Etiquette Today: Thank-You Notes
Time to break out the stationery and pens and get writing!
THANK-YOU NOTES
Thank-you notes are a year-round opportunity, however with the end of the year gift-giving holidays many of us find ourselves thinking about thank-notes this time of year. Some of us are excited to break out brand-new stationery and cards, giddy to use the perfect pen with the perfect paper to convey our gratitude. And then many of us are thinking about thank-you notes and how we should get to them…after this next episode of Emily In Paris. And then there are some of us who aren’t even thinking about thank-you notes. No matter the category you find yourself in, thank-you notes are a wonderful way to express your gratitude, let someone know that their gift actually did arrive, and build relationships. So if you’re in the thinking about it, or not even thinking about it groups, let this be your encouragement to break out the paper, pens, and stamps and cross into the “do” category.
GETTING STARTED
Having a stash of stationery on hand makes it so much easier to write thank-you notes. While standard letter sheets are lovely, often thank-you notes end up on cards, whether fold-overs or flat. Choose something that reflects your personal style. You can decide whether or not you want them to have words or phrases like “Thank you,” “Gratitude,” “Appreciation,” and the like, or if a blank card is a better option for you (of course those without pre-printed messages are more versatile.)
You’ll also want to have a pen that writes smoothly in an easy-to-read color, and that hopefully won’t bleed through the paper. Stamps are also a must. You can’t send it in the mail without one - but you knew that.
You’ll also need the mailing address of the person you’re sending it to. It should NOT be embarrassing that you don’t have the addresses of friends and family. Today, we’re lucky if we’ve saved someone’s last name into our phones - let alone their mailing address. “Morning Caroline! May I please have your preferred mailing address?” is often all it takes to get the info you need - and once you get the address, SAVE IT!
WRITING THE NOTE
When you sit down to write your note, you might find yourself drawing a blank. Here are some tips to help inspired you:
Set the gift in front of you, if you can, this can help (especially kids) to remember aspects of it that you can complement. “The color is perfect!” “I was so excited when I opened it!”
Think about the person you are writing to, and the natural ways to greet and connect with them. “I was so happy to see you this holiday!” “I hope you enjoyed your trip away for the holiday!”
Keep it simple. No need to turn this into a catch-up letter, it’s a thank-you note. Stick to the point.
Think about how you might wish them well. “Can’t wait to see you this summer.” “Wishing you the best in the new year!”
Pre-writing your note digitally can help you to see typos or grammatical errors which can be very helpful. If your handwriting is illegible, you can handwrite the card and print out a typed version of it. We don’t recommend only sending the typed version as your handwriting is so personal, that it really means a lot to see it (even if you need that typed version as an extra to help the recipient be able to read it.)
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
Dear Allison,
I hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Christmas this year! Thank you so much for the sweater you sent me, I love the style and it’s the perfect color blue! I know it’s a long way off but I can’t wait to see you, Rebecca, and the kids at the reunion this summer. Until then, thank you again, and wishing you a very happy New Year!
Love,
Simon
And for those that need a reminder on how to address the envelope:
Allison Frenette
256 Whispering Meadows Lane
Unit #12
Carbondale, CO 81623
Finally, don’t forget your return address either in the upper left corner of the front of the envelope or centered on the back of it.
It’s as simple as that! Remember, it’s never too late to send a thank-you note. And while texts, phone calls, and videos are all great ways to let someone know you appreciated a gift, when you haven’t been able to thank someone in person, the handwritten note reigns supreme in the world of gratitude. It takes some effort and has that extra special personal touch of your handwriting, making it extra special.
Here are a few links to some stationers and cardmakers that we love:
That’s it for today, keep an eye out for the Saturday Sip for your weekend etiquette inspiration!
Until then, take care!