When To Send Wedding Thank-You Notes: A Guide

how long after wedding reception thank you notes

Thank you notes for wedding gifts should be sent within a couple of weeks of receiving them. For gifts received on your wedding day, thank you notes should be sent within three months after you return from your honeymoon.

Characteristics Values
Wedding shower Thank you notes should be sent within 1-2 weeks
Wedding Thank you notes should be sent within 2 weeks or within a few months
Pre-wedding Thank you notes should be sent within 2 weeks
Post-honeymoon Thank you notes should be sent within 3 months

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Two weeks after the wedding

It's important to send out thank you notes as soon as possible after the wedding, as it's a sign of good manners and etiquette. If you can't send out thank you notes to everyone within two weeks, it's a good idea to call the gift giver so they know you received their gift, and then send them a handwritten note after your honeymoon.

It's also a good idea to send out thank you notes as you receive gifts, rather than waiting until two weeks after the wedding. This will ensure every guest is thanked in a timely manner and free up more room in your schedule to enjoy that just-married bliss.

If a guest buys you something for your wedding shower and then gifts you cash (or another item off of your registry) at the wedding itself, you may end up writing them two thank-you notes. For this reason, many couples choose to write notes centered around two primary gifting occasions—after the wedding shower and after the wedding—to make certain they have all their bases covered.

It's important to remember that thank you notes should be sent within 3 months after getting home from your honeymoon for gifts received on your wedding day. Any that were sent to you before your wedding, you only have a two-week window to send out those out.

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Three months after the honeymoon

Thank you cards should be sent within 3 months after getting home from your honeymoon for gifts received on your wedding day. If you receive gifts before your wedding, you have a two-week window to send out those thank you notes. If you can’t get to all the pre-wedding thank you cards, take a minute to call the gift giver so they know you received their gift, and then send them a handwritten note after your honeymoon.

Thank you notes are a great way to show your gratitude to your guests and to keep the memories of your wedding alive. It's important to send them in a timely manner, as it shows that you appreciate the gesture and the thought that went into the gift. If you're feeling overwhelmed, try to break it down into smaller tasks and set aside a few minutes each day to write thank you notes.

When writing your thank you notes, be sure to include a personal message for each guest. You can also include a photo of the two of you to add a personal touch. If you're sending a thank you note for a gift that you received at your wedding, be sure to mention the specific gift that you received.

If you're having trouble coming up with the right words to say, try to remember the specific details of the gift that you received. Think about how it will be used or how it made you feel. You can also include a personal anecdote or a funny story related to the gift. Remember to keep your thank you notes short and sweet, and to focus on the positive aspects of the gift.

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Within a few months of the wedding

Thank you cards should be sent within 3 months after getting home from your honeymoon for gifts received on your wedding day. Any that were sent to you before your wedding, you only have a two-week window to send out those out. You want to make sure they know you received your gift. Plus, it’s just good manners. If for some reason you can’t get to all the pre-wedding thank you cards, take a minute to call the gift giver so they know you received their gift, and then send them a handwritten note after your honeymoon.

By expanding your wedding thank-you card time frame and sending out thank-you cards as you receive gifts (within two weeks of getting it, to be exact), you'll ensure every guest is thanked in a timely manner and free up more room in your schedule to enjoy that just-married bliss. One caveat to keep in mind: If a guest buys you something for your wedding shower and then gifts you cash (or another item off of your registry) at the wedding itself, you may end up writing them two thank-you notes. For this reason, many couples choose to write notes centered around two primary gifting occasions—after the wedding shower and after the wedding—to make certain they have all their bases covered.

Please don't wait a year for thank you notes. That is seriously rude. You can spare 5 minutes a day to write thank you notes - it should never take you a whole freaking year. If you'll have your pro pics back (and I'm assuming you mean engagement pics at this point), then I think it's ok to wait 2 weeks to send them. If you mean 2 weeks after the wedding, then I think you shouldn't wait and go ahead and send them now. I was planning on sending mine out asap (My shower was April 6th), but FH's grandfather passed away 3 days later and we had been dealing with the wake/funeral/etc.

I sent out my wedding shower thank-yous on Saturday, exactly two weeks after my shower. ... I had my first shower on Saturday and wrote them all last night while watching tv! I know there will be a ton going on so wanted to get them finished as soon as possible. Going to address them tonight to go out tomorrow :0). For a shower you get a week - 2 weeks max for thank you notes. For a wedding you have a few months of leniency. Argh, one of my pet peeves: To the anonymous person who said you have a year to write thank you notes.

How long after the wedding do you expect a thank you, if you expect it at all? ... I've always gotten thank you notes from wedding gifts within a couple of weeks after the wedding, and I've always been really impressed by how quickly couples have gotten them out, which has been really nice.

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Two weeks after the wedding shower

Bridal shower planning can usually fall on the bride’s mom, sister, best friend, the bridal party collectively, or a mother-in-law… or all of the above. The timing of the wedding shower depends on logistics, but generally, a bridal shower is held anywhere from two weeks to two months before the wedding. Corralling a bridal party isn’t always an easy task, so send your bridal shower invitations six to eight weeks prior to the event to give everyone time to sort out any travel details.

Throwing a bridal shower less than a month before the wedding day also isn't ideal for a few reasons. One, you'll be so busy with last-minute wedding arrangements that you won't have time to write out a couple dozen bridal shower thank-you cards. Two, even low-key bridal showers can be overwhelming for a bride, when the women you love most from all parts of your life are gathered in one room, eager to watch you open presents. It's better for your psyche to leave some space between draining (albeit wonderful) events when all eyes are on you. Three, guests who are giving you bridal shower gifts and wedding presents could use more than a couple weeks' time to recover from spending money on you.

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Don't wait a year for thank you notes

Thank you notes should be sent within a few months after the wedding for gifts received on the wedding day. However, thank you notes for gifts received before the wedding should be sent within two weeks of receiving them.

It is considered rude to wait a year for thank you notes. Couples who receive gifts at their wedding shower may also want to send thank you notes for those gifts after the wedding shower and after the wedding.

It is important to send thank you notes in a timely manner to impress your guests and to free up more room in your schedule to enjoy your newlywed bliss.

If you are unable to send thank you notes to all your guests, it is still a good idea to call the gift giver and let them know you received their gift. You can then send them a handwritten note after your honeymoon.

Remember, thank you notes are a matter of good manners and a great way to show your appreciation for your guests' generosity.

Frequently asked questions

Thank you notes should be sent within 3 months after the wedding day.

In that case, you have a two-week window to send out thank you notes.

Yes, it is considered rude to wait a year for thank you notes.

For wedding shower gifts, you have a one- to two-week window to send out thank you notes.

Yes, thank you notes are still expected at weddings, and it is impressive when couples send them out quickly.

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