How to handle "thank you" for gifts that arrive before wedding

mariakhristine · March 2013

When people who will be attending the wedding have had their gifts sent to us already, how do we handle the thank you note? (I am assuming they will not bring another gift to the wedding.) Do we send a thank you now for the gift, and then another thank you after the wedding? I feel like the gift should be acknowledged now, since we already have it, but I also like using thank-yous as a way of saying "thank you" for coming to the wedding and celebrating with us.

I just don't like the idea of sending the same people multiple thank-yous, but I also feel strange waiting until after the wedding, since I think people like to know that their gift got to us. (We live out of state from most of our wedding guests, which is why this is happening and why we're anticipating that it might happen more--a lot of the gifts are just sent to our address when purchased online.)

Are multiple thank-yous just the way to go?

mlg78 · March 2013

Given that your wedding isn't until August...are you sure it's for your wedding? Not an engagement gift? A shower gift even? That's ridiculously early to be sending a wedding gift. If it is a wedding gift, send them a thank you note and add in a line, "I look forward to seeing you on our wedding day!" Multiple thank yous are unnecessary unless they happen to give another gift for your wedding.

mariakhristine · March 2013

Yeah, it is early, and we have only 2 gifts so far, but they are registry wedding gifts from family members who will be traveling to attend.

And that sounds good--we'll just add the "looking forward to seeing you" language on the thank you. Just wasn't sure whether we'd have to send another after the actual wedding. Thanks!

mlg78 · March 2013

What would you be thanking them for then? Just attending? You should do that in person... A thank you note now so they know you received it is fine.

Avion22 · March 2013

Send the thank-you notes now so they know that you received the gift they sent. Just remember that if, for whatever reason, the wedding doesn't happen, gifts should be returned. So you shouldn't actually USE the gift until AFTER the wedding (unless you have the funds to replace it should the wedding not happen).

[Deleted User] · March 2013

My wedding is next month, and last week we received our first gift in the mail from a couple who will be attending the wedding. I wrote a thank you note immediately to let them know that we received it, and said that we look forward to seeing them at the wedding. After the wedding, I plan on sending a personal letter that says how nice it was to see them, since I thought it might seem odd to get two thank you notes for the same wedding. You might consider something along those lines.