Thank you gifts & cards etiquette
I've always been a believer in thank you gifts and cards. I would never show up to anything I was invited to, literally anything, empty handed. I find it to be very important to show appreciation towards those who host or go out of their way to help you.
Over the past few months I have received some incredibly thoughtful thank you gifts and notes from friends and colleagues and while showcasing them all on my Instagram story (as well as sharing my opinion on thank you gifts) I got a lot of feed back from our followers looking for advice on the etiquette for sending Thank you notes so I am recapping my thoughts on this all for you today!
Read this, follow my rules and you will be considered one classy human. And trust me...it's the best feeling to show someone you care and appreciate them!
Here we go.....
THE DINNER PARTY
You've been invited to a dinner party. What is it for?
A family gathering
Birthday dinner
Cocktail Party
If you were on the invite list for this party then you must know someone in that party pretty well. That means, you think about what that person (presumably your friend!) would enjoy and you bring that gift to the party. Make sure you always consider just how much work is going into that person hosting you (and however many people are in your rsvp party). It's a lot of work and often expensive, so the least you can do is come with something.
Remember: It's the thought that counts.
Tip: Your fall back gift - should always be wine or some type booze that your host would enjoy.
1. Platters and Boards Book 2. Simple Desserts Book 3. Marble Cheese Board 4. Sugarfina Gift Box 5. Cheese knives
THE WEEKEND GUESTS
In this case, you were hosted for an entire weekend, maybe even just one night or of course longer, so you'll want to send them a quality gift.
Consider this...
Does your host love flowers?
Do they garden?
Do they enjoy cooking?
Do they have kids?
Show up with something OR consider sending a gift right after your stay with a sweet note attached.
1. Metallic gold elephant succulent 2. Vase of flowers 3. Pretty Plant 4. Even Prettier Plant
THE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS
For this, you send a note and if worthy, go ahead and send a bouquet of flowers. There are so many incredible companies now online who have cool looking arrangements and also sell unique items in the world of plants, chocolate, cheese and so much more.
1. Many Thanks 2. Thx 3. Thank you so much 4. Thank you
A KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY
If you are invited to a kids party and your kid attends, bring or send a gift. Now listen, these kids can get very spoiled and I'm the first to admit it. I actually end up hiding 65% of the gifts in a closet that I later re-gift or donate so don't think you have to come with a physical gift. What I think is really cool is to give back. Make a donation to a charity that you and your own child research or plant a tree (I do so often in Israel).
Now if you're the host of the kids birthday party - also VERY important is to write the thank you notes. What a beautiful skill for your child to learn, especially in our digital age. I truly hope that thank you cards NEVER go out of style.
1. Be a good Cookie 2. Plant a tree
IF YOU ARE THE HOST AND SOMEONE BRINGS YOU A GIFT, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND ANOTHER THANK YOU...
Enough is enough. Yes it's so kind and thoughtful to send a thank you but once you got a thank you gift or note, you no longer need to reciprocate. A verbal "thank you!" (or even a text!) is perfect.