Perfect Thank-You Notes
The Note
Dear Jon and Elizabeth, Our wedding made us realize, not just how lucky we are to have each other, but also how blessed we are to have such loving family and friends. We’re so happy that you were able to come to our wedding and be a part of the best day we’ve ever had. It brings a smile to our faces to see you (in sunglasses, of course!) in our wedding pictures, which we’ll cherish forever. Thank you very much for the sets of flatware. You know how much we like to eat, so it will certainly get tons of use! Love, Ashley and Jeremy
This is a unique touch: The writers are first and foremost conveying appreciation for their friends as loving people, even before expressing thanks for the gift.
It’s easy to forget the effort guests made to attend an event. Acknowledging the gift of their presence has tremendous impact.
By highlighting a personal detail, such as the sunglasses, the writers make their friends feel special. This says, “You’re not just two of the 200 people we invited.”
Being specific about how a gift will be incorporated into the recipients’ lives assures the givers that their trouble and expense were worthwhile.
Four Strategies for Thank-Yous
Open with enthusiasm. “What a (blank) sweater/book/vase!” or “You really know how to throw a (blank)!” says just what the recipient wants to hear — that you enjoyed the gift or the event.
Don’t repeat yourself or it will come off as filling space. Even “thank you” said over and over begins to seem less than genuine.
Reflect the effort made on your behalf with the effort you put into your note. Do not send a casual e-mail unless you’re thanking someone for a casual favor. And never send an impersonal note or merely sign a store-bought card. This implies that while the recipient took pains, you can’t spare the time to be as thoughtful.
Don’t stress about making every note unique. If you have many thank-yous to send, write a template that you can personalize in parts. People aren’t literally going to compare notes.
