Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?

tthomas32290 · November 2012

Would you consider it rude if you received a thank you card that was printed instead of being hand written? I have horribly embarrassing hand writing and have tried everything to improve it. If I did print them I of course would write a personal thank you to each person, not just print a hundred of the same message. And I would hand sign each one.

[Deleted User] · November 2012

If you're notorious for having awful handwriting I could see why but I always prefer hand written. My childhood friend wrote in baby blue colored pencil scrawl. It took me a few tries to read what he had written but the sentiment was there and I appreciated it.

Winnertag1 · November 2012

I would prefer hand written to be honest. Could your FI write them for you?

But if you were to type out individually written thank you cards it wouldnt be as bad as sending out typed out generic ones.

melb2013 · November 2012

I have terrible handwriting too- it's pretty embarrassing actually. But I always handwrite thank you notes.

kmmssg · November 2012

I will be the odd one out, not the first time. If it was a personal note and you signed it, I really wouldn't care. If it was generic and sent to everyone I would be greatly offended. Just not something I am gonna get my panties in a wad about.

renegade gaucho · November 2012

I wouldn't be offended by a printed thank you note, as long as it was obviously personalized, but if your husband has decent writing, you would probably be better off just having him write the notes.

Maggie0829 · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:af6b1cc4-04ce-4084-aeba-b858dbe9f5ef">Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]I will be the odd one out, not the first time. If it was a personal note and you signed it, I really wouldn't care. If it was generic and sent to everyone I would be greatly offended. Just not something I am gonna get my panties in a wad about.
Posted by kmmssg[/QUOTE]

I am going to have to agree with this.

As long as the note is personalized and thought out then printing them out isn't the complete end of the world.

I did, however, receive a generic thank you picture card from a couple once. It was a picture of them at their wedding with a line underneath saying something to the effect of "thank you for being a part of our special day". I was pissed! Not only did I take time out of my day to attend their wedding H and I also gave them a pretty generous gift. When people take the time to come to your wedding and give you a gift the least you could do is take 5 minutes and write a personal note.

cwaggoner07 · November 2012

I would prefer chicken scratch over a typed note, personally.

OliveOilsMom · November 2012

For our thank you notes, we had a generic "Thank you for sharing our day!" on the inside of the card. But each card got a personalized handwritten note in addition to the generic line. I prefer handwritten. Could you do a combo as well, like we did?

achiduck · November 2012

Unless you have some sort of condition that makes writing painful for you I expect a hand written TY note.

Avion22 · November 2012

I would prefer handwritten over typed. Unless you have a physical condition that prohibits you from hand-writing your notes, then please don't print them out. I have horrible handwriting as well, but was able to mitigate this by doing the following:

- Only write a few notes at a time (like, no more than 5)

- Use a BALL POINT pen (not gel ink or felt tip)

- Write on a good surface, like your kitchen table with a magazine underneath the cards (don't do it while sitting on the sofa)

- Think about what you are going to say before you start writing

- Take your time and don't rush

LiLe422 · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:af6b1cc4-04ce-4084-aeba-b858dbe9f5ef">Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]I will be the odd one out, not the first time. <strong> If it was a personal note and you signed it, I really wouldn't care. If it was generic and sent to everyone I would be greatly offended. </strong> Just not something I am gonna get my panties in a wad about.
Posted by kmmssg[/QUOTE]

I agree.

[Deleted User] · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:af6b1cc4-04ce-4084-aeba-b858dbe9f5ef">Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]I will be the odd one out, not the first time. If it was a personal note and you signed it, I really wouldn't care. If it was generic and sent to everyone I would be greatly offended. Just not something I am gonna get my panties in a wad about.
Posted by kmmssg[/QUOTE]

I would agree with this but also add to make sure it's really personalized. If I got one that was very obviously "Thank you for ____ gift. It made us so happy" I'd still be a little miffed because it would seem like very little effort. But if it was something like "Hey, thanks so much for ____. It reminds me of the time we ___. it was so fun to see you break it down to ___ song on the dance floor. We requested it specially for you as we know it was your favorite in college" I'd be ok with it.

