Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Thank You Cards

After the final champagne toast has been made, the last dance has ended, and the wedding day becomes a beautiful memory, there is still one very important item you want to make sure you cross off your wedding planning checklist: thank you cards. 

As a stationery designer, I believe thank you cards are one of the most important pieces of your wedding stationery suite. They’re more than a tradition; they are your opportunity to personally express your gratitude to the people who celebrated this special day with you.

Yet, they do tend to bring up a lot of wedding etiquette questions. When should you send them? What should you write?

Keep reading as we will be sharing everything you need to know to make sending out your wedding thank you cards as simple and stress-free.

[Shop the Ophelia Thank You Card Collection]

Why Wedding Thank You Cards Matter

Wedding thank you cards are, of course, a timeless etiquette tradition, but they are so much more than that. At their core, they are a meaningful way to thank your guests for their love, generosity, and the time they took to celebrate your wedding day with you. Whether someone traveled across the country to attend or took the time to thoughtfully choose a meaningful gift, a handwritten note lets them know just how much you appreciate them.

They are also one of the final touch points of your wedding day, and a beautiful way to bring your wedding to a close. I personally love when couples make their thank you cards part of their cohesive wedding stationery suite. Carrying the design for your wedding day from the save the dates all the way through the thank you cards creates a polished experience that your guests won't soon forget.

When To Send Your Wedding Thank You Cards

The timing around when to send wedding thank you cards is often one of the most asked questions. I always say the same thing: the sooner the better.

One of the easiest ways to stay ahead of this final to-do is to order your thank you cards alongside your other wedding stationery. Not only will all of your stationery coordinate perfectly, but your thank you cards will also be ready for you to begin using as soon as your wedding gifts start arriving.

When it comes to timing, if you receive gifts before the wedding, I recommend sending a thank you card as soon as possible, even if that means before the wedding. This does two things. It lets your guest know that their gift was received and also makes them feel special knowing you acknowledged them before the wedding rather than waiting to receive a thank you alongside everyone else.

For those who did attend the wedding, we usually say that sending out the thank you cards within two to three months after the wedding day is a wonderful timeline to aim for. I also know that newlyweds can get busy, so I recommend batch writing a few a day at a time to help ensure everyone receives a note in a timely manner, and it is much more manageable. 

What Should You Write in a Wedding Thank You Card?

If you’re staring at a blank card with writer's block, don’t overthink it! A simple heartfelt message is always the most meaningful. 

Here are a few ideas to help:

Thank them for celebrating with you: Express your gratitude for guests celebrating your wedding day and making memories with you. Acknowledge any travel if appropriate, and tell them how much it meant to you to have them there to with you.

Mention their gift: Be sure to reference the specific gift and thank them for it. Extra points if you explain how you will use it or how it will fit into your new life as a couple. Guests love knowing their gift will be enjoyed for years to come!

Share your future plans: If you need a little bit more, sharing future newlywed plans is always something guests love to hear about. Maybe share your honeymoon adventures or plans to purchase a new home. 

Featured Wedding Thank You Card: Ophelia Collection

Our bride Hayley chose the Ophelia collection for her wedding day. It was truly a perfect match as her wedding flowers and bouquets complemented the florals on the stationery perfectly. We were even able to customize the envelope to a gorgeous pistachio green, which paired seamlessly with the bridesmaids' gowns. It’s the little details like the coordinating colors that are woven throughout the day and the nods to florals with pops of color that make a wedding day feel truly personalized and intentional.

Hayley was also a great reminder of how little personalization makes your stationery feel more like you - not just with color, but with words too. She decided to trade in the classic “thank you” for “With love and gratitude” and also included their names and wedding date for a truly customized feel.

Here's our bride's experience working with us on her wedding day stationery: I want to lean into the ease of buying all your stationery from IBLW - One of the easiest ways to simplify wedding planning is to choose a stationery collection that carries you from your save-the-dates all the way through your thank-you cards. Every semi-custom collection at Invited by LamaWorks includes coordinating save-the-dates, invitations, RSVP cards, day-of stationery, and thank you cards, making it easy to create a beautifully cohesive experience from beginning to end.

Our Ophelia collection allows you to show your appreciation with elegant thank you cards that are adorned with charming floral designs in shades of pink and blue. The collection is soft, romantic, and effortlessly elegant, and the perfect choice for spring weddings.

If you are planning a spring wedding and envision a wedding day filled with beautiful blooms, our Ophelia collection is the perfect fit.

Browse the full Ophelia Collection and let’s create a wedding stationery suite that tells your story with timeless elegance from your save-the-dates to your final heartfelt thank you.