Not sure what to write in your wedding thank-you cards? You’re not alone! It’s the most common post-wedding task that couples put off.
The good news? It doesn’t need to be complicated.
In order to help you cross this final piece of wedmin off your list, we've put together this post to walk you through:
- exactly what to write
- simple wording formulas
- copy-and-paste examples
- when to send them
- and how to get them done without the stress!
The Simple Formula for Wedding Thank You Cards
If you're stuck, use this easy structure:
Thank them → Mention the gift → Add a personal note → Close warmly
That's it!
Wedding Thank you Card Wording Examples
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Writing a message for your wedding thank you notes can be tricky. Communicating your gratitude and excitement via a hand written note can become a chore. And when something is a bit tricky, we tend to procrastinate... so here are some ready-to-use examples to help:
Thank you for sharing our wedding day with us. Your generous gift, love and support is very much appreciated.
Thank you for your incredibly generous gift. We’re planning to put it towards [your honeymoon / home / future plans], and we’ll think of you when we do. We really appreciate your kindness.
It was so lovely to see you at our wedding and the BBQ the next day. Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our honeymoon fund.
Thank you so much for celebrating our wedding with us. We really appreciate your generous gift, it means so much to us. We loved catching up with you on the day and hope to see you again soon.
Thank you for adding to the joyful spirit of our wedding with your presence and lovely gift.
Thank you for celebrating with us on our wedding day! Your company, love, and wishes made our day complete and we appreciate your love and support.
Thank you for joining us on our wedding day and for your wonderful gift of the blender. [Partner's Name] and I can’t wait to start making smoothies together. Your presence made our day even more special.
We are so grateful for your attendance at our wedding and the beautiful framed photo. It now has a special place in our home. Your support means the world to us.
Thank you so much for your generous gift. We’re so grateful for your support and loved celebrating with you on the day. It truly meant a lot to have you there.
We would like to thank you for adding to the lovely memories we cherish from our special day. Thank you for your kind gift.
We really appreciated the contribution towards our honeymoon. We are all booked for two weeks in Rarotonga after the New Year.
Thank you so much for celebrating our wedding day with us and for your generous gift [of $X (if you want to specify the amount)]. We plan to use it towards our dream vacation. Looking forward to sharing more memories together.
We are incredibly grateful for your thoughtful gift [of $X (if you want to specify the amount)]. We used it to purchase a new coffee maker, which we love. Thank you for making our day special.
Thank you so much for traveling all the way from [City/Country] to celebrate our wedding. Your presence was truly a gift, and we are so thankful for the [specific gift, if any] as well.
Your journey from [Country] to be with us on our special day meant more than words can express. Thank you for the [specific gift] and for being part of our wedding.
We sincerely thank you for your company, gift, and good wishes and for helping us make our wedding day an occasion we will always remember.
Thank you for being there on the most important day of our lives. We only hope that you had as much fun at our wedding as we did!
Thank you for travelling so far to be with us on our wedding day
Thank you so much for the wine fridge. It will definitely be getting a lot of use in our new home! We are so lucky to have [friends/workmates] who know us so well, and we can’t wait to have you all over to open a bottle or two!
Thank you so much for the beautiful patio set. It’s perfect for our new home, and we can’t wait to host summer parties with you all. Your generosity is overwhelming.
Your contribution to the group gift of the kitchen appliance set was incredibly thoughtful. We’ve already started using it and are grateful for friends like you.
Thank you so much for the set of wine glasses. It was so kind of you to think of us! [Partner's Name] and I wish you could have been there on our wedding day - it wasn’t the same without you. We’re looking forward to more opportunities to celebrate together in the future!
We missed you at our wedding but were so touched by your thoughtful gift of the cookbook. We look forward to trying new recipes and thinking of you. Thank you for your kindness.
Though you couldn't be with us on our special day, your kind wishes and lovely gift of the vase were deeply appreciated. We hope to see you soon and share more happy times.
Thank you for being a wonderful [Role] at our wedding. Your support and presence made our day even more special. We look forward to many more celebrations together.
We are so grateful for your help as our [Role] on our wedding day. Your toast was unforgettable and meant so much to us. Thank you for being a part of our special day.
Thank you again for your support and love. You are a special friend and incredible bridesmaid
When should you send wedding thank you cards?
In New Zealand, the general guideline is:
- Within 2 - 3 months after your wedding
- Or sooner if possible (especially for gifts received before the day)
Don't panic if you've left it longer than that though. Wedding thank you cards are typically sent out up to a year after your wedding to guests that attended on the day, plus anyone who gave you a wedding gift. So you have time to get your wedding photos back and consider what on earth to say about the ugly regifted placemats your great-Aunt Greta gifted to you.
How to make writing wedding thank you cards easier
This is where most couples get stuck — not the wording, but actually getting them done.
Here are some practical tips:
1. Start early
If you receive gifts before the wedding, start writing cards then.
2. Break it into small batches
Aim to complete 5-10 cards at a time, rather than doing them all at once.
3. Split the job
Divide the list between you... it doesn’t all have to fall on one person.
4. Keep a gift list
Track who gave what (and their address). It makes writing cards much easier.
5. Don’t overthink it
A simple, genuine message is always better than a perfect one.
Do You Have to Handwrite Your Thank You Cards?
Traditionally, yes - handwritten cards feel more personal. But the most important thing is that you actually send them.
If you want to keep things simple:
- use a consistent message
- personalise one sentance
- keep your handwriting neat but not perfect
Choosing your wedding thank you cards
Your thank-you cards are often the final piece of your wedding stationery and a nice way to tie everything together. It's not often you hire a professional photographer, so sharing your wedding photos somewhere other than social media is an instant YES!
Many couples choose to match their wedding invitations or stationery so everything feels cohesive.
Browse our range of wedding thank you cards here
(Designed and printed right here in NZ, with options to customise colours, layout and wording)
Wedding Thank You Card Printing Options
Thank you cards come in all shapes and sizes, so just pick the one that resonates with you.
Postcard style thank you cards
The postcard style is a flat card measuring 105x148mm (A6). This can be printed on both sides. Cute paired with a magnet for someone’s fridge and not too much room if you don’t feel like writing a long thank you message!
Greeting card style thank you cards
A folded card, measuring 210x148mm when unfolded (closing to 105x148mm). We can design these to sit tall (portrait) with the fold at the lefthand side, or long (landscape) with the crease at the top. It’s usually whatever will suit your favourite wedding photo! Either way, these should sit on a bookcase or mantlepiece quite nicely.
Add photos to the outside of the card and leave lots of room for a handwritten message inside the card – or get us to print a special note on the inside to help get your note-writing underway. We also often add a group photo from the wedding on the inside.
Concertina style thank you cards
A concertina thank you card is another folded style of card. Suitable for sharing lots of shots from your wedding day, while still allowing you plenty of room for a thank you message. You can get three or four panels, depending on how much room you need!
When your friends or family pull the card out of the envelope, the card is all closed and only the top panel is visible. They open the invitation to reveal all the important wedding details on the panels inside.
Wedding thank you cards with no photos
Getting your wedding photos on a greeting card is all well and good, but if you want to share your gratitude prior to getting these photos (like, on your wedding day!) then we have some lovely cards for this sort of situation too:
