Q. Do you have any suggestions on how to streamline the process of thank-you notes?
A. If you’re hoping I’ll suggest anything along the lines of mass-produced messages of any sort, it’s not going to happen. Unacceptable approaches include: just signing a card with a pre-printed message, posting a general thanks on your website, e-mailing thanks, or just verbally thanking someone. (Verbal thanks are always acceptable and appreciated, but they don’t replace written thank-yous.) In my opinion, even writing the same message on every note ends up being pretty transparent to recipients—they can tell when you’re phoning it in. The bottom line is that a good thank-you note is thoughtful, personal and makes reference to both the gift and gift-giver. That said, thorough record-keeping as you receive items is one of the most important ways to make the task easier. If you have clear, accurate information on each gift, it will be much quicker to get your notes out. Lastly, remember that while writing thank-you notes may have historically been the bride’s job, nowadays it’s a task that should be shared between bride and groom.
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