Thank you notes are hard

Night_Sprite

So I just finished thank you notes from my bridal shower.  It is really an intensive process.  I cannot imagine how to do this for the wedding.  Is there a way to streamline the thank you note process while still writing them out and making them feel personal?

RachNRich

I've not had to write TY's yet---but I have a feeling they will go something like this:

"Thanks for coming to Vegas to see us get hitched!! I don't remember what happened, but I'm sure it was great to have you there!

thesuninherhead

I think the best way to established a streamlined process is to remind yourself that the vast majority of people are not going to be reading any thank you notes other than their own, thus duplication of some of the structure isn't going to come up on their radar. 

Mine followed a pattern something like,

"Dear Person, here's a sentence about how happy we were to celebrate our wedding day with you, here's a sentence about your gift and why we love it, and here's a sentence about how we're looking forward to seeing you soon, Love Us."

 

lauralaur

I just had to sit down and write a few every. night. Get em out the door a little bit at a time. A lot of people gave us cash, which is awesome, but it made for some pretty redundant thank you notes. I did manage to get some pretty good ones out for other gifts we received though.

Catwoman708

Hard in what way?  As in getting organized, the actual writing, pr composing each individual note?

If you have your guest list with addresses, a list of what each guest gave you, and all your writing supplies, then you are pretty much ready to start.  Just check off each one as you complete them, or make a list of notes sent before you mail them out.

Make a simple "form letter" or template for reference, something like this...

"Dear________,

[OPENING]:
(A)  We were so glad you could make it to the wedding/shower.  I/We had such a wonderful time, and it was great to see you.  We are getting so excited and looking forward to the wedding/starting our married life together. 
(B)  It was so nice of you to send a present, it's always great to hear from you.
 
[BODY/THANKS]:
(a)  Thank you so much for the ____________.  We have been wanting one, and look forward to using it/will think of you every time we use it. 
(b)  Thank you so much for the generous check/cash gift/gift card.  It will come in so handy as we set up and furnish our home (or will make a nice addition to our  nest egg/down payment on a home...).
(c)  Thank you so much for the thoughtful and unique gift, we look forward to using it/have just the right spot for it.

[ENDING]:
Everyone's well wishes have meant so much to us, and have helped make our wedding special.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

Bride and Groom"

It's always a nice to add a little personal touch for those you are especially close to, or for those who might have done something extra special for you.  Or simply mention how they picked something in your favorite colors or style, or how how Aunt Helen alwasy makes the most beautiful crocheted afghans, or how your BFF always picks just the right present, or how eccentric Uncle Henry always finds the most unusual and unique one-of-a-kind presents.

If you know in advance what you want to say, then it only takes maybe 5 minutes per note.  They don't have to be especially long, but the more sincere and personal the note, the more special it is to the recipient. 

You can always break it down into writing notes for 30 minutes or an hour, or just get them all done at once - if your hands will tolerate that much writing at once.

Night_Sprite

Sun, that is exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks

P.S.  Cat woman, you are hella thorough.  

sucrets4

That's what she said?

thesuninherhead

I believe cat woman and I are essentially saying the same thing. She's just saying hers in about twenty thousand words more.

 

That's ok, though. I think you could use hers and set up an automatic program where you select the number relating to the response you want for each section and hey presto, here is your thankyou card!

 

(Sadly, this is actually very similar to how our state is forcing teachers to do report cards as of this year. They give them a list of responses in different categories and they have to select one for each section, type the number responding to this into the reporting system, and out pops a completely un-personalised report card).

Night_Sprite

I think that is a much more atrocious practice than a semi-canned thank you note.