A Guide to Thank You Notes

When planning any type of event or celebration, a thank you note is an element that is just as important as the invitation. There are lots of traditions surrounding the writing and sending of thank you notes. It is important to become familiarized with these traditions to help write the perfect thank you note.
When should you send thank you notes? Thank you notes can be sent for any occasion where guests offered gifts or services. In many cases, such as a wedding if guests brought a gift or simply attended the wedding, it is proper to send a thank you note for the guest being a part of the special event. A celebration or special event typically takes quite a few people to keep things organized and just simply to get things done. A thank you note is the perfect time to recognize all that friends and family have done to help make the occasion special.
What should thank you note contain? Thank you notes can come in a variety of styles and themes. While some thank you notes will have thank you written across the front, it is traditionally accepted to send a blank card. This leaves more room for personal messages. Thank you notes should always be hand written. A typed or template thank you message is too impersonal and does not genuinely convey thanks to guests. Thank you notes should coincide with the theme of the event. A good idea is to purchase thank you notes at the same time as invitations. This will save time in the long run and help to keep a consistent theme.
Why are thank you notes important? Thank you notes are important to show appreciation to guests, friends, and family. Thank you notes should be sent promptly following the event. It is helpful for those writing the notes to do so quickly so the events are still fresh in the mind. Thank you notes give people the opportunity to sit down and write out thoughts on paper to guests and when hand writing letters, people typically are able to express feelings that cannot be conveyed simply by a verbal thank you or a phone call.
Thank you notes are the finishing touch to any event. Whatever the event, whatever the reason, sending thank you notes should not be pushed aside or forgotten. It is the guests who help make the event, and it is the guests who shape the guests of honor. Without the guests, they would not be who they are.