How to Write a Thank You Card

Last week I received the ideal thank you card in the mail.  It was from Erin, a friend from church choir, for the gift at her bridal shower.  One of the tricks about thank you cards is making sure that you personalize them so that the person who got you the gift feels like their efforts of finding a gift were successful.  In addition, if the card is personalized there is a better chance that the receiver of the thank you card feels all warm and fuzzy inside, which, let’s be honest, is the entire basis of the greeting card industry.

So let’s take a look at the card – –

The first thing to notice is that it’s HAND WRITTEN.  This is approximately x1,000,000 better than the corporate template thank you notes.  Aside: my dad once called me (very excitedly) to tell me about the thank you letter that I received from the President of the University for singing at his inauguration.  He told me how nice it was and how it was signed by the President himself.  Fun fact: I did not sing at this event, I was in California.

Back to the thank you card.  Let’s break it down to really see what’s going on here – –

(Everything’s easier when you color code it.)

Step 1: Address the recipient

RED: I was addressed specifically.  A lot of times, when you buy a greeting card from the store I feel like people don’t even feel the need to personalize it at the top.  That really means that card could have been for anybody.  That’s not too special at all.  ALSO – my name is spelled right.  c-h-r-Y-s-t-i-n-a.  If nothing else, please make sure the person’s name is spelled right, otherwise, your card holds no credibility.

Step 2: Say thank you for the thing

ORANGE:  She says thank you AND she says what the thank you is for.  Now, if the gift is something like money, it gets a little iffier because you don’t want to sound greedy or make the person receiving the thank you card feel like it was a cop out.  However, if the person went out of their way to pick out something specific that they thought that you would like, you should probably take the time to acknowledge that in your thank you card.

Step 3: Explain why you’re thankful

YELLOW: Erin specifically says why the gift that I got her is useful, how she will use it AND makes a reference to a time in the future when she will use the gift when we are hanging out.  This makes the gift giver feel like they did a good job.  Which, let’s face it, is another purpose of the thank you card.  (Aside: Seamus is her new puppy)

Step 4: Mention the circumstances of the thanks

GREEN: A reference was made to the event at which the gift was given and how she was happy that I was able to attend.  She also says why she was happy that I was there.  Two more points for Erin.

Step 5: Add a futuristic note

BLUE: This is the summary of the thank you and a comment about when she will be seeing me again.  Although she will be seeing me at church more times before the wedding actually happens, she makes a note of the fact that I am singing in the choir in the wedding.  I reminded me that I was going to be singing in the wedding and it made me feel more involved with what was going on and like I was actually a part of Erin and Sean’s big day, which was pretty cool.

Step 6: Add a fun PS

PURPLE: Just when you get to the end and think, wow, that was a great card – you find a PS.  Can I please tell you how much I love PSes on cards.  Sometimes, they’re my favorite part of an entire card that I write.  They’re always something fun or quirky or sarcastic or an exclamation or just a good time.  And they’re awesome.