Thank You Notes Etiquette
The best time to send thank you notes is always the day after the event, whether a birthday, holiday, or other. But sometimes this simply isn't feasible. So just what is the proper thank you note etiquette?
The expert on all things to do with etiquette, Miss Manners (Judith Martin) states that thank you notes should be written about 20 minutes after the present has been received lest the enthusiasm for the gift die away but she goes on to say that you should send thank you cards up to 14 days after an event. That said, there are always exceptions such as gifts sent when one is ill or in the hospital, or gifts of sympathy. Thank you notes for these gifts can be sent at any time as it is known that you are not at the top of your game and it will be assumed that a thank you note will not be sent promptly.
What if you have just remembered that you never wrote a thank you note for that gift that Aunt Sue sent you for your birthday three months ago? You should immediately write a belated thank you note—better late than never definitely applies to thank you note etiquette!
Saying thank you can become even more special with a custom thank you note or a photo thank you card. But even if your thank you note is just a sweet note on a blank note card, it will surely be appreciated and your good thank you note etiquette is sure to be noticed.
Thank you note etiquette does not dictate the type of thank you note that you should send and in this digital age it is becoming increasingly popular to send e-thank you notes. However, most thank you note writers reject the e-thank you notes as they tend to show a lack of caring and the lack of a desire to take a little extra time and expense to select and purchase a special thank you note for someone who has either given a gift or provided a service.