The Beautiful Simplicity of Writing Personal Thank You Notes

Writing thank you notes is simple and takes such a small amount of time, yet the emotional effect on the recipient can be truly profound. Modern technology has made communication easier and quicker than ever, but there’s no more powerful tech than the personal touch. Sure, it’s nice to get a “thank you” by text. But there are few more delightful envelopes to find in your mailbox than a hand-written card, especially when it’s one expressing heartfelt appreciation. Be the reason someone experiences that kind of warm emotion by sending a custom thank you card from Mixbook.

Writing a Thank You Note for a Gift

Receiving a gift, be it a birthday, holiday, wedding, graduation, or “just-because” gift, is the No.1  reason for writing thank you notes. Gifts always call for personalized thank you notes, ideally mentioning the specific gift and your appreciation for it. Sending thank you notes does double duty when you receive a gift in the mail or indirectly — it lets the gift giver know that you definitely received it as well as expresses your gratitude.

There should be no big confusion over how to write a thank you note for a gift. Simply say thank you, reference the specific gift, and add a personal note about how happy you were to receive it. With friends and close family members, you might take an amusing approach by referencing the gift in a custom photo card. Examples could include a photo of you wearing the hand-knit sweater from your aunt, your kid proudly showing their gifted LEGO creation, or you grinning outside that favorite restaurant where you spent a gift card!

Writing a Thank You Note to a Teacher

We all know that teaching can feel like a thankless, undervalued profession. The best educators put their all into helping their students succeed, so the gesture of writing a thank you note for a teacher will be very much appreciated.

Graduation thank you cards are ideal for writing a thank you note to a teacher who helped you reach that milestone. You might also thank a teacher who went above and beyond to help your child when they were struggling, or send a thoughtful thank you card to your own favorite teacher upon their retirement.

Writing a Wedding Thank You Note

Boy, weddings come with a lot of correspondence! From engagement announcements to save the date cards to your wedding photo album, you’re probably spending quite a bit of your wedding planning time on Mixbook. Thank you notes are — thankfully — among the final obligations of a newlywed couple. They’re also among the most important. After all, what would a wedding be without guests to celebrate it with you?

Create custom wedding thank you cards featuring photos from the big day. Send personalized thank you notes to all members of your wedding party to thank them for their generosity with their time, care, and efforts. Also thank every guest for their attendance with a thank you card.

Thank You Notes for a Helping Hand

Even if you said “thank you” repeatedly and profusely after someone lent you a helping hand, writing a thank you note is a really wonderful way to say thanks once more. Use custom cards to say thank you to a friend who helped you move, the neighbor who babysat at the last minute, or the colleague who helped you meet that tight deadline. These might be small acts, but if they were a big help to you, sending a card is a lovely way to express that.

Thank You Card Etiquette and Tips

Thank you card etiquette is quite straightforward. If you’re ever undecided about whether or not to send a thank you note — go ahead and send it! Etiquette guidance says to send a card ASAP, ideally within a week or two of receiving a gift, hosting an event, etc. If that time has already passed, send a card anyway, as it’s always better late than never.

Here are some additional thank you card etiquette tips to consider:

• Whenever possible, handwrite a thank you note, using blue or black ink, as legibly as you can.
• Thank you cards from children are sweeter when the kid writes them. If your child is too young to write it themselves, you might write the note and just have your child write their name and the words “thank you.”
• Adjust your tone and format to suit the recipient. The wording on a thank you note to your BFF or favorite cousin will be different from the card for your ultra-conservative elderly uncle or the minister who performed your marriage ceremony.
• Business thank you cards call for a formal tone, albeit with lots of wiggle room for brand-appropriate messaging.
• Pay attention to detail, especially the spelling of names. Be certain you’re thanking someone for the correct gift!
• Always personalize the message. If you could send the exact same card to three other people without changing the wording, try to add a personal detail specific to the recipient.

Thank You Card Examples

Why is it that writing just a few sentences to say “thank you” is so difficult? While it’s best to say something unique and personal when writing a thank you note, you can definitely follow a standard formula and fill in your own details. Here are just a few examples of thank you card wording to suit various situations:

For a Colleague:

Dear Jenny,

Thank you for being such a kind and generous colleague. I couldn’t have completed Wednesday’s project without you, and I want you to know how much I appreciate your help.

Yours,

Ben

For a Birthday Gift:

Dear Sue,

I am writing to let you know I received your birthday gift and I really appreciate you thinking of me! The candle is lovely — how did you know vanilla is my favorite scent? I do hope I get to see you next time you’re in town. Thank you again, Sue. You are always so kind.

Sincerely,

Sarah

For a Wedding Attendee:

Dearest Uncle Bill,

Mark and I are so happy that you were able to attend our wedding. I know it was a long journey for you, and we are really thankful that you made it. I loved our chat about Grandma and hearing those stories about your childhood — it made it feel like she was there with me. Thank you again for joining us on our special day.

All my love,

Sam

For a Thoughtful Gift:

J… I can’t believe you remembered what I said about pink peonies! You are so thoughtful and kind. Coming home and finding the bouquet and sweet note from you really made my day. Please tell me we’re getting coffee (or ice cream?) again soon!

Lots and lots of love – M.

For a Teacher:

Dear Mrs. Smith,

I want you to know that I hated math until I had you as a teacher! You took extra time to help me figure things out, and it was just the push I needed to pass the class and graduate. Not every teacher has been so generous to me, so thank you. You’re the best!

From Joe

For Something Short and Sweet:

Kelly – I don’t know what to say except thank you — so… thank you! – Bob

Ready to Write That Thank You Note?

Writing thank you notes is a wonderful thing to do, and it couldn’t be simpler with the easy-to-use editor atMixbook.com. You can customize fonts, colors, images, and of course, your own personal “thank you” message. Don't hesitate to get that thank you note in the mail. If you need more ideas check out our list of thank you quotes.