married couples, with the help of their friends and families, make thousands of decisions in order to pull off a one-day event that is tailored to their unique preferences. When the day comes and goes, and the couple returns from their honeymoon and begins the joys of daily life as Mr. and Mrs., there is only one thing left – thoughtfully written thank you notes for each wedding guest.

 Make a plan to get them done

Thank you notes can be overwhelming, even for those who enjoy writing letters. After writing just three or four notes, you may catch yourself looking disdainfully at the long list of names still remaining. Take a deep breath. Make a plan. Assess your list of recipients and break it down into small chunks. Instead of spending an entire weekend hunched over the dining room table, bleary-eyed, consider committing to writing two or three notes each night after work. Or, take your daily stack to the office and knock them out on your lunch break. Standard etiquette for sending wedding thank you cards is within 6-8 weeks of your wedding date.

 Tips for what to say in your thank you note

Writing thank you notes can also be challenging because you may struggle with what to write. You don’t want to your note to feel formulaic, so do your best to customize your message for each recipient.  Here are a few helpful ideas:

  • Always mention the gift specifically so the recipient knows that you did receive it, and mention where you have put it or how you are using it. The gift-giver will be pleased to know that the gift is practical and you are enjoying it.
  •  If you received a cash gift, you do not need to repeat the amount in your thank you note. Simply let the gift-giver know that you are thankful for their gift and that you plan to use if for ‘x.’ Maybe you are saving for a down payment, maybe you’ll buy something that wasn’t purchased from the registry, or maybe you spent it on a fabulous, romantic dinner while on your honeymoon. Let them know where their money is going.

Take a special photo for your thank you notes

To really set your notes apart, plan for your wedding photographer to take a special picture of you and your new spouse on your wedding day with a ‘thank you’ sign. The photograph above is a perfect example. When you receive your wedding photos back, you can have custom notes printed using your special photo. If you need to expedite the process, ask your photographer if he or she can send you the thank you photo in advance of all the rest so you can go ahead and have your cards made.

Contact Sterling Photography International today to set up your wedding photography package. Let Sterling take the hassle out of your honeymoon by selecting the We Do Jamaica package, which includes an engagement session, wedding photos and video, and a fabulous Jamaican honeymoon!