How To Write Personalised Wedding Thank You Cards

Your wedding day was full of joy, hugs, and thoughtful gifts. Now it is time to send your thanks with warmth and care. A handwritten card feels elegant and sincere, and when you personalise the message, your gratitude becomes a keepsake. This guide covers when to send your notes, etiquette essentials, wording tips for every situation, and why illustrated cards add a heartfelt finishing touch.

When to send wedding thank you cards

Aim to send your wedding thank you cards within 6 to 8 weeks of the celebration. If you had a honeymoon straight after the wedding, 8 to 12 weeks is still considerate. For presents received before the day, such as engagement gifts or early deliveries from your registry, try to send a note within two to three weeks of receiving the gift. The timeline is flexible, but the tone is what counts, a kind, specific message shows genuine appreciation even if life gets busy.

Helpful tip: create a simple checklist of guest names, gifts, and addresses. Tick off each card as you go and you will avoid duplications or missed notes.

Should wedding thank you cards be personalised?

Yes. Personalisation transforms a polite formality into something that truly reflects your relationship with the sender. Mention the gift by name, include a detail about how you plan to use it, or refer to a shared moment from the day. If a friend helped you collect flowers or your aunt led a dance-floor singalong, write that in. The more specific the line, the more heartfelt the memory.

The design can be personal too. Couples often choose cards that echo their invitation artwork, a venue illustration, or a motif from the flowers. Paper Willow offers hand-drawn and hand-painted designs that can include your venue or a delicate floral emblem, creating a seamless thread from invitation to thank you.

What to write in a wedding thank you card

Keep your note concise, warm, and specific. A simple structure works beautifully:

Start with a personal greeting.

Express thanks for their presence or their gift.

Mention a detail that shows you remember and appreciate what they did.

Look ahead to when you will see them next, or how you will use their gift.

Close with both your names.

Examples you can adapt:

For a guest who attended with a physical gift: Dear Emma, thank you for celebrating with us and for the beautiful vase. We have already filled it with garden roses and it looks perfect in the hallway. Your toast during dinner made us smile, and we are so grateful you could be there. With love, Alex and Jamie.

For a gift of money: Dear Uncle David, thank you for your generous gift. We are putting it towards a weekend in the Lakes later this year, and we will think of you when we book the cottage. Your kind words in the card meant a lot to us. Love, Priya and Ben.

For guests who travelled far: Dear Sofia and Marco, it meant the world that you flew over to be with us. Thank you for the cookbook, we are already eyeing the lemon tart recipe for Sunday. We hope to visit you soon. With love, Ella and Tom.

For those who could not attend but sent a gift: Dear Liam, thank you for thinking of us and for the linen napkins. We missed you on the day, but we will set a place for you at our first summer supper. Warmly, Hannah and Noor.

For members of the wedding party: Dear Maya, thank you for the endless support, the rehearsal pep talk, and the emergency safety pins. We could not have done it without you. All our love, Sam and Reece.

Etiquette tips that keep things graceful

Handwrite your message. Even a short, carefully handwritten note feels personal and thoughtful.

Use people’s names correctly. Double check spellings and titles if you are unsure.

Mention the gift accurately. Reference the book title, the specific artwork, or the gift amount in a discreet way if appropriate, or simply say generous gift of money.

Keep tone warm and sincere. Avoid jokes that could be misread out of context.

Sign from both of you. You can add a short personal line from each partner if you wish.

Personalising your message when you receive money

Gifts of money are generous and practical. To keep your note warm, connect the gift to a plan. You might mention:

A shared experience you will book, a dinner, mini break, or class you can enjoy together.

A home item you will invest in, such as a reading chair or framed print.

A contribution to your honeymoon or a charity close to your hearts.

Two more example lines you can borrow:

Your generous gift will help us frame our wedding photos, a keepsake we will treasure for years.

We are saving for a new dining table, and your kindness brings us a step closer to hosting you soon.

Why illustrated, hand-finished cards feel so special

A message is remembered for its words and its presentation. Cards printed on luxury card with original artwork feel considered, and they photograph beautifully for your own keepsake box. If your invitations featured wildflowers, eucalyptus, or a venue sketch, carrying that theme into your thank you cards completes your story elegantly. Paper Willow creates original hand-drawn and hand-painted designs, from delicate botanicals to bespoke venue paintings, and prints on premium card for a refined finish. Sets typically start from 20, perfect for sending in one lovely batch or topping up later.

If you loved the look of your invitations, you can match your notes to your suite. Explore wedding thank you cards that coordinate with floral collections and house designs, or commission a bespoke motif that is uniquely yours.

Short prompts to help you start writing

Thank you for travelling from...

Your thoughtful gift of...We loved sharing...

We will think of you when we...

We missed you on the day, but...

Your support with...

Write a few at a time. Ten cards with a cup of tea feels easy. Keep your guest list nearby so you can personalise as you go.

Bringing it all together with Paper Willow

If you are looking for cards that feel personal, artistic, and beautifully made, Paper Willow can help you add that last, heartfelt chapter to your wedding story. The studio’s designs pair gentle watercolour with elegant typography, and you can include bespoke elements such as a venue illustration or a tiny floral emblem that mirrors your bouquet.

To explore designs that will suit your celebration, browse wedding thank you cards. If you are still planning your day, you might also enjoy personalised wedding invitations or a cohesive suite of bespoke wedding stationery.

Final takeaways

Send your notes within 6 to 8 weeks, a little longer is fine if you have just returned from honeymoon.

Personalise every message with a detail about the gift or a shared moment.

Keep the wording warm, clear, and specific, especially for gifts of money.

Choose illustrated, hand-finished cards that reflect your style for a beautiful keepsake.

A thoughtful thank you card is a small gesture with lasting grace. With the right words and a lovely design, your gratitude will feel as special as the day itself.