Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Thank you, thank you very much!

The wedding is over and you're back from your honeymoon. Now it's time to sit down and get to work on those thank you cards! Many brides are under the impression that you have 1 year to send out your thank you notes for your wedding. I disagree and so does wedding etiquette professional, Emily Post.


All thank yous should be written within 3 months of the receipt of the gift, and proper stationary should be used. Your thank you notes should be personalized and acknowledge the person and gift. Pre-printed thank you notes with a handwritten signature are not appropriate. Writing a sincere thank you will not only show your appreciation for their attendance at your event and their gift, but your guest will admire the special time you took to personally thank them.


Here are the Top 10 Do's and Don'ts of thank you notes (by Emily Post)
  1. Do personalize your notes and make reference to the person as well as the gift.
  2. Do remember that a gift should be acknowledged with the same courtesy and generous spirit in which it was given.
  3. Do be enthusiastic, but don’t gush. Avoid saying a gift is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen unless you really mean it.
  4. Don’t send form letters or cards with printed messages and just your signature; don’t use email or post a generic thank you on your wedding web site in lieu of a personal note.
  5. Do promptly acknowledge the receipt of shipped gifts by sending a note right away or calling and following up with a written note in a day or two.
  6. Don’t mention that you plan to return a gift or that you are dissatisfied in any way.
  7. Don’t tailor your note to the perceived value of the gift; no one should receive a perfunctory note.
  8. Do refer to the way you will use a gift of money. Mentioning the amount is optional.
  9. Don’t include wedding photos or use photo cards if it will delay sending the note.
  10. Don’t use being late as an excuse not to write. Even if you are still sending notes after your first anniversary, keep writing!

Welcome

With this blog I plan to share my knowledge of the event planning world, whether its style trends, etiquette, or cost saving tips, I will cover it all. I also want to open the lines of communication with other professionals, soon-to-be brides or anyone else interested in what I have to say.

If you have a question about an upcoming event, need some advice or recommendations, please feel free to email me and I will respond to your request with a blog entry, unless you would prefer to have your question addressed privately.

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