Thank You Note Etiquette
By Nina Villavicencio
Show your gratitude for gift givers by sending out
thank you cards. It's a great way to show your
appreciation for the gift they gave as well as the
thoughtfulness of their generosity. Whether you
receive gifts for a wedding, shower, or birthday, all
gifts and acts of kindness should be reciprocated with
a thank you card. Below are some pointers to keep in
mind.
Thank you cards should be handwritten. While this may
require extra time, it is more polite to personalize
your note with your own handwriting rather than having
it printed. Your recipients will appreciate the time
you took to write them out.
Don't forget to send thank you cards to the people
who helped you plan your event. For weddings, this
can include your bridesmaids or groomsmen, your
parents and your pastor. For birthday parties, send
them to those who cooked the food, helped set up the
tables, cleaned out the backyard, and anyone who was
instrumental in helping your event run smoothly.
Send thank you cards for all gifts, even if the gift
is something you don't particularly care for or don't
know what to do with. Remember, you are thanking them
for their thoughtfulness, not just the gift.
Treat monetary gifts the same you would your other
gifts by sending thank you cards for them as well.
Don't mention the amount in your note, but you can say
what you intend to use it for. Your intentions should
relate to the event. For weddings, mention something
that both the bride and groom will share and benefit
from ("This will help us purchase the new computer we
plan to use in our house!"), not something for just
one person (This will help me purchase a new
wardrobe!"). The same applies to baby showers -
mention purchases related to the baby, not just for
the parents.
If you receive a "group gift" from less than 10
people, send a card to each of them. However if the
group is much larger, such as an office or book club
contribution, post a thank you card in a visible
location, and remember to thank the contributors
individually when you get the chance.
Send thank you notes earlier than later - within
week after the event is appropriate. For a wedding,
two weeks after you return from your honeymoon is a
good time. If you receive a gift in the mail prior to
the event, send a thank you card immediately so as not
to increase the gap between the time the gift was sent
to the time the gift-giver receives the note.
If someone sends you multiple gifts for different
events, regardless of how close in time those events
may be, send that person a card for each gift. For
instance, a friend may give you a gift for your
wedding shower as well as another gift for your
wedding a month later. Send a separate card addressing
each gift, even if they're both addressed to her.
Remember to send thank you notes for for the gifts
received at a children's party. Encourage your child
to write a note to the gift givers. Try to make it a
fun activity where they can personalize the card with
their own handwriting, stickers, crayons, etc. If your
child is too young, write the cards on their behalf.
The gift-giver will be grateful for the card
especially coming from the children themselves.
Bottom line: send thank you notes for your gifts and
in a timely manner. Your gift givers will surely
appreciate you taking note of their generosity.
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For more information, please visit Nina Villavicencio's site at ConcreteAbstract.com.
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