Thank You Organization

Nothing like welcoming yourself into the married life with all the love from family and friends. Wedding gifts and cards were such a fun thing to get, open and read (cards). I loved seeing the cards people picked out, and the messages written inside. There were so many words of encouragement,  so many kind wishes and multiple snips of advice for marriage. How do you keep it all organized though?  

I focus this article on wedding thank you organization, however the below tips and tricks can be applied to any sort of thank you organization. This method is perfect for Christmas gifts as well! 

Organization 

Organization is key to keeping yourself sane, and making sure you have every gift/monetary contribution documented in some sort of fashion. It will make writing those personalized thank you letters a breeze.

Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet may sound extremely daunting, however do not worry it’s not. It was the easiest way I found to organize all of our gifts, not only for our wedding, but for all of the events leading up to the wedding. It has been a one stop shop and easy way to mark off on completion of thank you letters/cards. It has helped me feel confident that I haven’t missed or left anyone out. 

I have found Google Sheets to be the best platform to use. Google Sheets has helped me keep the method to my madness. Not really madness, more like type A perfection, but still. The best thing about Google Sheets is you don’t need a computer to pull it up. There is a hand dandy Google Sheet app you can download on your phone. You can then add in items whenever, and wherever.  These days our phones are glued to our hips, so this is a fabulous solution. 

I created one spread sheet with multiple tabs on the bottom of it. Each tab is a different event. I created one for each of my wedding showers, my bachelorette trip and our wedding. 

Having a separate tab for each event has been a big help. The separate tabs have not only helped me prioritize which thank you come first, but each different event requires a different sort of thank you letter/card. The wedding being the most formal thank you letters and the other events a little less formal of a thank you card.

Each Google Sheet then is simply organized with 3 columns. The name of the person giving the gift, details of the gift and the address of the gift-er. Including the address is not necessary, but it makes it easy when writing the thank you letter/ card.  Having the address right there so you can address the envelope right away, and don’t have to go to multiple different spots to get a thank you letter/card completed is the BEST!

As a thank you letter/card is completed I highlight the row. This signifies completion and time to move on to the next thank you. 

Keep on Top 

As wedding gifts and cards arrive keep on top of adding them to your spread sheet. Do not make the excuse that you will add the time in later, as there is a high probability you may forget.  If you don’t forget you may not add all of the gift details. 

Cardinal Rule

Don’t open any gift or card without having your spread sheet with you. This is where Google Sheets comes in great handy being on your phone. Once you open the gift/card add it in the spread sheet. If you don’t know the senders address or it’s not included with the gift/ card, you can always add that piece in later. 

Writing Thank You’s 

There are 3 rules or points I would like to make here. 

1. Spread it out/make a plan: You do not have to tackle all the thank you letters/cards in one day. Make a plan. Maybe you say you are going to do 5 a day, Monday through Friday, and then let you hand have a break on the weekend. Maybe your plan is to only do them on the weekend, and you are going to tackle them with your morning coffee. Whatever works best for you is what you need to do. No one knows you and your working habits better than yourself. 
2. Make them Personable: Hand write all of your thank you letters/cards. While typing them up and printing them out may seem easier and save you time, there is nothing like a hand written note. It may cause your hand cramps, but this is why you make a plan. I love getting hand written letters/cards. They are extremely personable and touching. Handwritten notes/letters are far and in between these days, so this will really make a heart felt impact on the recipient. 
3. Remember the Love: Maybe you aren’t one of those people who say love. If you aren’t, remember add whatever your heart feels as the most sincere closing to the card. Don’t just write your names. Come up with some sort of exit phrase to the thank you that provides warmth in the closing. Some examples are: 
   • Cheers
   • Love
   • XOXO
   • Warmest
   • Blessings

Closing Remarks 

Have fun! Remember, all those gifts and monetary contributions came to you with thought and love. Those individuals took time to really think of what you would like/ what they would like to give you. In return they deserve your time. They deserve a heart felt thank you, something that’s more than just, “Thank you for XXX.” Write them something personable. The world needs more happy and positivity, and something as small as a few sentences can really make someones day. 

Cheers!

XOXO