Things you need for sending wedding thank you cards:
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Pretty paper products – Whether you choose matching stationery, DIY thank you cards, or just find something new that makes you smile, make sure you love the paper you’re working with! It will make writing the notes a treat. And don’t forget about envelopes! They may come with the cards you’ve chosen, but it’s best to check this early on. Remember that envelopes don’t have to be boring, but can be as stylish as the cards within.
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That perfect pen – There’s nothing worse than trying to write a lot with a scratchy pen that blotches ink across your page, stops working at inconvenient moments or writes with an inconsistent colour. Get to your local stationery store and try the pens until you find "The One". Stock up on a few of them so you always have one on hand.
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Details, details, details! – You will need a complete list of guests who attended your event, as well as anybody else who assisted in any way, made a phone call, sent a card or a gift, or anything else that should be acknowledged. You will need the addresses of all these people, as well as notes on what you are thanking them for! When you’re planning ahead for this stage, remember to make sure these are noted down as you open gifts, and remember to keep the list of contact details you used to address your invitations.Â
- One finishing touch worth adding to your thank you card send-off: a beautiful wax seal or custom sticker to close the envelope. It ties your stationery together and makes opening the card feel like a little gift in itself. If you're also packaging up thank you gifts or favour boxes, personalised stickers from Paperlust Print Shop are a simple, affordable way to add a polished, cohesive look to everything you send.
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Wedding Thank you card ideas
Everybody loves to receive a thank you note after attending or organising an event, having their effort (and perhaps gift) appreciated. Unfortunately, words can fail even the best writer when faced with dozens — or hundreds! — of personalized thank you cards. Here are some tips and tricks to find the perfect wording and feel for your thank you card messages, whether tailor made or template; for wedding, baby shower or to go with a birthday card.
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Choosing the right thank you wedding cards
If you’re planning a wedding, chances are your thank you card template decision is an easy one — thank you cards that go with your wedding stationery suite. But if the choice is more flexible, choosing the template that best suits your personality (and event) can take some thought.
TIP: Go with your gut instinct, rather than a well-meaning relatives. Too much choice? Filter templates by theme, style, colour or what’s popular, until you connect with a design. Remember, you have the freedom to adjust fonts, text sizes, positioning and colourways in Paperlust thank you card templates, and can easily further customise existing designs.Â
When it comes to choosing your thank you card designs, you should be sure to consider the style of your other event stationery as well as the style of the event itself. If your save the dates, invitations and menus were all floral, it only makes sense to go with floral thank you cards as well. This consistency tends to happen naturally based on your tastes, but it’s a good idea to give it some thought as well. This doesn’t mean everything has to line up perfectly. Just because you used real foil invites doesn’t mean you necessarily need foil thank you cards, but the styles should still be complementary.Â
Of course, the style of the invitations isn’t the only important factor. The style of the event itself matters too. A super casual barbecue event isn’t going to gel with a very formal thank you card, and a cutesy cartoon thank you card can feel out of touch with a black tie occasion.Â
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Some of the most popular thank you card designs include:
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Hand drawn thank you card designs
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Floral thank you card designs
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Country or rustic thank you card designs
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Watercolour thank you card designs
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Modern thank you card designs
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Black and white thank you card designs
- Wedding Photo thank you cards
The last category, photo wedding thank you cards, is by far our most popular choice but at the end of the day there’s no limit on creativity and on the range of styles available to choose from. And if nothing’s quite right, there are always tonnes of options for customisation, whether that just means tweaking the colour palette and font choices or having designers create a completely custom design just for you. For our sample wedding thank you cards go to our sample pack page and add as a specialised request stating which thank you card sample you want.Â
Personalised wedding thank you cards
If custom design is more your style, our design associates can create personalised wedding thank you cards just for you. We will carefully discuss your brief with you, whether you want to personalise ideas from existing designs, include custom artwork or start from scratch. Or using a photo thank you card template is another great way to personalise if you want to order and finalise straight away. For the best wedding thank you cards talk to one of our customer service agents on live chat now.Â
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Wedding Thank you photos cards
Thank you card photos are one of the most popular choices for thank you cards, no matter what the event, because they allow you to add a memory to the card: a little piece of the day. This is particularly true for weddings: people will be dying to see your wedding photos and photo thank you card designs are perfect for sticking on the fridge or in a frame for years to come. Even if you don’t want to choose photo cards for your thank you card itself, it’s a good idea to at least include a wedding photo in the envelope as well. People who sent well wishes but couldn’t attend the big day will also appreciate the opportunity to feel like they were part of things.Â
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Wedding Thank You Cards
It is an overwhelming task, writing wedding thank you cards online, trying to make hundreds of notes sound heartfelt and grateful! However, with a little bit of planning and the right tools at hand the process can actually be a fun extension of the excitement of wedding invitation planning. Paperlust makes the first step of choosing wedding thank you cards templates easy with our wide range ot options.Â
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Why send wedding thank you cards?
