Thank You Notes 101

 



With graduation season recently passed and many early summer weddings ongoing, not to mention upcoming baby showers quickly approaching, several people are left with the task of writing thank you notes for all of the thoughtful things received. I haven't written very many thank-you notes since after my wedding in 2009. My poor hand had the task of writing thank-yous to over 200 people. But with my upcoming baby showers and my sisters recent graduation- I have had thank you notes on the brain. I stress about things way in advance.

I have a horrible inability to write thank you notes. I can think of all kinds of nice, thankful things to say and then when I go to actually put pen to paper, my mind goes blank. Now that I'm a grown-up, an email or a text just won’t do, and more is expected of you than typing out ‘Thanks a bunch for the present!’ Great Aunt Phyllis might not say anything to you, but trust me: She and her retirement home neighbors will be sighing over how young people today just don’t have manners.

Not that this next tidbit should be the reason you write a thank-you note but I will tell you a secret: They improve the frequency and quality of the gifts you receive. I, like any other person, like being appreciated when I give someone a gift or provide a place for someone to stay while their in town. If people feel that you actually notice the nice things they do for you, they’re more likely to not think twice when the next opportunity to buy something for you rolls around. Do not use this as a way to avoid writing thank-yous to those who have given gifts you don't like. Every gift deserves a thank-you.

So with that, here's what your thank-you note should include:

• Start with a greeting - "Dear Great Aunt Phyllis"
• Begin with the most important part: "Thank you"
• Thanks so much for...
• I'm so grateful you were there...
• Thank you for your hospitality...
• Thank you for your generosity (or kindness)...
• If $$$, you shouldn't say how much it was or "Thanks for the dough"
• Talk about how you're going to use your gift.
• If $$, say "It will be great to help with books for school", or "It will help us have the honeymoon of our dreams
• If it is a household item, talk about how great it looks where you decided to put it or how handy it is in the kitchen.
• Don't lie, or sound over the top - be realistic.
• Don't say, "The color of whatchamacallits are as beautiful as a rainbow in the sky after a light afternoon rain."
• Mention how great it was to see them (if they came to the party or celebration) then allude to the future.
• "It was so nice seeing you at my baby shower, I look forward to seeing you when the baby comes."
• "We felt so blessed that you made the trip to be with us on our wedding day. We can't wait to see you again soon!"
• If they mailed a gift, something like "I missed seeing you at the party but am looking forward to seeing you at so and so's anniversary party"
• Say thanks again.
• Wrap it up.
• Love, Lyndsay
• Try to send your notes out promptly. Its a good rule of thumb to send them out within a month after the event. New moms are given a little longer depending how close to the birth their shower was held.

Now that you are a professional thank-you note writer, go to your local Target or TJ Maxx and stock up on some stylish thank-you cards and get started! Happy writing!

All My Love,

Lyndsay