Thank You For Wedding Invitation: Design & Ordering Guide

So You Need Thank You Cards for Wedding Invitation Responses

Okay so first thing – you actually don’t NEED these cards but they’re really nice and honestly I wish more couples did them. I’m talking about those little thank you notes you send after someone RSVPs yes to your wedding, not the post-wedding thank yous for gifts (that’s a whole different thing). Spring 2023 I had this bride who was SO on top of etiquette and she ordered these gorgeous letterpress thank you cards specifically to send out after her invitation responses came in, and her guests were texting her like crazy about how thoughtful it was. It really set the tone for her whole wedding vibe.

The thing is, most people confuse this with the standard wedding thank you cards. Those come AFTER the wedding for gifts. These pre-wedding thank yous are for acknowledging that someone is taking time off work, maybe traveling, definitely spending money to celebrate with you. It’s kinda like saying “hey I see you and I appreciate that you’re making this effort.”

When to Actually Send These

You wanna send these out pretty quickly after someone RSVPs yes – like within two weeks max. I know that sounds tight but if you wait too long it gets weird and also you’ll forget. Trust me on this. The timing is tricky because RSVPs trickle in over like 4-6 weeks usually, so you’re gonna be doing multiple batches.

Some couples only send them to out-of-town guests who are traveling, which is totally fine. Others send to everyone who said yes. There’s no hard rule here and honestly the etiquette books are all over the place on this one.

Design Stuff You Need to Think About

Alright so design-wise, these should coordinate with your invitation suite but they don’t need to match exactly. Actually I think it’s better when they don’t match perfectly because then it doesn’t feel like you just ordered extra invite cards or something.

Here’s what I usually recommend:

• Use the same color palette from your invitations
• Keep the same general vibe (formal, casual, rustic, modern, whatever)
• Maybe use one element from your invite – like if you had a floral border, include one small flower
• Different card size is actually good – if your invites were 5×7, do these as flat A2 cards or folded note cards

One thing that annoys me SO much is when couples try to cram too much information onto these cards. Like they’ll add their wedding website again, or directions, or their registry info. Nah. This is purely a thank you. Keep it simple. You already sent all that other info with the actual invitation.

What to Actually Write on Them

The pre-printed part should be short. I’m talking like one or two sentences max. Something like:

“Thank you for celebrating with us”

Or

“We’re so grateful you’ll be there”

Then you handwrite a personal note. This is key – if you’re gonna do these cards at all, you gotta handwrite something. Even just “Can’t wait to see you there! So glad you can make it!” with your names signed. Takes like 30 seconds per card.

I had a groom once who… okay this is gonna sound random but my cat knocked over my coffee right onto a sample set while I was explaining this to him, and he just looked at the ruined samples and said “that’s a sign we should keep it simple” and honestly he was right. They did the most minimal design with just their names and a simple thank you, handwrote personal notes to everyone, and it was perfect.

Printing Methods and What They’ll Cost You

You’ve got options here and the price range is wild. Like $50 to $500+ depending on what you choose.

Digital Printing

This is your most affordable option. Places like Minted, Zazzle, Shutterfly – you can get 50 cards for like $50-75. The quality is totally fine for this purpose. Digital printing has come SO far in the past few years and unless someone is literally holding it up to examine it closely, they won’t know the difference between this and fancier methods.

Letterpress

Okay this is gorgeous but pricey. You’re looking at $200-400 for 50 cards usually. The texture is incredible though – you can feel the impression of the letters. If your invitation suite was letterpress, it makes sense to keep that consistency. But if your invites weren’t letterpress, I’d skip this for the thank yous honestly.

Thermography

This is that raised printing that feels fancy. Middle ground price-wise – maybe $100-150 for 50 cards. It photographs really well if you’re gonna post these on Instagram or whatever.

Flat Printing at a Local Print Shop

Sometimes the best option that nobody thinks about. Your local print shop can do flat printing on nice cardstock for super cheap. I’m talking maybe $40-60 for 50 cards. You won’t get all the fancy design options but if you bring them a simple design file, they can print it same-day usually.

Paper Stock Matters More Than You Think

Go for at least 110lb cardstock. Anything lighter feels flimsy and cheap, which kinda defeats the purpose of sending a special thank you. I prefer 120-130lb personally. The weight makes it feel substantial when someone opens their mailbox.

Finish options – matte, glossy, or textured. I’m gonna be honest, glossy feels wrong for a thank you card. It’s too… I dunno, corporate? Matte or textured (like linen or felt) reads as more personal and thoughtful.

How Many to Order

This is tricky because you won’t know your final headcount until all RSVPs are in, but you’re gonna want to order before that so they’re ready to go. Here’s my formula:

Take your guest count and multiply by 0.75. So if you invited 150 people, order about 110-115 cards. Most weddings get around 75-80% yes responses. Order a few extra because you WILL mess up handwriting at least a couple.

Some online companies let you reorder the exact same design later, which is clutch if you underestimate. Just check before you order initially.

Envelope Situation

You need envelopes obviously. Most card orders come with them but double-check. The envelope doesn’t need to be fancy – plain white or cream is totally fine even if your card is colorful.

Do NOT get envelope liners for these. That’s overkill. Save the lined envelopes for your actual invitations.

