Wedding Thank-You Cards

You've had your cake,  the guests have gone home, and you are ready to take off your dancing shoes.  By morning you'll be off to your romantic honeymoon  in Hawaii. Finally, all this wedding planning  is finished. No more stress, no more chaos -- just pure relaxation. But wait! Aren't you forgetting something? Ah, yes... the thank-you cards. 

Sending thank-you notes  says a lot about what kind of person you are. And, when it comes to weddings, sending a word of gratitude to your friends and family is a non-negotiable task. That's why you should consider thank you cards as early on as the invitations  and guest list. Why so soon? Not only does it make things easier, saving you time and frustration, but it also helps avoid procrastination  -- a bride and groom's worst enemy.

1. Order at the same time as your invitations. If you want the thank-you cards monogrammed or engraved with your names or initials so that they match the rest of your stationery, it's best to buy them together. Just remember that those thank-you notes to be sent prior to the wedding should have the bride's maiden (not married) name on them. Omitting last names is usually a safe choice when you aren't sure of how many thank-you notes you'll be sending, or you can invest in both cards with maiden and married name on them.
2. Consider where you shop. Not everyone can afford the expense of adding on formal thank you cards to their stationer's bill. However, there are other options, such as buying from a large stationer's store, which can save you at least a $100 or more. Another option you might consider are photo postcard thank-you notes. The postcard costs less to mail and it's completely original with a photo of the bride and groom on the front. Web sites such as Shutterfly offers these card types at affordable prices.
3. Write thank you notes as gifts arrive. Sending timely thank-you cards is as important as sending them in the first place. While many people think they can wait until after the wedding, the best time to send thank yous is right away. This leaves less work to do later on and it shows others how appreciative you are. If you haven't got the time right away to write a thank-you, keep in mind that the time limit is usually two to three weeks when the gift arrives prior to the wedding, or one month after the honeymoon for gifts received at the wedding.
4. Use your guest list to keep track. As you receive gifts, check off the names of those you have written and mailed a thank-you card to and be sure to include the date that you received the gift. This ensures that you won't forget anyone and that you write cards in a timely fashion.
5. Don't assume that one is enough. If you receive multiple gifts from the same person, don't assume that one card will suffice. A thank-you note should be sent for each gift received regardless of the occasion for which it was given to you.
6. Get personal but don't go overboard. The note should include a mention about how happy you were to see the person or how much you wish that he or she could have been there. Include something personal if possible, such as how much enjoyed dancing together or how you should get together for coffee like you had discussed. Then, of course, thank the person for the gift, citing precisely what it was you received. If it's money, tell the person how you will use the money, but don't include details about the amount of the gift. Finally, keep things to a few sentences only. You don't need to write an essay. Just be polite and concise. For wording suggestions, see this article at About.com.
7. Handwritten rules. Thank-you notes and cards should be written by hand, not printed! If you have horrible penmanship, consider hiring someone to write them for you after telling them what you want to be written. The envelopes should also be written by hand, and while it is recommended by some, it is considered in bad taste to have shower guests write their names and addresses on the envelopes. That's why at the wedding you have a guest book. 
8. Divide and conquer. The bride is not the only one that can write thank-yous. Both bride and groom should get involved and write notes to friends and family.
9. Consider taking your thank yous on the road. One person at e-How recommends taking your work with you on the plane to your honeymoon. If it's a few hours of flying, you'll have nothing better to do than finish up those thank-you cards and get it out of the way.

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