A Thank-You Note

THANK YOU CARD/NOTE--A small thing that's a big deal!

The Thank-You-Note (with sweets) I'd distributed to the participants of Juvy's Bridal Shower

One of the most commonly forgotten gesture of expressing deep appreciation to guests in a social event is sending a "THANK YOU NOTE", since wedding is a social event, according to a wedding planning site based in Great Britain, guests and everyone who had helped during the preparation all the way to the big day deserve a thank you card or note from the newlyweds.

Sending a Thank-you-note is part of the proper wedding decorum. It signifies good manners and social graces. While everybody thinks that a verbal thank-you speech delivered by the newlyweds at the wedding reception already speaks it all, experts on wedding etiquette highly recommended to still dispatch a Thank-you card, they revealed that it is very rude and impolite for the newlyweds not to send a thank-you card to their guests and bridal party, "It's part of the wedding protocol", explained one of the wedding organizing experts online.

In other countries, sending a Thank You card after the wedding is an obligatory task and part of the wedding etiquette. Others might even find it very offensive if they cannot receive a thank you card after gracing the event. One guest at a wedding in Canada even wrote her displeasure in a website "Wedding Bee": 

"I was IN a wedding last year and gave a generous gift as well as my time in helping with the wedding and have not received a thank you card to this day (the wedding was last year) I find it incredibly rude not to receive one..especially if you were in the bridal party!!"

In the Philippines, apart from the celebrities and high profile personalities, no one among the ordinary folks done this very essential part of social manners.

Although wedding etiquette dictates that couples should and must send their guests each with a Thank You card, no specific style is mentioned how to do it because it's up to the newlyweds how to express their happiness and deep sense of gratitude to the guests and to the wedding party.

According to a wedding etiquette expert from www.topweddingquestions.com site:

"The cards could be in any form you choose including pre-made cards,personalized stationery or even blank paper. As long as you write a personal message and sign it yourselves it's appropriate. Both bride and groom should sign since the gift is to them both and they are both saying thanks" 

Just remember this: 

"HONOR YOUR GUESTS WITH A THANK-YOU NOTE, DON'T LET THEM WONDER IF YOU LIKE THEIR GIFTS OR NOT OR WHETHER YOU ARE PLEASED TO SEE THEM AT THE CEREMONY OR HORRIFIED,  A THANK -YOU NOTE INDICATES THAT YOU VALUE THEIR PRESENCE AND GENEROSITY" 

How long should you send a Thank You note to your guests? 

Almost all Wedding Guide books and magazines I'd read say that within 3 weeks after the event is an ideal period to send your message of appreciation.

To ensure that your message punches a remarkable and memorable gesture to the recipients, prepare a personalized Thank-You note according to the following categories. Mention your appreciation of their presence, time, service and friendship:

1. Guests

2. Guests who brought presents

3. Parents, siblings

4. Those who contributed/sponsored on tangible things: Money, Gown, Bridal Car, Cake, Food, etcetera

5. Those who extended assistance, support during the preparation

6. Those who sent gifts but did not make it to the ceremony

A Thank You Note/Card should not be expensive, in fact you can create out from a very cheap but presentable stationary, what is important is the gesture it conveys. After all the help and assistance that everyone had extended to your wedding, the best thing they deserve is a personalized Thank-You note, it sends a different feeling of being greatly appreciated, it is just a simple gesture but connotes a lasting, warm, and memorable impression.  

Tips on how to handle or prepare Thank-You Notes according to a wedding article from OnMilwaukee website:

1. Assign someone to take care of the guest book at the reception, make sure everyone who attended had written their names and address on it. Write all names of the people who extended support during the preparation and on the wedding day itself. Write the names of everyone who sent gifts even if they did not make it to the ceremony.

2. Decide how the task is going to be divided. Talk to your groom (if you are the bride reading this article) how to divide task on writing thank you messages, whether you will take care of it or the other way around. If you are just print the message or commission someone to do it, etcetera.

3. Don't forget to mention the reason why you are grateful to them. Example: "Thank you Ben and Laura Belmonte for the lovely saucers you gave as a present, we truly appreciated it, your generosity means so much to us". 

4. Don't stress yourself too much. Whatever you choose to do in creating a Thank You card, make sure it feels natural, warmth and light.

Weddings are still steeped in tradition and etiquette and no matter how simple, grand and unique the ceremony is, remember that an obligatory Thank-You-Note is part of the wedding organizing, it reflects good manners and how you value everyone who attended.