My bridal shower was this past weekend, and I am not sure if I should send a thank you note to one of my FI's relatives.
She is an 84 year old great aunt who was not technically invited to the shower. I had never met her, and FI wasn't going to be there. The shower was an hour and half from where she lives and she doesn't drive as well. Given all of that, I thought it would be in poor taste to invite her to a gift giving event.
However, she heard about the shower from FI's aunt and wanted to come so she could meet me. FI's aunt RSVP'd for the great aunt with my sister and friend (who were hosting) and was the one who actually brought her to the shower and introduced her to me. The great aunt did not bring a gift or card, and was not penciled in on another family member's gifts or cards.
I know that people who don't bring a gift to the wedding do not get a thank you note because the reception is the thank you for coming to the wedding. But what is the proper thing to do in this case? I want to thank her for coming all that way just so she could meet me before the wedding, but certainly don't want to imply anything bad which I have seen can be the case when a thank you is sent and no gift was given.