There is truly an etiquette involved in writing the thank-you cards for your wedding and shower gifts. A lot of bride's make the mistake of sending thank-you cards that are either pre-printed or not quite appropriate, especially if they haven't sent a lot of thank-you cards and are not even quite sure how to start. Or maybe you're a bride that is worried that you've waited to long to send them and it's too late, but while its important to send thank-you cards promptly, a late thank-you card is always better than no thank-you card at all. That is why you should follow these few simple tips when writing your thank-you notes to help you get started.

1.)    Appropriately address the giver. Always start your thank-you note with, "Dear Aunt _____________" or "Dear Mr. and Mrs. _____________".  This is the first reason why you should have someone keep a list of gifts and givers when you are opening your wedding or shower gifts.

2.)    Get personal. "Thank-you for your gift." is not personal or appropriate when sending a thank-you card. You should always thank them specifically for the gift and how you are using it. For instance you could say, "Thank-you for the wonderful coffee pot. Jim and I love starting our day with a fresh pot of coffee." or "Thank-you for the lamp and lamp shade. It looks great in our bedroom and allows me to read without disturbing Jim." If you receive money as a gift, you should never state the amount or say "cash" or "money" when writing your thank-you card. A great way to give thanks for money is to say something like, "Thank-you for your generous gift. We're putting it towards purchasing the new bedroom set we've been wanting." You could give thanks for a gift card in the same manner, " Thank-you for the Target gift card. We can't wait to use it to purchasing the steak knives we registered for, but did not receive."

3.)    Don't just thank them for the gift; thank them for attending your wedding or shower. By thanking them for attending, it lets them know that their presence was noticed and appreciated.

4.)    It's not about you. Try to keep the words "I", "we", "me", or "our" out of it as much as possible. Remember the key is to make the thank-you card about the gift giver. This is not the appropriate way to share honeymoon details.

5.)    Always end your note with "Love," or "Sincerely," depending on how close you are to the gift giver. You should also sign the card in both you and your spouse's names. For instance, "Love, Jim and Elaine" or "Sincerely, Jim and Elaine Roberts". A formal closing is always important, and even if your spouse isn't helping you write the thank-you cards, it is important to include him in the note to show his gratefulness for their gift as well.

A thank-you card is, after all, the least you can do to express your gratitude toward the gift giver for taking the time to select a personal gift and for sharing in your special day. Every new couple needs to know they have support, and every person who purchases a gift for you and attends your wedding is doing so to show their support as you and your spouse embark on this new journey together.