How long to send Thank-You's?

Question

I got married on August 11th...went on my honeymoon shortly afterwards and have been back for about a week. I've been crazy busy because I'm starting my first year of teaching high school next week. I want to get my Thank-you's out quickly, but still need to get them made up, (let alone write on all of them!). How long do I have before people start getting upset? Also, how much should I write on each one? Thanks!

Ha ha. I'm no socialite - no fancy stationary being specially printed for me..by getting them 'made up' I meant going to Shopper's Drugmart and getting one of our wedding pictures turned into a thank-you card!

Answer 1

I would say around 3 months, but people will notice after 6.
Have them made up now and sit down each night and write out 10 thank yous. They dont have to be long and elaborate just a nice thank you for the gift and their presence on your special day and you can write basically the same thing on each one to generic guests, be sure to make your bridal party and parent thank yous special and from the heart though. If you do 10 a night it will take you around 2 weeks to finish them up and 10 is a nice number so that you can do them in a short period of time each night and your hand wont start hurting.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I sent mine out about 8 weeks after the wedding. A family friend got married two weeks before us. so when I got theirs, I knew I had to get mine out soon.

I understand the crazy busy thing because I am going into my 5th year teaching and there is always a lot to do right before the school year starts. I would do what everyone else is saying- a few a night. You might think that you will have more time once the school year starts, but that probably won't be the case.

As for what to write, I just thanked everyone for their gift (specific gift or I just wrote gift if it was money) and for coming to the wedding. I told them how they made our day so special, etc. I wrote more for the bridal party and all the people that helped us with the wedding because of everything they did for us.

I personally don't think you have to write that much. People quickly glance at them and more times then not, they are thrown in the garbage. In my opinion, people just want to know you appreciated/liked the gift. They don't care how much you write.

Good luck with the thank yous and your new job!

Answer 3

"Get them made up?" as in have custom stationery printed? If you're so socially prominent (or old fashioned) that you need "household stationery" for your new dwelling, why didn't you order that ahead of time, along with the furniture. I'll bet you didn't forget to order a bed, you monkey!

Tomorrow at latest you stop off and buy some blank notecards and get started. The cards can be totally plain formal cards, or you can get the casual cards with pictures of landscapes, flowers, cats, whatever. But the message cannot be preprinted, not even the words "thank you". Buy stamps too while you're out.

Since the notecards are so small, it's obvious that you're not going to write much. "Dear Uncle Frank, Our new china really seems to make Brad's coffee taste even better. He hopes to be brewing a fresh pot just for you soon. Love, Janet" Remember, it is taking time and trouble to write -- not WHAT you write -- that counts here.

Thank you notes can properly written by either spouse, no matter which side of the family the giver is on, and can even be written on your behalf by a friend or family member. Such letters read "Dear Dr Frankenfurter, My dear friend Brad and his bride have asked me tell you ... &yaddayadda... & Very Truly, Eddie Guiducci"

Now it the time to start "calling in" those offers of future help made by attendents and relatives. You have one week to finish them.

Then mail them all on the same day. (Trust me on this last one. And also trust me that a prompt thanks for current gifts is the best way to insure future generosity.)

Answer 4

Thank the person specifically for the gift they gave, and tell them how much you appreciate it.

I don't know an exact timeline, but I found it easier to write notes as I got the gifts. I had all of the thank you's out within a month after the wedding. On the flip side, I recently gave a gift for a wedding, and have yet to receive a note. It's been almost 4 months, and I definitely noticed.

Answer 5

IMO only etiquette nazi's will complain if you don't have Thank You notes sent out asap. If I sent a bride and groom a gift, I would not be counting the days till I received a TY card.

Take your time, your career and your intimate life are more important than a card that people throw away anyway.

Try to average one thank you card a night. More if you have time.

But do not let the stress of "omg I got to get the thank you cards out" interfere with your work schedule.

Answer 6

Contrary to other answers you've gotten, Emily-Post-etiquette says you have one month after returning from your honeymoon to send thank-you notes. Under the circumstances, some people will probably cut you some slack, but a year, or even six months, is WAY too long. Work on them a bit at a time, and mail them as you write them. Your husband should be helping, too. He can write half and you can write half and you'll be done before you know it.

Answer 7

They should be out by the end of september or sooner. Do a few a day and you'll get them done. I'd mail them out all at once though because then people start talking to each other - oh you got a thank you and I didn't... silly but true.

Answer 8

Buy or Print general invites that say a short sweet and simple message, like thank you for sharing our special day with us, your warm wishes and gifts were appreciated. And send those out *(with a wallet sized photo is nice), then just write a little something extra in the ones that deserve a little something extra. Id get them out by the end of September

Answer 9

I just got married too...Congrats...

I married on 07/07/07 and I am still finishing up my thank you's now...It's a lot of work...especially when hubby DOES NOT help mine go something like this

Jim & Jane
Thank you so much for helping Dave and I celebrate our beautiful day. Everything went better than I had planned and the day was gorgeous. We both had so much fun and hope that you did too! Thank you so much for your very generous gift.(or item you received) It will be very helpful in starting our new life and family together!
Love Mr. & Mrs. Powers

Answer 10

Check the website below for answers to both, plus a couple other little things.

Generally, up to 3 months to get them out, but they should be done as soon as you possibly can. You don't want anyone to think you forgot, or don't care enough to be polite.

Write however much is sincere. Or follow the site's suggestion. I think it always sounds cheesy, but it's very similar to the recommended notes for graduation gift thank-you's.