How long do you have to send wedding thank you cards?

Send them within 3 months of the wedding. Within 6 weeks is ideal. After 3 months, guests start to notice (and judge). If you're running late, send them anyway with a brief apology — a late thank you is always better than no thank you.

Should wedding thank you cards be handwritten?

Yes. Handwritten messages are expected for wedding thank you cards in the UK. You can use pre-printed cards with your names and a photo, but the message inside should be written by hand. A printed message feels mass-produced, even if the words are warm.

Do you send a thank you card to everyone who attended?

Send a thank you card to everyone who gave a gift (including money). Sending one to every guest — even those who didn't give a gift — is a thoughtful touch but not expected. At minimum, thank everyone who gave you something.

Wedding Thank You Card Wording & Tips

Q: What if you don't know what someone gave you?

If a gift arrived without a tag, or you can't match a card to a gift, write a general thank you: 'Thank you so much for your generous gift and for being with us on our wedding day.' This covers the situation without revealing that you don't know what they gave.

Thank you cards are the last task on the wedding to-do list — and the one most couples dread. After months of planning and a honeymoon, sitting down to write 80+ handwritten cards feels like homework.

But it matters. A specific, personal thank you card tells your guests their gift and their presence meant something. A generic “thanks for coming” tells them it didn’t. This guide makes writing them fast and painless.

The formula

Every thank you card needs three things:

Thank them for the specific gift (name it — don’t be vague)
Say what it means or how you’ll use it (one sentence)
Thank them for being at the wedding (or express regret they couldn’t attend)

That’s 3-5 sentences. Under 50 words. You can write 10-15 of these per hour once you’re in the rhythm.

Bride writing wedding thank you cards at a desk, stack of completed cards, cup of tea, wedding photos

Messages for cash / money gifts

Dear Sarah & Mark, Thank you so much for your incredibly generous gift. We’ve put it towards our honeymoon and toasted you both with a cocktail on the beach. It was wonderful having you at the wedding — your dancing was the highlight of the evening! With love, Emma & Tom

Dear Auntie Jean, Thank you for your generous contribution to our honeymoon fund. We spent a glorious week in Amalfi partly thanks to you. It meant the world to have you at the wedding. Love, Emma & Tom

Dear David, Thank you for your very generous gift. We’ve put it towards furnishing the new flat — every time we sit on the sofa, we’ll think of you (in a good way). Thanks for making the journey — it was great to see you. Best, Tom & Emma

Messages for specific gifts

Always name the gift. “Thank you for your generous gift” is a signal that you don’t know what they gave.

Dear Claire, Thank you for the beautiful Le Creuset casserole dish — we’ve already used it twice and it’s become our favourite kitchen item. It was so lovely to have you at the wedding. Love, Emma & Tom

Dear Mr & Mrs Patel, Thank you for the gorgeous champagne glasses. We christened them on our first evening home as a married couple. Thank you for being part of our day. With love, Emma & Tom

Messages for experiences / vouchers

Dear Hannah, Thank you for the spa voucher — we’ve already booked a weekend away and we can’t wait. What a thoughtful gift. It was so special having you there on the day. Love, Emma & Tom

Messages for guests who travelled far

Dear Uncle Robert, Thank you for making the journey from Edinburgh to be with us — it meant more than you know. And thank you for the beautiful crystal vase. It already has a place of honour in the hallway. With love, Emma & Tom

Messages for guests who couldn’t attend

Dear Margaret, We were sorry you couldn’t be with us on the day, but we completely understand. Thank you so much for the generous gift — we’ve put it towards the honeymoon fund and raised a glass to you. We hope to see you soon. Love, Emma & Tom

Messages for group gifts

Dear the Marketing Team, Thank you all for the incredible John Lewis vouchers — we’ve put them towards a new coffee machine that’s already improved our mornings dramatically. It was so kind of you. Emma & Tom

Messages when you don’t know the gift

If a gift arrived without a card, or you can’t match it:

Dear James, Thank you so much for your generous gift and for being with us on our day. We’re still on a high from the whole weekend. Hope to see you again soon. Best, Tom & Emma

Selection of different thank you card designs — one with photo, one floral, one minimalist

Practical tips

Split the work. One partner writes to their family and friends, the other to theirs. Mutual friends: alternate. This halves the workload and makes each card feel personal.

Write in batches. Do 10-15 per evening. Put on a film, pour a drink, and work through the pile. Trying to write all 80+ in one sitting leads to bland messages by card 40.

Use a gift log. As you open gifts, write down who gave what in a spreadsheet or notebook. You’ll forget within days if you don’t record it.

Order cards before the wedding. Pre-printed cards with your names, date, and a wedding photo save time. You write the personal message inside, but the front is done. Order 10% more than you think you need.

Address envelopes first. Write all the envelopes in one batch (use your guest list), then write the messages separately. This creates a production line that’s faster than doing each card start-to-finish.

Neat stack of thank you cards tied with ribbon, envelopes, a pen, and a guest list

Timeline

When	What
Before the wedding	Order thank you cards (pre-printed with names/photo)
Wedding day	Assign someone to keep a gift log
Honeymoon	Relax — you’ve earned it
Week 1-2 home	Start writing (10-15 per evening)
Within 6 weeks	Send all thank you cards
Absolute deadline	3 months after the wedding

Hand dropping thank you card envelopes into a red Royal Mail post box