But sometimes the task can be a little daunting, especially when it comes to writing “thank you’s” for gifts you don’t really love, or notes to people you don’t really know. But with a little finesse and a few helpful pointers you’ll be on your merry way!

Make a List

Hopefully you’ve been keeping track of everyone who sent a gift, and what that gift was. A simple excel spreadsheet works well for this type of thing. Use your wedding invitation list as a starting point, and add space to write in what gift each person sent, and when the “thank you” card was mailed. If you don’t have a gift list already, go through your invitation list and do your best to recall what each person sent.

Get the Cards

Of course, you’ll need something to write on! You can always buy boxed “Thank You” cards, but why not seize this one last chance to personalize them? There are hundreds of gorgeous options; you’ll have lots of fun choosing one to reflect your style, and adding your own photos and message.

Time Frame

Proper etiquette dictates that you have 2 week to send a card for gifts received before the wedding, and 2-3 months for gifts received at or after the wedding. But of course, a late “thank you” is better than no “thank you” at all, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t get them all out on time.

What to Write

Remember that this is just a short note, not a long letter. Include the following:

• Thank the person for the specific gift: “Thanks so much for the lovely crystal pitcher!”
• Say something about how it will be used: “We look forward to using it at many future happy occasions. It will certainly add elegance to our table!”
• If you can’t say something nice about the gift, praise the person: “Thank you for the green-and-orange bath towels.  Your thoughtfulness and generosity are greatly appreciated!”
• If the the gift was money, you can mention something you’d like to use it for: “Thank you for the check! We look forward to doing a few home improvement projects, and your gift will definitely come in handy. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve done!”
• Mention how much you enjoyed seeing them at the wedding, or if they weren’t there, how you missed them.

Getting it Done

Because writing “thank you” cards tends to be one of those things people procrastinate about, help yourself get them off in a timely fashion. One good suggestion is to have a “thank-you-card-writing station.” This is a place where you have everything all ready to go- cards, envelopes, pens, stamps, and gift list. Make sure you’ve got the addresses on the gift list so you can drop the cards in the mail right away!

Write each card as soon as you receive a gift. This way they won’t pile up on you. And avoid the urge to be creative or witty– it is enough to express your gratitude for the gift and appreciation for the person who sent it!

Martha Stewart Weddings and other wedding websites have some lovely ideas to get you started. Check out these photos and then let it flow from there!

Invitations and Envelopes:

via 100layercake

Click here for How to Make These Wallpaper Envelopes.

Ceremony Decor:

The valence, runner, and chair covers are all made from this elegant wallpaper. Click here to learn more about how to do it yourself!

Reception Decor:

These ideas incorporate wallpaper in many things, such as the lampshades, table runners, bottle labels, place card displays, and napkin rings (via Martha Stewart).

Photo Booths

We are a great fan of Wedding Photo Booths, where guests can pose for fun or formal pictures with a great backdrop and fun props. Wallpaper is a fantastic way to entice your guests to pose!

Here are just a few of the gorgeous wedding things I’ve found by browsing Etsy!

1. Custom Alencon Lace Wedding Jacket – Short or Capped Sleeves by GlorybyJeannieLee:  “The Alencon Lace jacket is my favorite bridal accessory, as it will dress up even the most simple gown.”

2. Collette Lace Shoes with Hand Singed Roses and Rhinestone Buttons Marie Antoinette Style Ballroom Slippers by ShatteredPrincess. New, but enhanced with vintage lace, definitly one of a kind.

3. Wedding Sign Directional Wedding Shabby Chic 24 x 12 by tcart2010:  Hand painted signs direct your guests in the right direction!

4. SPARKLING CHAMPAGNE on ICE – Hand Knit Spiraling Twist – Pearl and Crystal Bangle by SerebaDesigns : Creamy 8mm ivory and 8mm champagne glass pearls are mixed with 6mm soft white glass pearls… all hand knit onto light silver durable metallic cord.

5. Martha Stewart Replica – Wedding Cake Butterfly Packs by clearcutcrafts2007:  Pack of 30 butterflies in 5 different colors and many designs.

