It’s the season of graduations and weddings, wonderful opportunities to celebrate graduates’ accomplishments and individuals’ commitments to one another.
If you are a recent or soon-to-be bride, groom, or graduate, congratulations! Life is just beginning for you in many ways. One of the ways people celebrate your new life is by giving you gifts.
And one of the ways you celebrate people’s generosity is by writing thank-yous. Right? Right?
I would like to know what’s going on in the everyday world of thank-yous, and I would love to hear from you if:
- You have given a gift to a happy couple or graduate. Did you receive a thank-you? Do you expect to? How do you feel about receiving or not receiving written thanks?
- You are a recent or anxiously waiting bride or groom. Did you send thank-you notes to all gift-givers and your bridal party, or do you have a plan for sending them?
- You are a recent or upcoming graduate. Did you/Will you write notes for all your gifts? How do you feel about thank-yous?
I’m curious about this topic because I’m considering whether expectations around thank-yous have changed. As I grew up, I learned that it was necessary and kind to write thank-yous. (Nice girls do!) All my life I have worked to express my gratitude in writing. I’m sure I missed some opportunities, but any blunders were not intentional.
Now when I give a special gift–for example, for a wedding or graduation–I normally expect to receive a written thanks. I know communication has evolved, and I’m happy with a note, an email, a text, or another type of online communication.
It’s hearing nothing that bothers me. How about you?
Please share your experiences, and please forward the link for this blog to anyone you know who has something to say about thank-yous. In a few days, I’ll share some tips for quick and easy thank-yous.
Thank you!
Lynn