A friend of mine was telling me about two weddings she attended over the summer. Both ceremonies were out of town, so she and her husband paid for airfare and a hotel. They also ordered presents from each couple’s registry. The events were lovely, and they had a wonderful time celebrating with their friends. There’s just one catch: They have still not yet received a thank you card from either couple.
When couples first get married, there’s a lot of hubbub and it may be hard to find the time to go through each present and send out notes. But several months down the line, it’s bad form to not have at least acknowledged the gift. My friend even said that part of her has a niggling feeling that the gifts may not have been received, even though she double-checked the order. It simply appears as though the couple have not bothered to follow proper wedding etiquette.
The same goes for baby showers, birthday or holiday gifts, and any other special occasions or events you may have recently celebrated. Have you thanked all of those who needed to be thanked? If not, take action! Even if it’s been a while, a simple handwritten note saying, “I’m sorry I’ve not yet been able to thank you properly for the gift/time you spent helping out with our event.” You can mention that you have used or enjoyed the present and perhaps suggest a time to catch up over coffee or lunch soon. It’s so simple, and yet so classy!