6. Men’s wedding ring shiny classic finish 14k solid gold by havalazar: This beautiful stylish hand made band from 14K recycled gold can be customized  according to your request.

7. Retro-Tulle Headband with Hand-made Chiffon Flower with Button center by FascinatingCreations :  Soft and pretty, a little bitty hippy but 100% sophisticated!

8. Chandelier Earings, Crystal Quartz Little Wings by SarahHickeyJewellery : Available in Sterling Silver or 14K Gold Filled

9. Flower Girl Fancy Tutu Dress Custom Colors by CHICLILLOVEBUGS : This Elegant Design will be recreated in any size ranging from newborn to size 6 girls, in your choice of color, fabric type, and extra embellishing.

10. Bridal Bouquet Turquoise Fuschia Fiesta Wedding Flowers by  AmoreBride : This silk bouquet and others can be customized to your specific color and floral needs!

*

*

*

*

Gold table setting ideas: Elizabeth Ann Designs

Gold Torrent Drops: Anthropologie $48

Golden vessels bearing silver number stickers+ smaller gold-leaf votives: Marthat Stewart Weddings

Metallic Crepe Paper flowers: Creative Jewish Mom

Gold hair comb: Etsy $98

Elephant Card Holders: American Bridal $21 for set of 12

Hershey‘s Hugs and Kisses via Firehow

Glittery accessories: Martha Stewart Weddings

Long gold dress: Trina Turk $298; Short sequined dress Nordstrom $158

Blake Long Faceted Necklace: Revolve Clothing $149

Armani Gold tie: Nordstrom $145; Elie Tahari silver tie: BlueFly $59

Wedding cake via Pretty Little Things

*

*

*

All photos and ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings.

*

*

*

Escort-Card Posies: All you need are fabric flowers, map pins, and glue to bring your seating assignments into bloom. Would look great with little multicolored fall leaves, too!  Click here for the  How-To!

Blossoming Backdrop: A string of white lights, vellum and card stock, hole punches, and glue!  Click here for the How-To!

Paper Links:Vellum and double sided tape make paper chains chic! Mix-n-match colors to get the perfect look. Click here for the How-To (as if you really need it!)

Wooden Seating Cards: Paper-thin wood veneer, craft punches, and calligraphy pens make these distintive place cards! Get the How-To Here!

Flower Girl Cardigan: Sequins and fabric glue make it fun!  Works wonders for all sorts of other things too, including shoes, sashes, bouquets, headbands, and favors.

Poster Guest Book: Instead of having your loved ones write messages in a book, put out a poster on which they can sign their names. You can download the editable (and free!) clip art here, send the file to a printer, and it’s done! Or put together your own poster using stencils, paint, ribbon, and anything else you fancy! Get the How-To here!

Seasonal Fruit Favor: You’ll need fruit, tissue paper, and rubber stamps for this one! For personalized stamps, have an office-supply store make a rubber stamp with your names, wedding date, and  illustration. Get the How-To here!

Harvest Wedding Centerpieces: The beauty of these is that they can be made weeks in advance!  Wheat, grains, and other dried grasses (available at crafts stores), tied with a luxurious satin bow. Get the how-to here!

Mini Candied Apples: For these dainty nibbles, embellish candied apples with a paper leaf. You’ll need a leaf-shaped craft punch, glue, and short skewers. You can hand-write, stamp, or print “Enjoy” on each leaf. Get the Candy Apple recipe here!

Flower Girl Basket: For this charming look, get yourself a pretty basket, some cotton fabric, silk ribbon, and leaves. You can order pressed leaves if you don’t have any real ones in your area! Get the how-to here!

Fall Wedding Boutonnieres: Incorporate the shades and symbols of autumn into festive boutonnieres. Get the How-to here!

This is a great conversation-starter for guests, and assigned topics will result in thoughtful, humorous, touching inscriptions that you’ll definitely want to read over and over again!

You can find the clip art at Martha Stewart Weddings, so all you need to do is print them on waterproof paper that will make for sturdy book covers. The notebooks slip into one another to create one big, bookshelf-worthy tome. Or, you can create your own version by inventing your own questions and decorating notebooks in your own style.