No matter how big or small your wedding, a lot of people will have contributed in a lot of different ways to make it happen. It’s only polite to thank these people for their love, support and hard work. This is not just a social nicety either. You will likely be eager to show your gratitude in some small way.
TIP: If possible, have your thank you cards in your hands before the wedding actually happens, as well as all the necessary details of your guests. Keep a running list of people who gave you gifts, helped with the wedding, or otherwise showed you support during this time. Note down what they did or what they gave you so that you can thank them specifically. Writing these sort of details down can feel a little bit awkward, like you’re keeping an account of who was the most generous, but it’s worth pushing past the awkwardness of writing such a list to avoid an even more awkward situation: forgetting to thank somebody for something, or thanking them for the wrong gift!
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When should you write in your thank you wedding cards?
You should get started on your thank you notes as soon after the wedding as possible, as they should ideally be sent out within three months of the big day. If you had a large wedding, that doesn’t leave you a lot of time! It’s best to try to power through some each day, to pace yourself, and make sure you can give attention to each one. You can even begin to write your thank yous as gifts and calls come in before the wedding. With the right supplies, it will feel like a treat to sit down and knock out a few notes! Keep your wedding thank you card messages brief but sincere to make sure everything stays manageable.Â
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Wedding Thank You Card Timeline: When to Send What
Sending thank you cards doesn't have to be a post-wedding mountain. Breaking it into stages makes the process manageable:
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Before the wedding: Write and send thank you cards for engagement gifts, kitchen tea gifts, and any pre-wedding presents as they arrive. This dramatically reduces post-wedding workload.
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Within 1 week of the wedding: Send cards to your wedding party, parents, and immediate family. These people gave the most and deserve to hear from you first.
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Weeks 2–4: Work through the bulk of your guest list. Aim for 10–15 cards per day — at this pace, 150 cards can be completed in under two weeks.
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Within 3 months of the wedding: The traditional etiquette deadline. If you're returning from a longer honeymoon, let close friends know you'll be in touch once you're home — most will understand.
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For late gifts: Send a thank you within two weeks of receiving any gift that arrives after the wedding.
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How to Address Wedding Thank You Card Envelopes
Addressing your envelopes correctly is the finishing touch that shows care and attention. Here's a quick guide:
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For a couple at the same address: Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Wilson or (modern): Emma & Daniel Wilson
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For unmarried couple living together: Ms. Claire Thompson & Mr. James Harrington
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For a single guest: Ms. Claire Thompson
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For a family: The Wilson Family or: Mr. & Mrs. Wilson & Family
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Handwriting vs printing: For a traditional feel, handwriting all envelopes is ideal. If you're sending 100+ cards, printed addresses are perfectly acceptable — many couples use a calligraphy-style font for a personal touch. Paperlust offers envelope printing as an add-on to your order.
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Return address: Include your return address on the back flap of the envelope. This allows Australia Post to return any undelivered cards and ensures guests can reach you easily.
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Printed vs Digital Wedding Thank You Cards in 2026
Some couples are exploring digital options to save time — here's a quick comparison to help you decide:
Printed Cards:
Personal feel: High—allows for a handwritten message.
Keepsake value: High—guests often keep them for years.
Sending time: 2–4 weeks post-wedding.
Cost: From $2.04 per card.
Effort: Requires writing and posting.
Best for: All guests, especially older relatives.
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Digital / eCards:
Personal feel: Lower—feels like a mass email.
Keepsake value: Unlikely to be saved.
Sending time: Instant.
Cost: Near zero.
Effort: Minimal.
Best for: International guests or last-resort follow-up.
