"Thank You" Magnets instead of Thank you Notes?

Question

I know it is traditional (and expected) for the bride and groom to send out thank you cards after the wedding. However, when my step sister got married, she and fiance had a picture taken of them holding up "Thank You" signs. They had magnets made up with the picture on it, their wedding date and their new address. At the wedding, there was a table with all of these magnets. I can't remember how it was worded, but there was a card saying something about how these magnets were in lieu of thank you cards via mail.

Their wedding favors were matchbooks with their picture on it. I no longer have any of the matchbooks..but the magnet remains as a lasting token of their wedding.

Part of me thinks the magnets were lazy...but on the flip side, I STILL have the magnet on my refridgerator....Their picture will be on my fridge for much longer than a card would last.

My question is this: If you went to a wedding where they did magnets instead of cards, what would you think?

Answer 1

I think its a cute idea as a favor which is really just a thank you for coming to my wedding gift anyway, but not inlieu of a thank you note. If I were a guest at a wedding and they sent me a premade magnet in the mail after the wedding or even if they sent nothing and I was to take it as I left, I would feel a little put off. I'm old fashioned when it comes to thank you notes and I actually do notice when I don't recieve them. It would seem impersonal and lazy to me. Not everyone cares if they get a thank you note, however so you might be okay. However, since I actually take the time to write thank you notes myself, I appreciate it when I recieve one. If your guests are the type to write thank you notes, they would probably expect to recieve one. You're right that the magnet would last longer as a memento of the wedding, but a thank you note isn't supposed to be a memento. Its supposed to be a heartfelt token of appreciation. I think it would make a spectacular favor which is more of a memento, but don't short your guests on the personalized appreciation they deserve.

Answer 2

That is one of the tackiest things I have ever heard. You send a hand written thank you note when someone takes the time to come to your wedding and give you a gift. That is just wrong. It would be cute to put the magnet in the envelope with the note or use it as a favor, but to not write a note is unforgiveable. Your sister has no manners and I can't believe your mom didn't say something.

Answer 3

I think that's interesting and maybe a nice favor. But it's a family member on your fridge...what about those who are just friends? I would think it was a little weird having a magnet of a friend on my fridge...but if it were my sister or brother or even a cousin, then somehow that would make more sense...maybe I'm weird that way! I think that there is NOTHING like a hand written note. Everyone loves getting them but so rarely do these days. I suggest sticking with tradition, a hand written thank you says it better and more elegantly. Just my two cents.

Answer 4

When thanking someone for a gift you should personalize it - eg - "thank you for the beautiful picture frame" "thank you for the gift of money" - magnet are not personal - just lazy. If you want to do the magnet as a wedding favor that may be okay, but it's a tacky thank you note idea.

Answer 5

I think the magnets are a darling favor idea!!!

I do not, however, think that it's really okay to use it in place of a handwritten note. It is definitely something to be used as a supplement to the note. After all, these are people who took time out of their busy & hectic schedules to celebrate with you, and on top of everything else, most likely gave you a gift, too! I'm a little old-fashioned, but I still believe that you should write a personal note to each of your guests who sent a gift.

Answer 6

I think it's cute, but I think a personalized thank you would mean a lot more than a general thank you magnet. I think that the magnets would be better for Save the Date or as a favor.

Answer 7

I'm traditional when it comes to thank-you cards. Taking a couple of moments to thank an individual for their personal contribution is expected, and rude if not granted.
The magnet is a creative and cute addition, but should not be used as a substitute.
Neither are cards that just says "thanks", but nothing personal added to it. There is no proof that the receiver was even thinking of the gift or the gifter when they wrote it.

Answer 8

I would feel a little hurt, but I'd get over it.

It's a cute idea, but I like receiving a thank you note that indicates they are acknowledging what they received.
"Dear Kim,
Thanks for the knife. We can't wait to use it when we cook." really makes me feel like the gift was appreciated. If it was some generic magnet, sure, it would last longer, but it would have less meaning.

Then again, times are changing; people are busier than ever, and mail is expensive. Some people are always going to be offended, but it's a personal choice each couple has to make. Some people are simply not going to like it, but again, they'll live.

Answer 9

Nothing replaces an old fashioned, handwritten Thank you card. It's the very least that you can do to show appretiatiion to your guests.

I do like the idea, but I would do both the magnet and the Thank you card. Just the magnet seems lazy and rude to me.

Good luck

Answer 10

I'm old-school, so I'd do both actually. The magnets are a cute idea, but I'd also send out Thank You cards in the mail.