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Thank You Notes that Leave an Impression from Of Note Stationers

• Conscious Living
• Wedding Inspiration

Written by Of Note Stationers // Photography by Paul Rutherford

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it” – William Arthur Ward

At Of Note Stationers we believe wholeheartedly in the power of the written word and think that there is no better time to express your gratitude to your loved ones then after such an exciting and important event as your wedding.

And yet, actually sitting down and writing the notes can be a daunting task. We’ve put together a little guide in order to help ease your thank you note writing process.

PREPARING TO WRITE

-Clear space and time to sit down and write. And when we say write we mean put pen to paper the old fashion way. This is the most personal and will be much appreciated.

-Split the list of whom you are thanking into manageable groups. We recommend writing 10 at a time so that you can give each note the attention it deserves. More than 10 may start to feel like a chore, as opposed to moments of connection, so be sure to take a break when the task gets tiring.  

-Write a draft on scrap paper. It is hard to get it right on the first try. And even if you do, while writing you may realize how the note could have been even better, so why not write a draft to guarantee you say what you want to say.

-If you don’t already have one, consider buying a return address stamp. This will make the envelope addressing that much easier and smoother.

WHAT TO SAY

Thank them for attending

Share something unique to the person or couple to whom you are writing

Thank them for the gift or donation

• Be specific, mention the gift and thank them for the thought behind it (your connection to the charity).
• Be passionate but sincere: talk about why you believe in this charity and how you feel donations will help impact the future of the organization.
• Tell them they’re making a big difference in the ______ (fill in the blank with words about the organization).

Here are a few examples:

Dear Liz and Victor,

Thank you so very much for joining us on our special day. It would absolutely not have been the same without you. We had so much dancing the night away and look forward to the next opportunity to dance and laugh in your company.

Thank you also for your generous donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. Throughout the years, Chris and I have both volunteered at the BGCB and truly believe that by offering a range of after-school programs, they are making a huge difference in the lives of children living in underserved communities. We look forward to seeing the organization grow as we continue our involvement. We hope you know that your contribution will be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Isabel and Chris

________________________________________________________________________

Dear Josh and Nicole,

Thank you so very much for joining us on our special day. It was such a pleasure to get to see you both after so many years now living in different cities. Hopefully we will get to see you sooner rather than later this time around.

Thank you also for your generous donation to Doctors Without Borders. We deeply believe in the work they do in general, but feel particularly motivated to support their work in Syria. This donation will help support the hundreds of thousands of people living in besieged areas inside the country. We can’t thank you enough for helping us bring necessary medical care to those in need.

With love and gratitude,

Russell and Kate

________________________________________________________________________

Dear Brandon and Katelyn,

Thank you so much for your donation to WITNESS. Your donation will allow brave individuals around the world — who use video to document human rights violations– receive training to use video safely, ethically, and effectively to fight for human rights change. By supporting WITNESS you are leading the way to greater accountability and sustainable human rights change. We are deeply grateful.

Although we missed you at the wedding, we are so glad we will be having dinner together soon! Very much looking forward to it and hearing about your trip East. Hope it was wonderful.

Until then,

Olivia and Eli

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

It’s not always easy to attend weddings, so be sure to thank your wedding guests who attended the event but weren’t able to send or bring a gift. Their presence at your wedding was a gift in and of itself and it should be acknowledged.

TIMELINE

It is customary to send Thank You notes out two weeks after receiving a gift before the wedding and within two months after the wedding.

We hope that this guide helps you express your gratitude. Remember take it one note at a time. If you are in need of Thank You Notes, check out our shop. Happy letter writing!

-Isabel and Kate