Wedding Thank-You Messages: What to Write in a Wedding Thank-You Note

While weddings themselves might not be the traditional affairs they once were, wedding thank-you notes are timelessly thoughtful, classy, and just as meaningful as ever. At a bare minimum, a wedding thank you acknowledges that you received a gift or kindness, and reflects the time and thought that went into giving it with some corresponding effort of its own. That all by itself is important.

But at their best, wedding thank-you notes can remind a friend or loved one how much they mean to you and thank them, not only for adding to your big day, but for being part of your life. And that’s more than important—it’s essential. It’s taking good care of the people who mean the most.

A good general plan for a wedding gift thank you is to 1) acknowledge the gift, 2) elaborate on why you like it or how you’ll use it, 3) compliment the giver and make a personal connection, and 4) say thanks again. Like so:

Example #1

Dear Dave and Joanne,
Thank you so much for the terrific cutlery set you gave us for our wedding! It’s already coming in handy with meal prep, and the knife block looks sharp on our kitchen counter. We’re touched by your thoughtfulness, and thrilled that you were able to make it to the wedding, too. Having you there to share our special day with us meant so much to us. Thank you again!
Warmly,
Heather and Ethan

Example #2

Dear Jim and Alice,
Thank you so much for the towels. Now we no longer have to drip dry. It was very kind of you to buy us a present. We’ll think of you every time we’re in the bathroom! (Okay, maybe not every time.)
Gratefully,
Joe and Tina

The main difference here is calling out the shower as the occasion for the gift. If you can possibly manage it, get your shower thank-you notes written before the wedding. Your future married self will thank you!

Example #1

Dear Gabi,
Just writing to tell you how much I appreciate your fabulous shower gift! I was so excited when I opened the essential oils and diffuser—and the way you pulled it all together in the gift basket was so creative! You’re amazing.
It was great catching up with you at the shower. Thanks for being there and making it so special!
Gratefully,
Elena

Example #2

Hi, Ella and Tom!
Thank you for chipping in on the group gift for our couples shower! We can hardly wait to try out the new lawnmower. You guys are great friends!
Warmest thanks,
Meg and Terrence

With an open-ended gift like this, it’s a nice touch to mention your general plans for it, but not absolutely necessary. Rather than stating the specific amount of money given, you can just refer to the generous gift or gift card.

Example #1

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee,
Trey and I are so grateful for the generous hardware store gift card. We’re moving into a bit of a fixer-upper, and this will help us so much. It means a lot to know you’re thinking of us and wishing us well as we start out together. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness!
Sincerely,
Annabelle Daniels

Example #2

Dear Aunt Mary,
Thanks so much for the very thoughtful wedding gift. Couples can always use a little help getting started on their new life together, and we’re no exception.  Your caring means a lot to us. And so do you.
Love,
John and Katie

Sometimes a guest’s presence is the wedding present, and that’s worth a thank you, especially when they’ve traveled or made a special effort to be there for you.

Example #1

Dear Caroline,
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for going out of your way to be at our wedding. It meant so much to look out and see your smiling face in the pews, and to have a chance to talk and catch up at the reception. We can’t tell you how much we appreciate it. Our big day was even more unforgettable because you were there to celebrate it with us.
Lots of love,
Chris and Jill

Example #2

Dear Hannah,
Wow! Our wedding day went by way too fast. It was so fun to celebrate with all of our friends and family. We hope you had fun and we want you to know how grateful we are that you were a part of this day that was so important to us.
Fondly,
Kate and Taylor

Taking part in a wedding can mean a big investment of time, energy, and support. That’s why bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, attendants, and other helpers deserve a warm thank-you note.

Example #1

Dear Janae,
Having you in our wedding means so much to us.  Your smiles, your words, your hugs—they all made our magical day even better. We loved having you there to share in the celebration. Everything about the wedding was better because of you. Thanks for being an important part of our special day, and the best maid of honor ever!
Love always,
Michelle

Example #2

Dear Cody,
What a great wedding day we had! But it wouldn’t have been complete without you—our usher extraordinaire! Thank you for all the big and small ways you helped out, and for all the laughter and energy you shared. You’ll always be an especially fun part of our wedding memories.
Love,
Cathy and Brian

These wedding thank-notes might go to friends or family who helped manage the little glitches and big moments of the day, or to the photographer, stylist, or other wedding pro went above and beyond for you.

Example #1

Dear Pete,
Thank you for all your help at the wedding! We loved having you there standing by us and sharing in the celebration. (And your last-minute pep talk to our ring bearer really saved the day!)
Joel and I are really lucky to you in our lives, and happy we can both call you family now. Thanks for being an unforgettable part of our day.
Lots of love,
Anne

Example #2

Dear Miss Kelly,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your expertise in planning and pulling our wedding day together! It went absolutely beautifully, down to the littlest details. It was a dream-come-true day for Zach and me, and I know it wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Thank you for going above and beyond for us!
Sincerely,
Teresa Gray

“Thanks, Mom/Dad.” You’ve probably said it to them in person already, but for an occasion this special, it’s worth putting in writing, too.

Example #1:

Dear Mom and Dad,
I can’t fully express what your support, encouragement, and advice has meant to me these past few months! It was such a comfort to know that no matter what happened, you two were always there for us.

Our wedding was a day that Marco and I will never forget, and a big part of that was having you by our sides: walking down the aisle, toasting with us, celebrating with us. Sure, a wedding is about two people who love each other, but it’s also about everyone who loves those two people. We are two lucky people to have parents like you with us on this ride called life.
Thanks again, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything!
Love always,
Yolanda

Getting bored with the phrase “thank you”? Here are some other ways to say it:

• “We really appreciate…”;
• “[Brett] and I are so grateful for…”;
• “Your wedding gift means so much to us”;
• “We’re deeply thankful for…”
• “You really blessed us [by coming to the wedding/with your wonderful gift]”
• “Wow! The [crystal vase] you sent is just gorgeous!”
• “It really warmed our hearts when we [opened the wedding photo book]”;
• “We were both touched by your thoughtful gift.”
• “You really outdid yourself!”
• “You couldn’t have picked a better gift for us.”
• “We’ll always cherish [the framed recipes handwritten by Nana].”
• “We’re blown away by your generosity!”
• “The [painting] is perfect! Do you know us or what?”
• “We love the [blender]! We’ll think of you every time we [make Margaritas].”