Sending Graduation Thank You Cards Etiquette

So, your graduation day has come and gone, the ceremonies were amazing, the graduation party was brilliant, and above all, the graduation gifts were super cool! The graduate is happy, the graduate’s guests are happy, everyone is happy. But, after the ceremony, party and gifts comes the most daunting part – sending out the graduation thank you cards!

Sending your very own personalized thank you cards is a great form of expression. Not only will you be expressing your appreciation and gratitude for those who attended your graduation ceremony, but you will also be thanking them for the wonderful gifts that they gave you. The ideal time to send out graduation thank you cards is either two weeks after the ceremony has taken place or when you did receive the gift. In today’s society, everyone welcomes thank you cards. It makes them feel special and important and that the gift was appreciated.

So, here are some of the dos and don’ts of sending out graduation thank you notes:

1. Send out your graduation thank you notes as soon as you can.
2. Always make sure that your notes are sent on informal stationery.
3. Whenever possible, send out thank you notes that are handwritten.
4. Be sure to refer to the gift specifically as the subject of the thank you note. For instance, “Thank you so much for the black pullover”.
5. Always express your sincere appreciation and gratitude.
6. Make sure you send out thank you notes to all your teachers or coaches or anyone who provided you support through all those years of hardship.
7. Always give your notes that polished look by using ‘Class of 2007’ envelope seals or personalized address labels.
8. Conclude your note by giving your final regards, like: Love, Gloria.
9. Never forget to write down your future address.
10. Never delay sending out thank you notes. Most notes should be sent within a week or two weeks after the gift has been received.

It is extremely important to personalize your graduation thank you notes. Although most graduation thank you notes can be sent on informal stationery, it doesn’t mean that you can use a torn piece of paper! Always find notes that somehow reflect your personality, and always keep a ready supply with you. If you do not like the gift, you don’t need to lie. If it isn’t of your choice you must still express appreciation for the thought behind the gift.

To make the task of sending out thank you cards a lot more bearable and less daunting, you should send out only a few graduation thank you cards at a time – not all together. Make sure your thank you cards are all ordered from the same company as your graduation invitations, announcements and graduation cards.

If you are sending out personalized thank you cards, make sure the wording is sincere and genuine and reflects the thoughtfulness of the gift giver and your appreciation for the gift. There is no ideal way to write a thank you note. As long as you’re thanking the person in your heartfelt words, the card will always be special.