In the era of digital communication, it’s easy to underestimate the power of a simple handwritten thank you note. But constant digital connections actually makes personalized thank you cards more meaningful than ever.
After all, anyone can send a text or say thank you. But a thank you note goes deeper. It shows that you have genuine appreciation, and that you took the time to show it.
But knowing you should send a thank you card and knowing what to write in it are two different things. Plus, you can’t send the same thank you note for every occasion.
That’s why we’re here to help. Keep reading for a few great thank you note ideas for every occasion, from a simple thank you to weddings and more.
Thank You Note Wording
The most important element of your thank you message is the wording. And while the content itself may vary based on the occasion, there is a certain etiquette that guides your thank you card wording.
For example, the tone of the message should always match your relationship to the person. You would write a more intimate note to your oldest friend than a business client or mutual friend. The more you know the person, the more leeway you have to use humor to express your gratitude.
Generally, the more formal the note, the more straightforward the note should be, unless you happen to know that the recipient would appreciate humor (just make sure you appeal to their sense of humor, not your own). If uncertain, don’t try to be funny.
In thank you card greetings, you should always be specific about who you’re addressing, what you’re thanking them for, and why. Don’t write, “Thanks for the gift!” Name the gift or occasion for your gratitude. Look for opening phrases that start with gratitude. When in doubt, “Thank you for the…” is always safe.
If you know the person well, you can look for thank you card sayings that suit them. If you have a friendly in-joke or saying, now is the time to use it. Again, this depends on your relationship. If you don’t know someone, keep it simple.
Like openings, thank you card endings should address the person directly. An invitation of some sort often works well. For example, “We would love to have you over for dinner sometime soon,” or, “Let us know the next time you’re in the area,” are great choices.
When To Send Thank You Cards
There’s also an etiquette guiding when to send a thank you note. This is also one of the areas most people struggle with.
The short answer? As soon as possible.
The long answer? “Better late than never” thank you cards are better than no thank you cards. Sending late thank you cards is fine if the thought is genuine, but belated thank you notes have different acceptable time frames depending on the occasion.
Birthdays, for example, should always have thank you notes sent within a week. Weddings are more forgiving of late thank you cards because the event has so many moving parts attached.
By the way, you should always send a thank you note for:
- Wedding gifts
- Bridal gifts
- Baby shower gifts
- A party hosted in your honor
- Gifts received during a hospital stay
- Being hosted as a houseguest for one night or longer
- For congratulatory gifts
If you must send one late, remember that it’s always better to send a thank you card late than not send one at all. But ideally, you should get the cards written ASAP.
Wedding Thank You Cards
It’s one of the most special days of your life. And when other people come together to celebrate the moment with you, the least you can do is say thank you.
Where wedding thank you notes are concerned, there are two things to keep in mind:
- Be specific
- Set yourself up for success
Given the volume of thank you cards you have to send, your wedding thank you cards message doesn’t have to be the Next Great American Novel. Remember, it’s a note, not a letter. When figuring out what to say in wedding thank you cards (and how to do it efficiently), the best approach is to use a template you can personalize.
Keep in mind that your wedding thank you card wording will be slightly different for each scenario, even if you’re using a template. Address each person by name, then name the gift and how you plan to use it. After that, a simple sentence reiterating your gratitude will suffice.
Baby Shower Thank You Cards
Your little bundle of joy will come into the world spoiled by sweet presents from people who love them (and you). And while you have a million things to do before your due date, simple baby shower thank you notes go a long way in returning that love.
The question is what to write in a baby shower thank you card, especially if your bundle of joy seems to be zapping all your mental energy. Deep breaths. Writing thank you for a baby gift can be a soothing exercise.
As with other thank you cards, baby shower thank you wording should avoid generic phrases, though you can use a template with personal flourishes. If you have space, acknowledge the relationship you have the recipient. At a minimum, describe what the gift means to you and how touched you are that they took the time to get it for you.
Otherwise, a thank you message for a baby shower can follow the same general format as a thank you for other gifts.
Thank You Note For Gift
In case you haven’t noticed yet, thank you messages for gifts received usually follow the same general format, regardless of the gift in question. This makes it easier to write a lot of them quickly.
However, it’s good to write a thank you letter for a gift even if it’s one small gift for no reason or special occasion. It shows that you’re thinking of the person just like they’re thinking of you.
Remember, specificity and personal flourishes are key to expressing genuine gratitude. “Thank you for the birthday gift!” isn’t half as effective as, “Thank you for the beautiful bracelet!” followed by a kind word reminding the giver that you’ll think of them, or telling them how you’ll use the gift.
If you’re writing a thank you note for money, write about how you plan to use it, and make sure to follow up later! It shows the person that you truly appreciate their gift, however big or small.
Other Thank You Cards
While the general content of other thank you cards is more or less consistent, the tone and message will vary widely depending on the type of card.
Thank you messages for friends are the least formal of the bunch. This is the time to have a bit of fun, be a bit silly, and show what your friend means to you. A business thank you note is at the far end of the spectrum and is the most formal of the bunch, followed by a thank you note for an interview, since you’re still trying to make a good impression on the recipient.
Funeral thank you cards and sympathy thank you cards give you the most freedom to be brief. You don’t need to write a letter and no one will expect you to do so while grieving. Naming the recipient and thanking them for their kindness in sending flowers or attending services will do nicely.
Thank you cards for teachers should be friendly but polite. Remember, you’re a student, so even friendly teachers have an unequal relationship with you. Thank them for what they’ve done for you (be specific!) and talk briefly about how they’ve impacted you.
Graduation thank you cards are all about the start of a journey, so thank the person for starting you off on the right foot. Express what it meant to you to have them there (if they attended ceremonies). If you’re sending a thank you for a gift, name the gift and how you plan to use it.
The Right Way to Say Thank You
Before you word your thank you note, it’s important to have the perfect card to match your gratitude. That’s where we can help.
We offer unique, creative thank you cards with styles that can match any occasion. From minimalist cards to swirling typography, the perfect card is waiting for you.
And whatever your occasion for gratitude might be, we’d like to thank you for letting us be a part of it!