Always Say Please And Thank-You !

Without giving out my age, I would just like to say that ever since I was a little girl, my Mom always told me how important it was to always say please and thank-you. The same holds true today, especially for your bridal shower and wedding ! Your loved ones are going to "shower" you with gifts that they have taken the time to choose for you. Thank you notes are a must. You can order them to match your wedding invitations, have your monogram embossed on them or even a picture of the two of you. If you or a friend are computer savvy, why not make your own ? You can buy kits at office supply or stationary stores and design them at home. All you need is a little time and a good printer~no artistic ability required. A good rule of thumb is to have the outside of your thank-you note printed and then hand-write a personal message on the inside. Nothing says un-gracious like a printed message that simply says "Thank-you for your gift" A timeline ? The rule is that you're supposed to get thank-yous out for gifts received before the wedding within two weeks of their arrival; after the wedding, within a month after you return from the honeymoon. Well, it's a nice thing to aspire to, but I say if you get 'em all done before (okay, around) your two-month anniversary, you'll be happy and so will your guests.
Keep in mind that the wedding thank you note project begins way back when you gather your wedding guests' names and addresses to send the invitations. Do yourself a big favor: Save that list! Make a copy of it at invitation time and put it away. Before you start opening gift boxes, find the list and record each gift next to the giver's name and address Expert Examples: Take Note (taken from The Knot magazine)

• Sample wedding thank you note for a cash gift:
  Dear Aunt Sue and Uncle Tom,
  Thank you so much for your generous gift. Lila and I are saving for a new home and thanks to you, we'll be shopping for our dream house very soon. Again, many thanks for thinking of us and for sharing our special day. Love, Derek and Lila
• Sample thank-you note for a gift chosen from your bridal registry:
  Dear Elizabeth and Albert,
  Thank you so much for the crystal wine goblets. We now have a complete set! Derek and I are looking forward to your next visit, when we can enjoy a drink together. Thank you again for thinking of us at this special time in our lives. Warmest regards, Lila and Derek
• Sample thank-you note for a wedding gift you really didn't like:
  Dear Winona and Leif,
  Thank you for the fluorescent lava lamps. You are both so thoughtful! Every time we look at them, we will think of you and this special time in our lives. Again, many thanks for sharing our joy. Fondly, Lila and Derek

• One more piece of advice...don't try to write all of your thank you notes at one sitting. Take your time