Expressing Gratitude: The Art Of Thank You Notes In Jewish Wedding Traditions

A Jewish wedding program should include a welcome from the couple, the wedding date and location, the order of events with short explanations, the signing of the Ketubah, the Kiddush and the First Cup of Wine, the Seven Blessings (Sheva Brachot), the breaking of the glass, the wedding party list, and a thank you from the couple. The thank you note can be a simple, general message to all guests or more specific to those who have travelled far to attend. It is customary to include a thank you to friends and family for joining and celebrating the union, and for their love and support. It is also common to thank parents for their unconditional love, guidance and support, and to thank the wedding party for their contribution to the day.

Thanking friends and family

To our beloved family and friends, we are so grateful to have you here to celebrate this special day with us. We are thrilled and honoured to be surrounded by so many loved ones as we begin this new chapter of our lives. We feel blessed to have you here and are especially thankful to those who have travelled far to be with us. Your presence has added so much love and joy to our wedding day and we are deeply appreciative.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our parents, who have supported and loved us unconditionally throughout our lives. Your example of faith, hope, love and respect will forever guide us in the way we love and care for one another. We are forever grateful for your unwavering support and the values you have instilled in us.

To our wedding party, thank you for being such an integral part of this day and our lives. We are so thankful to have you by our side as we take this journey together. We would also like to thank our amazing siblings, who are not only family but our best friends. You have made our lives so much brighter and we are excited to continue making memories together.

Lastly, we would like to thank all of our guests. Your presence here today is an honour and a joy, and we are so glad to have you here to share in our happiness. We hope that you will continue to be a part of our lives as we begin our new life together.

With love and gratitude,

[Names]

Thanking the wedding party

It is customary for the happy couple to thank their wedding party, often with a gift and a note. This is a special way to express gratitude to those who have supported and celebrated with you and played an essential role in your wedding. Here is some guidance on how to thank your wedding party effectively and sincerely.

For the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

Write personalised notes to each member of your bridal party, thanking them for their unique contribution to your wedding day and their presence in your life. You could mention inside jokes, shared experiences, or specific tasks they undertook to support you. For example, "Thank you for being my bridesmaid and for calming my nerves with your humour and kindness. I am so grateful for your speech that had everyone laughing and for your thoughtful presence throughout." It is essential to make each bridesmaid and groomsman feel seen and valued.

For the Maid of Honour and Best Man

These members of your wedding party played an even more significant role, so a thoughtful gift and heartfelt note are in order. Express your appreciation for their dedication, love, and support. You might write, "To my Maid of Honour, I am so thankful for your unwavering support and the countless hours you dedicated to making my vision a reality. Your presence by my side filled me with joy and confidence. Thank you for being my rock and my voice of reason throughout the entire process."

For the Parents

Writing a thank-you note to your parents or in-laws is a heartfelt way to express your gratitude for their love and support. You can acknowledge their contribution to the wedding, your appreciation for their presence in your life, and your love for their child. "Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your endless love and guidance. Our wedding day was made possible by your generosity and support. We are forever grateful."

For Out-of-Town Guests

It is a lovely gesture to thank guests who have travelled to celebrate with you. "It meant so much to us that you travelled from across the country to be here. We hope you enjoyed the celebration and created wonderful memories."

Remember, personalise each note to make your wedding party feel appreciated and valued.

Thanking those who couldn't attend

We are so grateful for the thoughtful gift you sent. We have started referring to our bathroom as "the spa"—that's how luxurious the super-soft bath towels you gave us are! We are touched that you thought of us and our new life together.

We missed you at the wedding and hope to celebrate with you in person soon. We will be sure to send you some photos from the day so that you can see how everything came together and feel as though you were a part of it. We know that you would have been there if you could, and we are already looking forward to the next time we get to spend time together.

Thank you for your love and support, and for being there for us in spirit. We hope that you are keeping well and that life is treating you kindly. We are so fortunate to have you in our lives and can't wait to share more special moments with you in the future.

With love and gratitude,

[Names]

Thanking guests you don't know well

Thanking guests who are not well-known to the couple can be done in a few ways. Here are some suggestions for what to include in a wedding program or thank-you note:

Expressing Gratitude for Their Presence

Thank your guests for joining you on your special day and mention how their presence contributed to the joy and happiness of the occasion. Here are some examples:

• "We would like to thank our friends and family for sharing in our joy and happiness on this day."
• "Thank you for being here with us today. Many of you have travelled a long way, and we appreciate your time and effort."
• "Your presence here today is an honour and a joy in our lives."
• "Thank you for celebrating our union with us. Your presence makes this a joyous occasion."

Recognising Their Role in Your Lives

Acknowledge the impact that your guests have had on your lives, even if you don't know them well. This can be done by thanking them for their love, support, and friendship over the years. Here's an example:

"You have all played a very special role in our lives, and each of you has touched our lives in a significant way, shaping us as individuals."

Looking Forward to Future Connections

Express your wish to remain connected with your guests in the future. For example:

• "Our special wish is that each of you will continue to be a part of our lives."
• "We feel extremely fortunate to be surrounded by so many of our loved ones and look forward to sharing more memories together."

Mentioning the Gift

If you are writing a thank-you note for a gift, be sure to mention the specific item and how you intend to use it. For example:

"Thank you for the absolutely beautiful crystal vase. It's perfect for our entryway, and I will nudge [spouse's name] to keep it filled with flowers."

Including a Personal Touch

Add a personal touch by mentioning how your dad or another close relative has spoken fondly of them over the years. Here's an example:

"My dad has spoken so fondly of you over the years, and we look forward to seeing you at the wedding."

Remember, it's important to personalise your message and adapt it to your relationship with the guest.

Thanking the couple

Dear [Guest Name],

Thank you for being here to celebrate our union. It is a blessing to have you with us today and in our lives every day. We are so grateful for your presence and for joining us as we begin our new life together. We feel extremely fortunate to be surrounded by so many of our loved ones, and we are especially thankful to those of you who travelled long distances to be here. Your presence at our wedding has added so much love to our special day, and we are honoured to share this day with you.

With love,

[Couple's Names]

Dear [Guest Name],

Thank you for celebrating with us and for being a part of our special day. We are so grateful for your presence and support, and we feel truly blessed to have you here as we begin our new life together. We are especially thankful to those of you who travelled far to be here, and we are touched by the effort you made to celebrate with us. Your presence has added so much joy to our wedding, and we are honoured to share this day with you.

With love and gratitude,

[Couple's Names]

Dear [Guest Name],

Thank you for joining us at our wedding and for celebrating this happy time in our lives. We are so grateful for your presence and support, and we feel truly blessed to have you here as we begin our new lives together. We are especially thankful to those of you who travelled long distances to be here, and we are touched by the effort you made to be with us. Your presence has added so much love and joy to our special day, and we are honoured to share this celebration with you.

With love and thanks,

[Couple's Names]

Dear [Guest Name],

Thank you for being here to celebrate our union and for joining us as we begin our new life together. We feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones, and we are especially grateful to those of you who travelled far to be here. Your presence at our wedding has added so much love and joy to our special day, and we are honoured to share this celebration with you. Thank you for your love, support and friendship over the years.

With love and gratitude,

[Couple's Names]

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