Function

• Sending a thank you note after receiving a gift is a common courtesy that should be observed at all times. Thank you cards are especially important following a wedding, when many guests have made a large investment of time and money in order to attend the ceremony. Thank you notes let guests know that the bride and groom appreciate both their presence and their presents, and are the polite way to acknowledge the receipt of a gift.
  
  

Types

• Selecting a thank you card is an important part of the process. Many brides and grooms choose to purchase thank yous that match the invitations they sent out to invite guests to the wedding. Others choose thank you cards that display the new married names of the couple or select a generic thank you card from the selection available at local greeting card shops. All of these options are acceptable, and each bride and groom can exercise their own discretion when choosing the style of their thank you cards.
  
  

Features

• Each wedding thank you note should be personalized. Couples should be sure to specifically reference the gift that they received, and to mention how they will use it in the future. Guests will be gratified to hear that their gift is appreciated and will be useful to the new husband and wife. When applicable, thank you notes should also thank guests for attending the wedding, especially if they travelled in order to attend.
  
  

Time Frame

• While it is important to send thank yous out promptly after the wedding, it is commonly accepted that thank yous can be postponed until after the honeymoon period. A common rule of thumb is to send the thank yous out within three months of the wedding itself; while it is always preferable to send cards earlier, guests will understand that the early weeks of a new marriage are often a chaotic and busy time.
  
  

Warning

• While the growth of Internet resources in the past few years may tempt some couples to send out electronic thank yous or e-mailed thank you notes, most people believe that a simple handwritten card has a much more thoughtful, personal feel to it than a more generic e-card message. When possible, couples should endeavor to send out a traditional paper note instead of opting for the electronic route.