pink34562000 · November 2012

I was in a car accident a few days after my wedding. While trying to recover, I typed all of the thank you notes, but personalized and signed each one. Typing was so much easier for my body during my recovery than writing them.

tthomas32290 · November 2012

Thank you all for your advice! I guess I'm just a little worried that even if I took my time and did the best I could, people would see my bad handwriting and think I just wrote the note vary fast and didnt really care, and they would be offened by that. So I'm sure i'll offend people no matter what way I do it! But that's life, you can't make everyone happy all the time! My mom, who has beautiful handwriting did offer to help me write them (as in she would be writing them while I told her what to write), but I dont think that's an option beacuse it would seem as though I just had my mom write them all for me so I wouldn't have to do it. I think I will write them and just do my best on each card even if it takes me an hour to do each one! Thank you all again!

Jen4948 · November 2012

As long as I can read your handwriting I won't judge you (generic).

I'd handwrite the notes rather than print them. Printing them takes away a note of personalization and adds a note of impersonality. The only excuse for not handwriting them would be if you had a medical condition that prevents you from writing.

tthomas32290 · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:6fc4877d-6c53-434a-969c-51a8707875a3">Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hand-write them. The guest took the time out of their life to go shop, select a gift, pay their hard-earned money for it, wrap it, and attend your wedding. (Which, for some, may involve a day off work without pay). Write a few lines.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

<div>That is exactly why I am worried about my handwriting in the first place. I am so thankful for my guest's and everything they have done for us, that I want to present them with the nicest looking thank you card I can, and I'm worried my handwritting will take away from that. </div>

Summer2011Bride · November 2012

I would go for handwritten over pretty any day. As long as I can read it, I don't care if your handwriting is not gorgeous to look at. It's the idea that you took the time to sit down and personally write out a TY note for me that is important. I really would handwrite them.

MoxieMickie · November 2012

Even if it was personalized, I would assume they had been mail merged and all the notes took 15 minutes total. Even if you mentioned something specifically about me, I would assume that was Column E "Pers Interact'n." But, it would be slightly better than generic typed.

MyNameIsNot · November 2012

I have the penmanship of a drunk toddler. It's atrocious! (And there's a reason I can type 60 wpm). I feel your pain, and seriously considered typing personal messages and signing each one. After I talked to my mom and really thought about it, I came around to her way of thinking that there's just something special about a handwritten thank you note that you can never replicate with something typed.

I wrote all of mine out by hand (and got my H to do his fair share). It takes time, but with a little patience, anyone can block print. True, it's not as pretty as flowing cursive, but at least its hand written. I typed up what I wanted to say for each note first, and then copied each message onto the cards in slow block print. In the end, I was proud of myself for taking the time to "do it right."

shanliann · November 2012

i am right there with you. i feel it is a waste of my time to write the cards and waste the card and postage because NO ONE can ever read my handwriting.

Example: Our cell phones got shut off because i wrote a check to "verizon wireless" and there bank denied if because they didn't think it was made out to verizon.

When getting my new license, i had to re sign my name 17 times for the system to take it.

So what we are doing is we ordered our cards from vistaprint so they come flat. I typed up a personal message for each card, and then we will print them.. then we will sign them and a couple i will add a little hand written note.

but i made sure our notes were very personalized. as in mentioning the gift, what we love about it, or what we used it for, and then a memory of the wedding. (thanks for being the only one to dance to footloose with me!) and then most i also ended with personal notes ( now that we have dishes, we can have you over for dinner one night after bowling, etc!)

i know typed notes aren't the best but id rather you know what im saying!!

