What to write in your wedding thank you cards

Once the ceremony is over, the cake is eaten and your feet have recovered from all of the dancing, it's time to express your gratitude to all of the people who made your day of love so special. Wedding thank you cards are the perfect way to convey your appreciation to friends and family who attended your celebration, offered their support, and generously gifted you. Remember—they took the time to be there for your wedding day, so take the time to thank them properly! Here are our tips and ideas on how to write a heartfelt wedding thank you card, including how to express gratitude for monetary gifts, how to make your cards personal, when to send your thank you cards, who should receive a thank you card and more. 

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Who should receive a wedding thank you card?

All guests who attended your wedding, whether they brought a gift or not, should receive a thank you card. Additionally, anyone who sent a gift, even if they were unable to attend, deserves a special note of appreciation for their thoughtful gesture. You should also send thank you cards to the vendors, suppliers, planners and staff that helped you throw the wedding of the century!

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How should you prepare to write your thank you cards?

Whether your wedding guest list consists of 6 people or 200+, it's important to prepare your thank you notes in advance. It's advisable to create a spreadsheet of your guest list early on complete with contact info so you can note what gifts or support you receive from them accordingly. Include any relevant notes or memories you wish to include in your thank you message, and definitely tag-team writing them with your new spouse to make the process a more-fun/less-stressful process. Regardless of who writes your thank you messages, make sure to include both of your names.

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Should your thank you cards match your wedding invitations?

Long story short—no! While matching your thank you cards to your wedding invitation provides a lovely touch of continuity, it isn't necessary. Opt for a similar color scheme or design elements that reflect your wedding theme, creating a cohesive visual experience for your guests. Evite's wedding collection suites offer coordinating designs for your entire wedding journey!

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How can you make your thank you cards personal?

Aside from actually saying, "Thank you," the most important part of your thank you card is to write something that acknowledges the recipient's personal contribution to your wedding. Consider including specific details that highlight the recipient's connection to you and their thoughtful gift (if relevant). Any anecdotes from the wedding will also be appreciated!

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How do you thank people for monetary gifts?

This is one of the most common questions when it comes to wedding thank you card etiquette. Whether or not to include a note about the exact amount given is debatable (many people encourage this as it confirms that you did receive the money and are verifying the amount) but one thing that isn't is to include a note about what the money will be used for. Giving money as a wedding gift is becoming more popular as many couples prefer experiences (like a honeymoon/traveling) or saving for a future home over a set of china they don't really need. Share what your plans are for their generous monetary gift to help them understand how much it means to you and what benefit you'll enjoy from it.

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When should you send your wedding thank you cards?

Sending your wedding thank you cards promptly is very important. Aim to send them within three months of your wedding day, but ideally as soon as possible after your honeymoon. This is where organizing your gifting list ahead of time pays off and you can ensure each recipient receives a heartfelt message from you and your spouse.

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Wedding thank you card wording examples

For your family

Dear [Name],

Words cannot express how grateful we are for your love and support throughout our wedding journey. From helping with the preparations to being there for us on the big day, your presence made everything more meaningful. And thank you so much for the gorgeous crystal vase—it makes the flowers from our garden look even more beautiful!

With heartfelt appreciation,

[Your Names]

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For your parents

Dear [Name(s)],

The day you’ve watched me dream of since I was 4 has finally happened, and it happened because of your unwavering belief in our happiness and constant encouragement to put love first. Our wedding day was a reflection of the values you have instilled in me, and we are both forever grateful for your unconditional love and guidance. Oh, and we can’t wait to have you over so we can serve you dinner on the beautiful dinnerware you gifted us! Thank you so, so much for being the best parents in the world!

Love,

[Your Names]

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For people who were in your wedding party

Dear [Name],

We want to express our deepest gratitude for taking the time to be a part of our wedding party. Your presence, friendship, understanding, patience and incredible positivity added so much joy and happiness to our special day, and we can’t wait to use the stand mixer you so kindly gifted to us (don’t worry—we’ll invite you over to test our creations!). Thank you for being an amazing bridesmaid and making our wedding journey that much better!

‍With love and appreciation,

[Your Names]

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For people who gave monetary gifts

Dear [Name],

Thank you for celebrating our day of love with us! We are so grateful to you for your generous wedding gift of $100—we've been dreaming of taking a European honeymoon next year, and your wonderful gift will help to get us there. Thank you again for being in our lives, and we can't wait to party again with you soon!

‍With love and sincere gratitude,

[Your Names]

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For people who gave gifts from your registry

Dear [Name],

‍We want to thank you so much for being a part of our wedding day. Your presence there meant the world to us, and we had so much fun celebrating with you! We'd also like to thank you for the wonderful cutting board you so thoughtful gifted to us—we've had our eye on it for ages and we look forward to using it for years to come. We'd love to have you over for a charcuterie and wine night soon!

‍With love and sincere gratitude,

[Your Names]

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For people who couldn’t attend but still sent a gift

Dear [Name],

‍We are truly touched by your kind wedding gift, even though you couldn't be present on our wedding day. Your thoughtfulness and generosity in gifting us a beautiful set of silverware brought us so much joy and we're grateful to have you in our lives. We missed having you at the wedding, but we look forward to seeing you soon and expressing our thanks in person.

‍With sincere gratitude,

[Your Names]

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For people who attended who didn’t send a gift

Dear [Name],

Thank you so much for sharing in our love and joy at our wedding. Your presence at our big day meant the world to us, and we couldn’t imagine you not being there to get everyone onto the dance floor! Can’t wait to see you again soon!

‍With love and appreciation,

[Your Names]

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For people who donated to a cause of your choice as a gift

Dear [Name],

Thank you so very much for being a part of our wedding day! We’re so grateful that you were able to attend, and we also want to thank you for your generous and thoughtful donation to the American Heart Association. As we’ve both lost loved ones to heart disease, it means the world to us to have friends who support this worthy cause. Thank you again, and we can’t wait to see you again soon!

‍With love and gratitude,

[Your Names]

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For your wedding vendors and planners

Dear [Name],

Thank you so much for capturing our wedding and making our special day that much more magical! The photos exceeded everything we hoped for and we couldn’t imagine anyone else bringing our vision to life. Thank you again for everything!

‍All the best,

[Your Names]

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Send thank you eCards with Evite

Don’t want to spend all day trying to keep your handwriting legible, avoiding paper cuts, and standing in line at the post office? Evite offers dozens of affordable, customizable digital thank you eCards to make thanking your guests even easier! You can send them via email or phone number instantly, and they even come with customizable envelopes, liners, stamps, stickers and backgrounds so you can craft a thank you eCard that truly suits you. 

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Agate Swirl Thank You eCard

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Simple Sprig Thank You eCard

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Gold Flora Border Thank You eCard

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Boho Pampas Thank You eCard

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Watercolor Wave Thank You eCard

Spring Floral Thank You eCard

Browse All Thank You eCards

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Need help writing other thank you cards or invitations?

Weddings certainly aren’t the only occasion that call for a thoughtful message of gratitude! Our baby shower thank you card wording guide takes you (baby)step-by-(baby)step through the process. And if you’re just at the start of your wedding journey, our comprehensive wedding invitation wording and formatting guide can help you craft the perfect wedding invitation for your big day!