How to Write the Perfect Thank You Note

Have you ever wanted to send thank you notes after a wedding, baby shower, birthday, job interview, or other event but weren’t quite sure what to include, when to send it, or how to write one? You’re in luck! This is your all-inclusive guide on how to write the perfect thank you note for any occasion!

“To sit at one’s table on a sunny morning, with four clear hours of uninterruptible security, plenty of nice white paper, and a fountain pen– that is true happiness.” – Winston Churchill

When to Send a Thank You Note

In the world of stationery and etiquette, thank you notes are racing down the road of extinction. Most people say they don’t have the time to write a proper thank you note or they simply post something on Facebook or Twitter thanking everyone with one message.

But have you ever received a handwritten thank you note with a heartfelt message? It’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? It makes you feel special.

But here’s the thing:

Most people simply don’t know when to send a thank you note or they simply forget to. So here’s a brief guide on when you should send a thank you note for different occasions:

• Within 24 Hours:
  • After a job interview (sending a thank you note will make you stand out from the crowd since not many people do so nowadays)
• Within 4 Weeks:
  • Baby shower gifts
  • Baptism gifts
  • To those who helped out at a funeral
  • Bridal shower gifts
  • Graduation gifts
  • After receiving a scholarship
• Within 6 weeks:
  • Wedding gifts

What to Write

So what exactly should you write in a thank you note? It doesn’t have to be a page long, but it should be heartfelt. If you’re writing thank you notes for wedding gifts, be sure to use specifics. For example, instead of writing, “Thanks for the blender,” try writing something along the lines of “Thank you so much for the Ninja Professional blender from our registry! We love making smoothies in the morning so this was the perfect gift!”

Easy, right?

If you received cash for a gift, write an explanation of how you plan to use the money. So, instead of writing, “Thanks for the money,” write something like, “Thank you so much for your generous gift! We’re going to put it towards buying our first house!”

Something to keep in mind:

Don’t forget to thank your gift givers for their presence, too! Having them at your wedding, baby shower, birthday party, or other event is a gift in and of itself, so be sure to thank them for coming.

As for thank you notes for a job interview, use that note to thank them for meeting with you and to also remind them of your skills. You can find an excellent example over at Monster.com.

What Stationery Should You Use?

If you’re sending thank you notes for wedding gifts, try to use stationery that matches your wedding invitations (or at least as close as possible) or even ones that match the theme of your wedding. For baby shower gifts, graduation parties, and other specific events, you’ll be able to find wonderful and fun boxed sets at our shop!

If you’re sending a thank you note after a job interview, a classic style like a simple ecru note. Unless you’re interviewing for an artistic job, avoid thank you notes with frills or bold colors.

What Pen Should You Use?

Here’s a question not many people think about when writing thank you notes: what pen do I use? While most people have a ton of ballpoint pens laying around, it may not be the best option when it comes to creating handwritten notes. Here’s a brief breakdown of the different types of pens:

Rollerballs

You may be wondering what the difference is between a ballpoint and rollerball pen is. Well, a ballpoint uses thick oil–based ink while a rollerball pen uses liquid ink.  Choose a rollerball for a smoother touch. Your writing strokes will feel more fluid with a rollerball because there is more liquid.  In that way, the roller ball and fountain pen are very similar.

Ballpoints

If you are looking for a pen with ink that will last much longer than that of a rollerball, write your notes with a ballpoint pen.  You’ll also have more controlled action with this kind.  Did you know that ballpoints have white ink pigments from titanium oxide as well as metallic gold ink from copper–zinc alloy?  And your favorite ballpoint pen with black ink has the pigment carbon black, which comes from coal and oil. 

Ballpoints use small rotating brass, tungsten carbide, or steel balls. The rotations allow for ink to disperse in the right amounts as you write.

Fountain Pens

Fountain pens use a capillary motion to disperse watery, dark India ink. Fountain pens do great when you want to write a note, letter, or paper in cursive. Instead of doing individual strokes for each letter, keep the pen writing without bringing the pen up from the paper until the next word. You will need to use more skill and pay more attention to write nice and neat with a fountain pen. If you decide to use a fountain pen for your thank you notes, be sure to practice a bit on scrap paper first.

Occasions…Just Write Has What You Need

Can’t wait to get started on writing your thank you notes? We have just what you need! We have thank you notes for every occasion, beautiful pens of varying sizes, styles, and types, and we love to help you find the perfect combination so you can get to writing your thank you notes! So contact us today to find out more! No matter what the occasion, we’ve got you covered!

When was the last time you sent a thank you note? Do you have a favorite type of stationery you use? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more great tips and ideas!