Guest Book PDF /Notebooks, Start Here. / “Adventure” paper, by Nat Geo, from Eastern Mountain Sports. /”LePen” pen, by Marvy, from Lytha Studios.

For your wedding, you can use it to decorate your invitations, save-the-date cards, place cards, favor boxes, centerpieces, flower and candle holders, wreaths and flags… just about anything. It’s a sweet and super-easy way to put your color scheme to good use!

feature image: Cute Tape

Here are some great ideas to give you an idea of how to use it:

Striking envelope seals via The Beat that My Heart Skipped

Invitation decor via Pure Joy Events via Mer Mag

Funky tags for place cards, favors, whatever! via Happy Tape

Lots of fun ideas via  Martha Stewart Weddings: favor boxes, drink skewers, votive decorations, and unique guest book ideas!

Bunting via The Beat that My Heart Skipped

Decorated glasses via Fresh Home Ideas

Table numbers via minted via Intimate Weddings

Glass bottle vases via The Beat that My Heart Skipped

Guestbooks via Beyond Beyond via Decor8

Colorful vases via Martha Stewart Weddings via Dynamite weddings

You can even decorate the walls with giant washi tape!

Besides, braids are one of today’s hottest bridal trends, so you’ll be chic, stylish and beautiful on your big day!

feature image: The Knot

Ballerina Twist: The ballerina twist up-do is a soft and romantic  hairstyle for the classic bride. This one’s got a little braided action going on!  (via One Wed.com)

Long and Loose: Nicole Kidman shows us how a long, loose braid paired with side-swept bangs can be classic yet current. (via iVillage)

Beach hair: Braids are great for a relaxed, casual wedding, when you wear them in a loose and unfussy style. (via HubPages)

Sophisticated Updo: Adding some tiny braids into upswept hair turns a regular updo into something special. Take a cue from Jessica Alba! (via WooInfo)

Embellished Braid: The look of  a braid, without any actual braiding! Unusual and elegant at the same time. (via The Knot)

Textured hair: Lots of texture makes this hairstyle stand out from the crowd (a la Blake Lively)! (via iVillage)

Fishtail Braid: Another causal look that’s great for an outdoor wedding! (via The Knot)

Soft Sweep: Seven loose braids are brought together and secured with pins. The rest of the hair flows naturally for a pretty half-up-half-down do. (via Martha Stewart Weddings)

All photos and recipes from Martha Stewart Weddings.

*

*

*

Fans & Parasols

Summer months and tropical climates are ideal for weddings, but when the sun is beating down upon you, wouldn’t a nice fan or parasol come in handy? wedding favors to save the day! Try hand fans made from colored silk or classic sandalwood fans, which can even be personalized! Or, for an inexpensive way to keep your guests cool, consider wedding parasols made from light weight paper and available in just about every color!

Eco-friendly Favors

Just because it’s your day doesn’t mean you need to be thoughtless of others! I love the idea of eco-friendly favors, which remind your guests to safeguard our planet.  Earth-friendly gifts may contain organic ingredients, incorporate recycled components, renewable resources, or biodegradable papers. They are a wonderful way to thank your guests for sharing in your wedding, while making a difference in the world.

Edible Favors

Who doesn’t like going home with a treat? There are so many choices you’ll fee like a kid in a candy store again! Hershey chocolates, personalized cookies, mints in pretty little tins, honey pots, lemonade mix, mini gumball slot machines… This way, the party doesn’t end when the guests leave!

Practical Favors

Looking for clever wedding favors that earn their keep? Give your guests a thank-you gift that they can actually use, such as kitchen accessories, pens, coasters, luxurious bath items, bottle stoppers, luggage tags, bookmarks, salt-n-pepper shakers, compact mirrors, and more… all designed with a “wedding” spin. Check out all these great, practical favors at affordable prices!

Hundreds more beautiful, affordable wedding favors at American Bridal.com… “Where Smart Brides & Grooms Shop & Save on Wedding Favors!”