Thank You Note Know-How

Etiquette requires you to send a thank-you note in the following situations:

• Wedding gifts
• Bridal shower
• Graduation gifts
• Baby shower gifts
• Holiday, birthday, Bar/Bat mitzvah
• Housewarming gifts
• Sympathy letters, flowers, mass cards, or donations made in the deceased’s name

Thank-you notes are not necessarily required but are a nice gesture in the following situations:

• When a host has treated you to a cocktail party, dinner, or concert
• After a job interview
• Anytime you feel particularly indebted to someone

Components of the Thank-You Note


1. Address the giver.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, or Dear Mary,


It may seem obvious, but addressing the giver directly rather than simply starting your letter gives your note a more personal touch.

2. Express your gratitude.


Thank you so much for the silver picture frame.


Be sure to be specific when you mention the gift. Instead of just saying “Thank you for the glasses." try “Thank you for the beautiful crystal champagne flutes." It will make your note feel more personal and less generic.


If the gift was money, never directly mention “cash” in the note. Instead, thank the giver for his generosity.

3. Discuss how you plan to use the gift or how much the gesture means to you.


We’ve put a picture of the family on our last vacation inside it and placed it on our mantel. It looks great!


Mention how you intend to use the gift and compliment it in some way. If the gift was money, allude to how you intend to use the money by saying something like, “It will be a great help to us when we purchase . . .”

It is sometimes more helpful to describe how meaningful the gesture is to you, such as "John and I know you spent countless hours assembling this photo album, and we will always treasure it."

4. Mention your relationship to the giver.


It was great seeing you at the house warming party, and we hope to see you again this spring at the reunion.

5. Reiterate your gratitude.

Thank you again for your kind gift.

6. Regards.


Sincerely,


Guy and Girl Gracious

A thank-you note is exclusively about expressing your gratitude, so don’t worry if your note seems short and simple. The only hard and fast rule is that it be sincere -- even if you do not care for the gift, you can express gratitude for the gesture.