You’ll need to handwrite addresses on these envelopes too. I know, it’s another task on your wedding to-do list that’s already insane. But printed labels on a personal thank you card feels sorta… off? If your handwriting is truly terrible, ask your most artistic friend to help or hire a calligrapher for just the envelopes. Summer 2021 I had a couple where the bride had hand tremors from a medical thing and she was so stressed about addressing envelopes, so her maid of honor did all of them as her gift to the couple, which was really sweet actually.

Where to Order From

I’ve worked with pretty much every stationery company out there at this point. Here’s my real talk on them:

Minted: Great designs, user-friendly website, good sales. Their customer service is solid. Expect 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Paperless Post: Wait no that’s for digital invites mostly, ignore that.

Etsy: Amazing for custom designs and supporting small businesses. Quality varies wildly though – read reviews carefully. Turnaround time is usually 1-2 weeks after proof approval.

Artifact Uprising: Really nice quality, minimalist designs. A bit pricier but their cardstock is chef’s kiss.

Vistaprint: Cheap and fast but the quality shows it. Fine if you’re on a super tight budget but… you can tell.

Local stationery stores: Honestly my favorite option if you have a good one nearby. You can see paper samples in person, work with someone face-to-face, and support local. Prices are competitive with online stores usually.

Design Elements That Work Well

Keep it simple but personal. Here’s what I’ve seen work really well:

• Your names or monogram at the top
• One decorative element (floral, geometric, whatever matches your wedding theme)
• The thank you message in a nice font – readable though, not super scripty
• Lots of white space for your handwritten note

What doesn’t work: photos of you guys (save that for the actual wedding thank yous), too many colors (stick to 2-3 max), tiny font that’s hard to read, busy patterns that make it hard to write on.

Timeline for Ordering

Order these at the same time you order your invitations if possible. Most companies give you a discount for ordering multiple items together. Plus you’ll have the design elements fresh in your mind.

If you’re ordering separately, do it at least 8 weeks before your RSVP deadline. This gives you time for:

1. Design and proofing (1 week)
2. Printing and shipping (2-3 weeks)
3. Cards arriving and you having them ready when RSVPs start coming in

Nothing worse than scrambling to rush order these because the first batch of RSVPs came in and you don’t have cards ready.

The Handwriting Part

Set aside time each week to write these as RSVPs come in. Maybe Sunday evenings or whatever works for your schedule. Don’t let them pile up because then it becomes this huge overwhelming task and you’ll resent it.

Keep your messages short and specific if you can. Like “So excited you’re coming! Can’t wait to dance with you” or “Thank you for making the trip from Portland – it means everything.” Personalization makes people feel seen but you don’t need to write a novel.

Pro tip: keep a spreadsheet of who you’ve sent thank yous to. When you’re tracking RSVPs anyway, just add a column for “thank you sent” with the date. You will absolutely forget who you’ve sent them to otherwise, especially if you’re doing them in batches over several weeks.

Postage

Regular Forever stamps are fine for these. You don’t need fancy vintage stamps or custom stamps like you might have used on your invitations. Actually scratch that – if you have leftover custom stamps from your invites, use those! But don’t buy them specifically for these thank yous.

Make sure your cards with envelopes don’t exceed the weight limit for regular postage. Most A2 cards are fine but if you went with thicker cardstock or a folded card design, weigh one at the post office before you stamp all of them. Nothing worse than having them all returned for insufficient postage.

Do You Really Need These Though

Okay real talk – these are optional. Like fully optional. The etiquette isn’t strict on this one at all. If your budget is tight or you’re already drowning in wedding tasks, skip them. A warm greeting when guests arrive at your wedding is enough.

But if you have the budget (we’re talking like $75-150 usually) and the time, they’re a really lovely touch. I’ve never had a couple regret sending them. And I’ve had lots of guests mention to me at weddings that they were touched by receiving one.

They’re especially nice for destination weddings or when you have a lot of out-of-town guests making a big effort. Like acknowledging “hey I know you’re flying across the country and taking PTO and spending money on a hotel, and I see that and appreciate it” – that hits different than just a standard thank you.

Common Mistakes People Make

Ordering too late and then rushing, which means you pay extra for rush shipping and rush printing. Plan ahead.

Making the design too complicated. Simple is better here, I promise.

Forgetting to order enough. Always round up.

Not proofreading before approving the final design. I once had a couple who spelled “grateful” as “greatful” on 100 cards and didn’t catch it until they arrived. Had to reorder the whole batch.

Trying to include too much info on the card. It’s a thank you, not a newsletter.

Using a font that’s impossible to read. Your 85-year-old grandmother should be able to read it without her reading glasses if possible.

Alternatives If You’re Not Into Physical Cards

Look, if the whole physical card thing isn’t your vibe, you could do a really thoughtful email or text instead. I know that sounds informal but honestly a personalized message is better than a generic card. Just make it personal and warm.

Or do a quick phone call to out-of-town guests specifically. That’s actually more personal than a card when you think about it.

Some couples do a video message they send to everyone who RSVPs yes. Film it once, send it to everyone. Not my favorite approach because it feels a bit… impersonal? But it’s better than nothing.

The point is to acknowledge and appreciate people making an effort for your wedding, however you wanna do that is up to you.