When people are thoughtful enough to honor you with a gift you should always send a hand written thank you note. They took the time to pick out a gift the least you can do is thank them. Some how it use to be thought that you had a year to send out thank you notes after a wedding. This is no longer the case and is not acceptable. You should send out the thank you note as soon as possible the sooner the better. If you just received the gift than the feeling you felt when you received it will be fresh in your mind and you can write a gracious thank you note. for events such as a shower or birthday party you are expected to send out your thank you cards even sooner within a week is a good rule of thumb. 

 

Sometimes it can be hard Keeping track of who you need to send thank you cards to. You can always request the help of a friend or family member to keep track at a shower or party. When the presents are opened your helper can keep track of  who gave what. This can either be done by keeping a list with name and present or by gathering the cards that come with the presents. After the person reads the card they can hand them over to their helper. The helper can make sure the name is written on the card and write on the back what the present was. The cards can then be kept all together and be given to the recipient at a latter time.

 

At a wedding where guest bring the gifts and put on a table you can ask someone to be in charge of the presents. Someone can inconspicuously watch watch when people leave a gift on the gift table and then with tape they can make sure that the card is securely attached to the present. This will insure that the card does not get misplaced. Many presents will be sent a head of time to your home or your parents home. These can be kept track of as you open them.

You should plan to do several cards  each day so that it doesn't get overwhelming. You should include a personal note hand written on each card addressed to the recipient.  The groom can help with this also. 

 

In todays fast past word the art of sending thank you cards for birthdays and small events such as graduation seem to have been lost, but it is never to late.