The big day has been and gone. The vows have been read, the presents were opened, and the honeymoon has come to an end. However, there’s still a little more wedding joy to spread — the thank you cards!

Thank you cards are a great way to express your heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for all the love and support you received on your special day. You can use them to thank guests for wedding gifts, for their efforts in wedding planning, or even just for being part of your special day.

In this article, we cover what to write in a wedding thank you card, examples of wedding thank you card wording, and some top tips for writing wedding thank you messages.

What is a wedding thank you card?

Photo © Wonder Wedding Stationery | See their Bridebook profile

A wedding thank you card is a card given by the newlyweds to their wedding guests. They’re usually given a few weeks after the wedding ceremony to thank the guests for attending, for any gifts they may have received, and to thank the wedding party for their support in organising the wedding.

Wedding thank you cards are a small but significant gesture to express gratitude to your close friends and family. They usually take a few hours to write but will leave a lasting impression on your guests. You don’t have to write wedding thank you cards. However, if you have time, they’re a lovely way to round off the big day and the months leading up to it.

Who receives a wedding thank you card?

Photo © foto-fusion | See their Bridebook profile

You should thank anyone who made the effort to attend your wedding. This includes all of the following key players and guests:

Your wedding party members (who played a key role in your wedding)
Your parents
Wedding suppliers
People who bought a gift from your registry
People who gave you money
People who gave you an unfamiliar wedding gift
People who shared in a group wedding gift
People who got you a gift you don’t love or will exchange
People who couldn’t attend but sent a gift
People who travelled to see you
People whom you don’t know well

For more information and specific examples, read our dedicated post on who you should send wedding thank you cards to.

Should I send a card to someone who didn’t attend the wedding?

Photo © Bea & Bloom | See their Bridebook profile

While you don’t have to, it’s polite to still send a wedding card to anyone who:

Couldn’t attend the wedding, but sent a gift
Couldn’t attend the wedding, but gave you money
Couldn’t attend the wedding due to ill health, but would have otherwise
Couldn’t attend the wedding due to a bereavement, but would have otherwise

Sending a wedding card to someone who couldn’t attend the wedding for these reasons is a thoughtful and considerate gesture. It shows your appreciation for their wedding wishes, support, and understanding of their circumstances.

What do you put in a wedding thank you card?

Photo © tamsin richardson | See their Bridebook profile

Wedding thank you cards don’t need to be long or detailed. All that matters is that you write from the heart. We recommend including:

A friendly greeting

Start with a friendly greeting. This can be something simple like:

Dear [Names]
To [Names]

But you could also try something a little more fun and creative:

To our favourite [your relationship to the guest or guests. For example, ‘To our favourite cousins’]
Dear [your surname] wedding survivors

Your choice of greeting sets the tone for your thank you card and can reflect your personality as a couple. So, feel free to be creative or stick to the classics, as long as it feels genuine to you.

A generic thank you message

You should then move on to thanking your guests for attending your wedding and giving you a gift (if they did).

The thank you message can be generic. For example:

Thank you so much for attending our big day
Thank you for making the effort to come to the wedding, and for your thoughtful gift

It’s important to thank guests properly if they give you a gift or money. Just be careful not to accidentally thank someone for a gift if they didn’t give one!

Top tip: As you’re opening your wedding presents, keep a list of who gave you each gift or if a card contained money or vouchers. This way, you can properly thank your guests in your cards.

A specific memory or acknowledgment

The next part of your wedding card should be personalised to the recipient of your card. It could be a special moment you shared on the wedding day, a personalised thank you for the gift they gave you, or even an anecdote from before the wedding.

For example, you could try something like:

It was lovely to have you at the wedding ceremony. Thank you especially for your help when my veil got caught on the chair!
Thank you so much for your generous gift. We’re really looking forward to using the new air fryer now that we’re back from our honeymoon.
I can’t thank you enough for all your support running up to the wedding day. It was a really stressful time and you were an absolute lifesaver.

A simple sign-off

Once you’ve finished the body of your card, you should sign off with a warm closing and your and your new spouse’s name. For example:

Again, thank you so much. Love, [Your names]
We really appreciate your support. Thanks again, [Your names]

Wedding thank you card message structure

What to Write in a Wedding Thank You Card: Structure Guide — Follow this general structure when composing your thank you message

Examples of wedding thank you card wording

Photo © Perfect Day Essentials | See their Bridebook profile

What to write in a thank you card to friends

Dear [Names],

We’re so grateful you came to celebrate our special day with us. We’ve known each other since school, so it wouldn’t have been the same without you. Plus, I can’t believe you travelled all the way from Scotland for us! I hope the drive back wasn’t too tiring.

Again, thank you. We really appreciate it. Love,

[Your names]

What to write in a thank you card to family

To [Names],

Thank you so much for coming to our special day and for bringing the little cousins along. It can’t be easy to look after three kids all day, but it meant the world to us for everyone to be there.

Thank you again for your lovely gift. The towels are beautiful, and we just love the light blue colour.

From,

[Your names]

What to write in a maid of honour’s thank you card

Dear [maid of honour’s name],

You’ve been my rock throughout this process. From the minute I told you I was engaged, you were right by my side and supported all my crazy ideas. Thank you for being the guardian of my special day. Your love and support mean everything to me.

Thank you again. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Love,

[Your name]

What to write in a bridesmaid’s thank you card

Dear [bridesmaid’s name],

You stood by my side as I took the biggest step of my life, and I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for all your help running up to the big day — I honestly couldn’t have done it without you.

With all my love,

[Your name]

What to write in a best man’s thank you card

Dear [best man‘s name],

Thank you for standing by my side on the most important day of my life, and for not telling anyone how much I cried. You’re my best friend, my partner in crime, and I couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you again for the generous gift you left in the wedding card. It’ll go a long way towards the honeymoon, so thank you!

Hoping I can return the favour one day! From,

[Your name]

What to write in a groomsman’s thank you card

Dear [groomsman’s name],

What a night! Thank you so much for ushering the guests to their seats, for keeping my crazy auntie away from my uncle, and for all the free shots! It wouldn’t have been the same without you.

Thanks again for coming. From,

[Your name]

Top tips for writing wedding thank you cards

Photo © Origami Fox | See their Bridebook profile

Handwrite your cards

Handwritten cards have a personal touch that your guests are sure to appreciate. If your handwriting is difficult to read, simply take your time and write neatly.

Be timely

Send out your thank you cards within a few weeks of the wedding to show your appreciation. If you leave it any longer than this, you may struggle to remember specific details of the wedding or who gave you which gifts!

Enlist a helper

Writing thank you cards can take a few hours. However, if you have a helper, like your new spouse, you can get done in half the time.

Make a list

Keep a list of which cards you’ve written and sent and which ones you still need to complete. This will help you stay organised and on top of the task.

Write a great wedding thank you card today

Photo © Polkadot Stationery | See their Bridebook profile

Knowing what to say in wedding thank you cards can be tricky. Plus, with so many people to thank, coming up with a personalised experience for each guest can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry — we’re here to help.

The easiest thing to do when writing a wedding card is to make it easy for yourself. Enlist a helper, personalise one or two lines to the guests’ experience, and keep a list of which cards you’ve sent and which you haven’t.

If you’re a guest looking for wedding card writing tips, check out our post on what to write in a wedding card. It includes top tips and a guide on writing etiquette, along with some great wedding card message examples.