Our recommendation: Printed cards remain the standard for wedding thank yous. They're expected, they're personal, and they reflect the significance of the occasion. Digital messages work well as a supplement — for example, sending a quick digital note to interstate guests while printed cards are in the mail — but shouldn't replace handwritten cards entirely.
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Cheap wedding thank you cards
Organizing a wedding or any event in general already requires a large investment. Between save the date, invitations, menus, and so on, you might feel like there is not enough to fit thank you cards into the budget.Â
But Paperlust has your back, and there is no need to spend much on your cards. You can choose a simple but beautiful design and even upload a photo to make it more personal. Choose a one-side flat format (or make some wedding thank you post cards) to keep the cost low. And our digital print is the most affordable option with a high-quality result.Â
You should not leave out thank you cards because of a tight budget, we have plenty of affordable options, and your guests will know you appreciate their attendance and even their gift.Â
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Order thank you cardsÂ
Ordering your thank you cards in Paperlust is easy.Â
- Start by choosing your favorite design, browse our designs by theme, occasion, or print type.Â
- Customize the chosen design, explore the different print options we offer, and select envelope details.Â
- Save your changes and proceed to checkout.Â
After checkout, a designer from our team will revise your files and adjust them to make them perfect. A proof will be sent to you for approval.Â
Once you approve, we get to work, and your thank you cards will be ready to ship within ten days.Â
Remember that you can resize elements, change the font, color, change foil colors, and add more text in the special request box. If you want to make any major changes or start a design from scratch, you can use a custom order inquiry.Â
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Thank you cards online
Online services are here to make our life simple. You can make so many things from the comfort of your home, from grocery to clothing, and receive them at home within days. Years ago, you must have taken time from your busy day to stop by a local printing store, make an appointment and spend a couple of hours choosing the right colors, materials, and design.Â
Nowadays, Paperlust has everything you need online, and it does not matter if it is the middle of the night or if you can not decide and spend hours going back and forth between your favorite designs. You are free to make as many changes as you wish, explore each possibility and see in real-time the result.Â
Ordering your thank you cards online is the best decision you can make. There is no pressure on time, you can share your potential design and ask for opinions, and you can even work with a team of professionals to design a unique thank you card.Â
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Wedding thank you card wording FAQ:
How to write wedding thank you cards
Knowing what to say in wedding thank you cards is a lot more stressful than writing other forms of thank you cards and one of the questions we get asked all the times at paperlust is how to write thank you cards for a wedding? This is not only because the event is so formal and a lot of etiquette rules apply, but also because you are often writing hundreds of the things, so staying inspired to write good wedding thank you card wording can be tricky. Here are some of our tips for wedding thank you cards wording.
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Should I address thank you notes to both partners or individually?
As a general guide, send thank you cards in the same format as your invitations. Couples who live together or are in long-term relationships are usually addressed together, while individuals may receive separate cards. If relationships have changed (such as a breakup or marriage), adjust accordingly. You can also include a separate, more personal note if needed — as long as both people are thanked, it’s perfectly fine.
Do I need to use completely different wording for each guest?
It’s best to write personalised messages for each guest. A generic template can feel impersonal, but you can use a base structure and customise it for each person. Even simple, sincere notes are better than overly generic ones. If needed, rotate a few templates and personalise them.
How do I word a thank you card for something before the wedding?
Send thank you cards as gifts or help are received to avoid a backlog after the wedding. Keep your message similar to standard thank you wording, and if relevant, include a line such as “We can’t wait to celebrate with you” or “We’ll miss you at the wedding.”
What traditional etiquette should I follow?
Traditional etiquette includes handwriting your notes, using neutral stationery (white, ivory, or cream), and writing in blue or black ink. Each occasion (engagement, kitchen tea, wedding) should be acknowledged with a separate note, and formal language is typically used.
You may also choose to give thank you gifts to important people such as your wedding party, parents, and officiant as part of traditional etiquette.
When selecting thank you cards for wedding guests, is there any difference between wedding gifts thank you cards and wedding money thank you cards? The simple answer is no, you can usually use the same type of card for guests who gave money or a physical gift. The only exception is if you are creating custom wedding thank you cards with Paperlust and you want a printed message inside each card. In this case you should keep the language neutral about whether the gift was money or physical. If you know the percentage of gifts given as cash you can have two separate printed messages printed on the inside of your card in this case.
