Birthday Party Thank You Cards & Notes

The Art Of The Thank You Note—A How-To Guide:

• Properly thanking your guests for their attendance at the party and their gifts begins at the party. Extend your verbal thanks and gratitude as you are opening gifts, or saying goodbye following the event. If you will be opening gifts at the party, give a notebook and pen to a friend or relative and ask her to write down the gift and the giver as you unwrap each bag and box. Don’t trust the card to stay with the gift! A list compiled by someone else lets you enjoy the guests and the gifts and ensures that you won’t arrive home wondering who brought what.
• Thank you cards and notes should be sent in a timely fashion. Strict etiquette guidelines recommend that a note be sent within 48 hours of the event. This is a nearly impossible feat for most people, especially if the party is a shower or bachelorette party that will be followed by another major event. While you may be able to relax the forty-eight hour rule for sending your thank you note, make it a priority to send them as promptly as possible. Make a goal of tackling 3-4 each day until you make it through your list.
• Don’t know what to write? Start with a line or two to say how much you enjoyed seeing the guest, or share a little piece of personal news. If the giver was unable to join you at the party, express your regrets. Use lines 3-4 to thank the giver for their generosity and to express your appreciation for the gift(s). Include a line or two describing how you plan to use of enjoy their gift. Close with a line thanking them again for their generosity. If you like to write and have more to share, don’t limit yourself! Hand-written notes are fun to receive and read. Any extra details you can add to the note are sure to extend the recipients’ delight. Use proper grammar and tone, but don’t be afraid to be natural and let your own personality shine through.
• With today’s technology, many people are leaving the hand-written note behind, in favor of a typed letter or even an email. In the case of thank you cards and notes, a short letter, written by hand and with a good-quality pen is preferable. However, if your penmanship is truly illegible, you may consider typing out your note and printing into the card. Emails and other electronic means of communication are not appropriate for thank you notes.
• And remember, thank you notes are appropriate, and should be sent even if the gift was but a small token. A gracious recipient extends appreciation and thanks regardless of the size or dollar amount of the gift. Received something you just can’t stand? Don’t lie and tell the giver that you “simply adore it.” Craft the note to convey your appreciation. Thank them for their generosity and kindness in thinking of you on your special day.