Q: I’m excited about all the upcoming festivities surrounding my wedding but a little nervous about all the thank you cards that have to be sent out after. Can you give me a general time frame of what’s acceptable.
A: It’s a great idea that you are putting some thought into this ahead of time. Depending on the number of events surrounding your wedding, and the amount of guests you’re having, writing out thank you cards can become time consuming but they are thoughtful and expected. Here is a general rule of thumb you may want to follow:
-For pre-wedding events such as bridal showers, send thank you cards no later than 3 weeks after.
-For wedding gifts, some say that 3 months is the appropriate measure. I’ve also heard that up to a year is acceptable. I personally think a year is not acceptable. Would you want someone to thank you for a gift a year after you’ve given it? Probably not. I think anywhere from 4-6 months is appropriate due to the fact that many people wait on the proofs from their photographer. Also adding to the factor that some couples are in the process of moving after the wedding makes sending thank you cards right away a little difficult.
-If you receive gifts after the wedding from people who were not able to attend, follow up immediately and send a thank you card within 3 weeks.
I know it seems like a lot, but organization is the best way to keep up with everything coming in and thank you cards going out. There is a gift tracker that can be downloaded off of microsoft that will allow you to do this. I would suggest printing a couple of them and dividing them into three sets: pre-wedding, wedding, and post wedding. Have fun and enjoy those gifts!
| Vanessa |