The Perfect Timing: When To Send Wedding Shower Thank-You Notes

Thank-you cards for wedding gifts are a must, but it's also important to send gratitude notes for additional presents received, too. Loved ones will start to lavish you with presents from the moment you get engaged and throughout milestone pre-wedding events like showers, which means you'll need to thank them in a timely (and appropriate) manner every time you unwrap a package. Guests will be tickled to receive your sweet note anytime, however, it's recommended to send wedding thank-you cards within two weeks of receiving a gift if it arrives before your wedding. Then, for all gifts received after, aim to send thank-yous within three months of your wedding date to express your gratitude in a respectful, timely manner.

Two weeks after receiving a gift at the wedding shower

It is important to send thank-you cards for all gifts received throughout the wedding planning process. Loved ones will start to gift the couple from the moment they get engaged and continue throughout milestone pre-wedding events like showers. Every gift should be individually acknowledged with a thank-you card.

Thank-you cards should be sent as soon as possible after receiving a gift. This ensures that every guest is thanked in a timely manner and frees up more time to enjoy the newlywed bliss. However, it is important to note that guests technically have up to a year after the wedding day to give a gift, so thank-you cards may be sent outside of the two-week window.

In addition to sending thank-you cards, it is also customary to send thank-you notes for additional presents received, such as honeymoon funds or registry items. These notes should be sent within two weeks of receiving the gift to express gratitude in a timely manner.

It is recommended to write thank-you notes centered around two primary gifting occasions—after the wedding shower and after the wedding—to ensure all guests are thanked in a timely manner. This is especially important 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.

Three months after the wedding

However, it is also important to send thank-you notes for gifts received before the wedding within two weeks of receiving the gift. This is to ensure that every guest is thanked in a timely manner.

It is also recommended to send thank-you notes for gifts received after the wedding shower within three months of the wedding date. This is to ensure that every guest is thanked in a timely manner and to express your gratitude in a respectful and timely manner.

It is also important to note that every guest should receive a thank-you card, even if they don't give a wedding gift. For the rare giftless guest, simply thank them for their presence at your celebration.

It is also recommended to send thank-you notes for gifts received after the wedding as you receive them, within two weeks of getting the gift. This is to ensure that every guest is thanked in a timely manner and to free up more room in your schedule to enjoy that just-married bliss.

One year after the wedding

Thank-you cards for wedding gifts are a must, but it's also important to send gratitude notes for additional presents received, too. Loved ones will start to lavish you with presents from the moment you get engaged and throughout milestone pre-wedding events like showers, which means you'll need to thank them in a timely (and appropriate) manner every time you unwrap a package.

Guests will be tickled to receive your sweet note anytime, however, it's recommended to send wedding thank-you cards within two weeks of receiving a gift if it arrives before your wedding. Then, for all gifts received after, aim to send thank-yous within three months of your wedding date to express your gratitude in a respectful, timely manner.

Every guest who attends your big day gets a wedding thank-you note, even if they don't give a wedding gift. For the rare giftless guest, simply thank them for their presence at your celebration. Keep in mind that buying a wedding present is highly encouraged—whether it's a registry item, a monetary gift, a honeymoon fund donation or something else—but it's not mandatory. And guests technically have up to a year after your wedding day to give a gift, so your present might arrive later than expected.

Regardless of the gift status, though, every guest should receive a thank-you card. 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.

After every wedding event

Thank-you cards for wedding gifts are a must, but it's also important to send gratitude notes for additional presents received, too. Loved ones will start to lavish you with presents from the moment you get engaged and throughout milestone pre-wedding events like showers, which means you'll need to thank them in a timely (and appropriate) manner every time you unwrap a package.

Guests will be tickled to receive your sweet note anytime, however, it's recommended to send wedding thank-you cards within two weeks of receiving a gift if it arrives before your wedding. Then, for all gifts received after, aim to send thank-yous within three months of your wedding date to express your gratitude in a respectful, timely manner.

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.

Every guest who attends your big day gets a wedding thank-you note, even if they don't give a wedding gift. For the rare giftless guest, simply thank them for their presence at your celebration. Keep in mind that buying a wedding present is highly encouraged—whether it's a registry item, a monetary gift, a honeymoon fund donation or something else—but it's not mandatory. And guests technically have up to a year after your wedding day to give a gift, so your present might arrive later than expected. Regardless of the gift status, though, every guest should receive a thank-you card.

You need thank you cards, stamps, a pen, and addresses. Choose cards that are styled to your wedding's theme or choose just a generic Thank You card. Did you send them out ASAP or did you let a few weeks go by before putting your pen to paper?

As you receive gifts

Thank-you cards for wedding gifts are a must, but it's also important to send gratitude notes for additional presents received, too. Loved ones will start to lavish you with presents from the moment you get engaged and throughout milestone pre-wedding events like showers, which means you'll need to thank them in a timely (and appropriate) manner every time you unwrap a package.

Guests will be tickled to receive your sweet note anytime, however, it's recommended to send wedding thank-you cards within two weeks of receiving a gift if it arrives before your wedding. Then, for all gifts received after, aim to send thank-yous within three months of your wedding date to express your gratitude in a respectful, timely manner.

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.

Every guest who attends your big day gets a wedding thank-you note, even if they don't give a wedding gift. For the rare giftless guest, simply thank them for their presence at your celebration. Keep in mind that buying a wedding present is highly encouraged—whether it's a registry item, a monetary gift, a honeymoon fund donation or something else—but it's not mandatory. And guests technically have up to a year after your wedding day to give a gift, so your present might arrive later than expected. Regardless of the gift status, though, every guest should receive a thank-you card.

Frequently asked questions