What to write in wedding thank you cards for money can seem unimportant at first, but it does differ from wedding gift thank you cards. It is important to mention the amount of money that you received, this is important for two reasons. First, you are letting them know you safely received the money, either by wire transfer or in cash, the second you are confirming you received the correct amount. Wedding receptions can get very busy with so many people and it isn't unknown for money to be misplaced or otherwise.
Whether the event is a birthday, graduation party, or a celebration of life, heartfelt thank you cards are a lovely way to show appreciation for support and generosity. Writing sympathy thank you cards can be an emotional but helpful way to work through grief, recognising the love and support around you. Don’t force or rush the process. If it feels right, go with it. If not, now is not the time to worry about etiquette. Paperlust also has a great range of wedding shower thank you cards that can match your entire wedding suite.
Your baby shower is really one big present party, so thank you cards are a necessity. Keeping track of who gave what is tricky when you’re opening everything in front of everyone, so organise for a close friend or relative to sit next to you, writing down everything as you go along.
TIP: Note down the gift on the back of each card as you open it (it looks more friendly than keeping a running spreadsheet!).
When should you write your baby shower thank you cards? Most likely, your baby shower will be only a few weeks before your due date, so don’t delay in writing your thank you notes! Once bub arrives, you will not feel like writing them. And even if you have an iron will, you may not have a spare hand to hold the pen!
Your engagement party is almost a trial run for your wedding. Family and friends gather, bring gifts, and celebrate your love. It’s a great opportunity to practice the logistics of putting together a big party, from catering to booking venues and coordinating set up and pack down. Of course, this extends to the engagement thank you cards too. With everyone coming together to help and celebrate, they definitely deserve to be thanked! Take the opportunity to show how grateful you are and they won’t think twice about getting involved and helping you out with the wedding itself. This also saves you from getting stuck when you write your wedding thank you cards, thinking all the way back to the engagement and trying to remember what people gave you or did to help early on.
Relationships are everything in business, and making a habit of recognising the support of other businesses and individuals can go a long way. Ordering a batch of business thank you cards means it’s easy to make a habit of expressing your gratitude and going the extra mile in a really simple and affordable way. Whether you’re thanking staff members, other businesses or clients, a card will always be appreciated and build strong relationships with those around you. Paperlust has a range of corporate thank you cards that are professional looking and perfect for a small, medium or large business, however casual or formal.
New baby? We have matching thank you cards for newborn announcements. Having a newborn is an event in itself, and brings on tonnes of support from friends and family members in the form of well-wishes, cards, gifts, meals and other things. It’s always best to acknowledge the love and support in writing! Really the only way to do this when you’re juggling a newborn (and potentially other kids too!) is to make sure you’ve got your newborn thank you cards on hand well before the due date so you can simply grab one and jot in a quick message when you need to. Keep stamps and addresses on hand too to make things easy for yourself. Then it’s just a matter of filling them in as soon as you can after someone visits or gives you a gift so you don’t forget about it, or keeping a thorough list to be written later.
There are also other events you might require thank you cards for, including birthday or party thank you cards, baptism thank you cards, and sympathy thank you cards.
Think about the involvement and contributions all your guests made to the wedding, baby shower, birthday or other event. When you begin thinking about all the work people put into your day it is overwhelming. Take that gratitude and channel it into your writing!
Keep it simple – you’re going to be writing a lot of these! Best to get to the point and be concise but sincere.
Unlike save the date cards and wedding invitations, your thank you card wording doesn’t need to be uniform or put in any special way. The best thank yous are genuine, personal and from the heart.
Brainstorm ideas for the thank you card notes with your partner, especially for their family and friends. Sign from both of you. It can seem impersonal for people to get a thank you card from you when they only met you for the first time at the wedding.
The trick is to ask yourself:
- Who am I writing to?
- Did this person attend the event?
- Did this person play a role in the event?
- Did this person give a gift or a card?
- Has this person had another significant role in our lives?
It is up to you whether you use formal or informal greetings and terms of address in your thank you cards. It’s usually best to base this on what your relationship is to the person in question. No need to go all formal with your good friends, but best not to be overly familiar with your Dad’s boss.
Be sure not to leave anybody out in your address – mention both names if writing to a couple, and children’s names as well for a family.
If possible, mention the name of any plus-ones who also attended.
Most importantly, check and double-check the spelling of all names!
