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How to Write a Thank You Card
In our increasingly digital age, many fear that correspondence is a lost art.
Here at Casa de Suna, we wholeheartedly disagree! There’s nothing better than receiving–or writing–the perfect thank you card, but we know that many are unsure where to start.
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So, we tapped our resident Etiquette Expert, Nikesha Tannehill Tyson, from the Swann School of Protocol, to tell us everything we need to know.
Question 01
First, what occasions call for a thank you card?
You can send a thank you card for a number of occasions. It’s customary to send a thank you note after you’ve attended a hosted event, completed a job interview, or received a gift. Some business owners like to send thank you cards to valued clients and customers, and you can even send a friend a thank you note after they’ve done you a favor.
Question 02
Makes sense! So, after the first time you stay at a friend’s house for the weekend, you should probably send a card. But what about regular visits? Do you need to send a thank you each time?
No, a thank you card is not necessary for each stay. A simple gift for the hosts and a sincere thank you in person works well for regular visits.
Question 03
How long should a thank you card be?
No need to make your cards extra wordy–although, if you have lots to say, feel free. It’s appropriate for a thank you card to be as short as three lines.
Question 04
How would you structure a thank you card?
- Greeting
- Thank you
- Name the gift, favor, or experience
- Mention what it means or meant to you
- Closing
Question 05
Can you show us an example?
Tyler,
Thank you for such a beautiful scarf. Green is one of my favorite colors! I can’t wait to wear the scarf with my trench coat.
Kindest Regards,
Nikesha
Question 06
How would you sign off?
Depending on how well you know the recipient, the following all work: kind regards, best, thank you, sincerely, love
Question 07
How long after an event or stay at someone's home can you wait to send a thank you card?
Thank you cards should be sent anytime from three days to two weeks. If it is beyond two weeks it is still okay to send the thank you note, after all, better late than never.
However, there are certain instances where these time frames differ. For example, you should always aim to send a post-job interview thank you note within 24 hours (with that said, thank you emails after a job interview also suffice, but doing both may work in your favor). But when it comes to thanking people for wedding gifts, you have two months.
That’s all! We hope you use this advice as an excuse to buy yourself some beautiful stationery and indulge in some gratitude.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Be sure to tag Casa de Suna on social media if you were inspired by our thank you card advice by using #casadesuna.
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