kmmssg · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:7d884720-e05c-4ec5-8bfc-ee38b5b76bf6">Re:Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Even if it was personalized</strong>, I would <strong>assume they had been mail merged </strong>and all the notes took 15 minutes total.<strong> Even if you mentioned something specifically about me</strong>, I would assume that was Column E "Pers Interact'n." But, it would be slightly better than generic typed.
Posted by MoxieMickie[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>That is just looking for something to complain about.</div><div>
</div><div>I totally get where everyone is coming from and said up front that I would be the odd one out. I expect to be thanked PERSONALLY for the gift I gave at a wedding or shower. If that is done, I"m not going to look for something to pick apart.</div><div>
</div><div>It is interesting to read everyone's comments. I am preparing for this next Summer when DS graduates HS. He will personalize all of his notes but they will end up coming off the printer. He has Aspergers and the writing of a 1st grader. He has an accomodation in his IEP and uses a notebook furnished by the school for all of his work rather than handwriting everything. Each note will be personalized and specific but they will be from the printer and "signed" using his chicken scratch.
</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

tthomas32290 · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:540508bf-a8ad-438f-a9ad-0edb77a4b192">Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]My handwriting is godawful. I've spent too many years on word processing equipment. You'd think I was illiterate if you saw my penmanship. I hand-write my TY notes, even if I have to write them over and over, and very slowly, to make them legible. The guest deserves it. TY notes don't have to be written, or mailed out, at once. Send them out within two weeks (and allow for mailing time). Divide up the number of notes you must write by the number of available days, and write that many per day. Space them out. Do some during lunch, while you're watching tv, etc. It needn't be a chore. Don't be lazy, unless you're injured, as someone was above, or disabled, and MUST use a typewriter. The guest didn't send you a photo of a gift. Did they?
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div><span style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;" class="Apple-style-span">"Don't be lazy" Are you serious? That is so rude and so offensive. If I were lazy I would just write them and not care how they look. This isn't about being lazy its about me wanting to give my guests a beautiful thank you card because I care about them and I'm so thankful for them. If anything it would take longer (and cost more) to type and print each thank you out one by one.
</span></div>

tthomas32290 · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_printing-thank-you-notes-instead-of-hand-writing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bca1fb98-0852-4959-8fac-bbf011bfc5bePost:3bbab1f8-5ebf-4ab8-bb95-a7f332e2dcf6">Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?</a>:
[QUOTE]Sigh....here we go..... The etiquette rule about hand-writing thank-you notes is because it is PERSONAL. We type (although now it is more typically called "keying") BUSINESS correspondence and informal personal letters, not warm, intimate correspondence, such as thank-you notes or condolence letters. This is exactly why etiquette prohbits labels on wedding invitations. Yes, your handwriting may not be elegant, but it's personal, not manufactured. The guest took time out of their life to go shopping, select a gift, spend the money that they earned working at their job on it, wrap it and attend your wedding or shower. This might involve travel expenses, and perhaps a day off work without pay. They had to make a trip to the post office, stand in line, and pay additional shipping charges if they didn't bring the gift to a wedding or shower. The very least a lazy bride can do is park her behind at her desk and scribble a few lines. Dear Aunt Rose, Bill and I are so grateful for the beautiful silver spoon set you gave us for the wedding. It helps make our house a home, and we enjoyed seeing you at the reception last week. Love, Jill Doesn't take that long. Write slowly, and it will be readable, if not artistic.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

<div>I don't know why you keep referencing time and laziness. I never once said I was trying to save time. Your acting like i'm lazy and ungreatful. I dont care how long it takes me to write them all. I care about my guests and im greatful for everything they have done. I have been a guest at many weddings, and I know that a great deal of time and money goes into attending someones wedding. I understand your point about handwritting being more personal. What I don't understand is your need to be rude and offensive. </div>

SJM7538 · November 2012

Just take your time with them and have your husband help you.

My writing isnt the greatest and gets awful when I write for too long. You don't have to do them all at once. And your husband really should be helping you. it was his wedding to.

MeredithAH · November 2012

When you say your handwritting is bad do you mean all handwritting or just cursive? Perhaps writting in print would be a good compromise.

I would also say write them out as it is far more personal. Unless you have some sort of injury or medical condition, in which case typing is fine.

Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?

Re: Printing thank you notes instead of hand writing?

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