Thank them for their time and support. Tell them it meant a lot to you that they came to celebrate with you.
Make special mention of any travel or extra effort they had to go to in order to attend.
If they looked fabulous on the day or drew attention with their winning dance moves, tell them! If you remember chatting to them at the reception about when they used to babysit you, reference that too. These sorts of specifics will tell them that you noticed their presence individually, not just as part of the group. But don’t grasp at straws. If nothing comes to mind immediately, keep it general.
e.g. It was wonderful to have you at our wedding, and we are so grateful for the effort you made to be there! It made our day even more special to have your smiling face beside us (looking gorgeous in that red dress, wow!).
Whilst we all know that you send thank you cards after the wedding, what most people want to know is when to send thank you cards after the wedding? Well no one's expecting the cards to arrive in the week following your wedding, because of course you will be on your honeymoon, however it is polite to send wedding thank you cards within three months of the wedding itself.
Here are complete, ready-to-use wording examples for the most common scenarios. Adjust names, amounts, and details to make each one genuinely personal.
For a Wedding Gift (General)
Formal:
Dear Uncle Robert and Aunt Helen,
Thank you so much for the beautiful [gift] and for travelling all the way from Brisbane to celebrate with us. It meant the world to have you there on our special day. We hope to see you soon.
With love, Emma & Daniel
Casual:
Hey Sarah & Tom!
You are literally the best — thank you so much for the [gift], we absolutely love it. And thank you for dancing until midnight and making our reception the best night ever. Can't wait to catch up properly soon.
Love you both, Emma & Dan
For a Monetary Gift / Cash / Wishing Well
Important: Always mention the amount received and what you plan to use it for. This confirms safe receipt and feels more personal than a generic note.
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Thank you so much for your incredibly generous gift of $200 — we were so touched. We're putting it towards our honeymoon in Bali and will be thinking of you when we're sipping cocktails on the beach! Your support means everything to us.
All our love, Emma & Daniel
For a Honeymoon Fund Contribution
Dear James and Lucy,
We are so grateful for your contribution to our honeymoon fund — thank you! We're using it toward our accommodation in Santorini, so in a way you'll be there with us. Your generosity and love made our wedding day complete.
With so much love, Emma & Dan
For Someone Who Couldn't Attend
Dear Aunty Margaret,
We were so sorry you weren't able to be with us on the day — you were truly missed. Thank you so much for the gorgeous [gift/flowers/card] — it was such a lovely gesture and meant so much to receive your love from afar. We hope we can celebrate with you soon.
With love, Emma & Daniel
For a Bridesmaid or Groomsman
Dearest Claire,
There are no words to express how much your support has meant over the past year. From helping me pick the dress to keeping me calm on the morning of the wedding — you were incredible. Thank you for being such a huge part of our day. We love you so much.
Em xx
For a Wedding Vendor or Supplier
Dear Rebecca,
We just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for the most stunning floral arrangements at our wedding. Every time we look at the photos we're blown away by what you created. You brought our vision to life completely and we've already recommended you to three friends. Thank you so much.
Emma & Daniel Wilson
Always mention the specific amount received ("thank you for your generous gift of $150"), let them know it was safely received, and where possible, share what you plan to use it for — whether that's your honeymoon, a new home, or simply saving together. This personalisation transforms a potentially awkward note into a warm, meaningful message.
Absolutely — and it's strongly recommended. You can and should send thank you cards for engagement gifts, pre-wedding presents, and kitchen tea/bridal shower gifts as they arrive. Getting ahead of this dramatically reduces the workload after the wedding.
Two to four sentences is the sweet spot. You want to: (1) thank them specifically for what they gave or did, (2) mention something personal or how it made you feel, and (3) close warmly. Longer messages aren't necessarily better — a short, sincere note beats a lengthy generic one every time.
Traditionally, thank you cards are handwritten. However, if you have a condition that makes writing difficult, or you're sending a very large number of cards, a printed message is acceptable — especially if you add a handwritten signature and a personal line at the bottom. A hybrid approach (printed wording + handwritten PS) feels much more personal than a purely printed note.
Yes — a written thank you is still expected regardless of verbal thanks at the event. The physical card is a considered, enduring expression of gratitude that a conversation in the middle of a busy reception can't replace. Most guests will genuinely appreciate receiving one even if you've already thanked them in person.
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