Maryland Wedding - When Should You Send Thank You Cards?

When planning their Maryland wedding, couples often have questions about wedding etiquette and want to make sure that they show proper appreciation to their wedding guests.

As a Maryland Wedding DJ serving couples not only in Maryland but in Lancaster | York | Harrisburg as well, our passion is helping couples have the best experience possible.

This article is one in a series of articles intended to help not only the Maryland wedding couples we serve but to help anyone who is planning their dream wedding.

Should we send thank you cards to our Maryland Wedding guests?

While a thank-you note may seem a bit old fashioned, it is for that very reason the act of sending them makes them more special. We live in a predominantly digital world, there is something extra-appreciative about expressing gratitude through the written word.

You might choose to pass on some wedding traditions and skip the passed hors d’oeuvres or personalized favors to save costs, but wedding thank-you notes are something that should never be left off your wedding checklist!

Wedding Thank-You Cards Etiquette

• Gifts received before the wedding should also get a thank you note before the wedding. The standard timeline for sending a note is 2-3 weeks after receiving the gift.

• Wedding thank-you notes should be sent within three months of your nuptials.

• Use stationery.

  While the card design is entirely up to you, avoid pre-printed notes where you simply sign your names. Thank-you notes should have a personal touch so use quality stationery fit for writing a message.

• It’s never too late to say thank you.

  Yes, you should send them within three months, but if that time comes and goes without a thank-you note insight, that doesn’t mean you should shrug and move on. Later is always better than never.

Who gets a thank-you card?

Wedding thank-you notes do not stop at gift-givers.

Showing some love to the people who helped make your entire wedding experience possible is just as important. This group will vary from couple to couple, but this list should get you started.

Send a thank-you to:

• Anyone who gives a gift, including monetary gifts and donations.

• Anyone helping on the day of your wedding, e.g., attendants, greeters, etc.

• Anyone who hosts a party for you. (Note: If the party is hosted by a group, thank-you notes should go to every host.)

• Anyone who helped with small details or entertained guests, like arranging flowers or housing your wedding party for a shower weekend.

• All members of your wedding party.

• Your wedding vendors.

This list might be shorter or longer but when in doubt, write a thank-you note.

Wedding thank-you note writing tips

A few things to remember when writing thank-you notes:

• Be specific.

  Let’s be honest, receiving a thank-you card that simply says “Thank you for your gift” isn’t really saying much at all. Be specific in your thanks by mentioning exactly what you received as a gift and how you plan to use it.

  An exception to this rule is for monetary gifts. While it is great to mention how you plan to use the funds, it is best to not mention the exact amount.

• Make it personal.

  Mention a small detail about the person who gave you the gift, such as their part in the wedding or a time in the future that you will see them.

• Be yourself.

  A thank-you note shows your appreciation and is meant to make someone happy, so keeping it authentic is important.

• Write clearly.

  A legible message shows that you took the time to say, “thank you.”

• Share the responsibility. You and your partner should both sign your names!

When should you send thank-you notes?

For any gifts received before the wedding day, you will want to send off a thank you as soon as you can. For anything that comes on the wedding day or after, give yourself no more than three weeks to check this task off your wedding to-do list.