We're Going to Be One Happy Family...Or Else!

 

A very unique book written by a nationally respected marriage and family therapist who has worked with couples and families for over 30 years. Learn why a mother bought 25 copies for EVERYONE in her family to get everyone on the same page during the most intense, public, family event. Learn more

Wedding Discounts for Marriage Preparation

 

Want to literally save hundreds on your wedding? Do good by your upcoming marriage and let vendors give you discounts for your efforts. See qualifying purchases and participating vendors!

Wedding Discount Program Details

GETTING married is cake compared to BEING married

 

We make time to eat, sleep and go to work. Somehow the most complex, life long relationships are assumed to magically work. We offer many options for marriage preparation for the secular, religious, the talkative personality, the laid back personality... Learn more

 

Wedding Thank You Notes

 

Wedding thank you notes often surprise couples in how tiring and challenging they can be. Here are some times on how to create great wedding thank you notes that won't sound stiff, impersonal, or bore you to death! I somehow managed to impress a lot of people with my thank you notes so here's what was going on in my mind while writing them.

 

I will cover three main areas of thank you notes: you registered for it, you got cash, you don't know the gift giver, and you hate it!

 

You wanted it and you got it!

 

While wedding registries can seem practical, and they are, it can be sort of ackward to thank someone for giving you what you asked for. For many of us it's the ackward materialism of weddings that we don't really enjoy.

 

Focus your thank you note on WHY you wanted the gift or what you will DO with the gift!

 

Example: I got a Crock-Pot off my registry (slow cooker for those not in the midwest.) I shared with the gift giver how exciting it was to finally feel like a Minnesotan (everyone makes "hot dishes" with slow-cookers.) I moved to Minnesota when I was 10 but it's those little things that make you feel more connected to your region! The gift giver saw my genuine excitement and got a good laugh over an "inside joke" about where we live.

 

Example: I got a Whirley Pop stove popcorn maker off my Registry. The gift giver had already said how excited they were to buy that specific gift because they had a long Popcorn tradition in their family to watch movies and make a wide variety of popcorn seasonings. In return I said how I was looking forward to all the movies and fun associated with popcorn and was excited to try the new recipes that came in the box.

 

You got money

 

Remember no matter the quantity the guest gave you, the TOTAL cash you recieve may go towards something important like a new house, starting school again, or helping with the honeymoon. Be careful what you say so you don't offend the gift giver. Older people may expect the cash to be used for household items, so they may be a bit startled to say you're glad you got the money and will be paying off credit card debt with it. You could also express, as I did, the general need because we had a brand new house and how many expenses come up in settling into our new life. People love to feel they're able to help with your new married life. You wouldn't need to give details. They get it. You can also express how the money will go towards the rest of your Registry items and how grateful you are to complete your set of dishes (or something else practical.)

 

You don't know the gift-giver

 

It is always fun to get a gift and not have to deal with the ackward hand shaking at your wedding of people you've never met! But it may also make you feel really ackward and silly for getting a nice gift from strangers. I suggest focusing on the relationship shared between the gift giver and the person you know.

 

Example: I had a lot of wedding thank you notes to write for women I had never met and likely never would. It was a small town social obligation thing from my mother-in-law. Instead of simply thanking them for the gift, I always tried to tie back that perhaps my mother-in-law talks fondly of THEM, or the club or church they're connected to, and that perhaps she'll be able to share some wedding photos when they see each other in the future.

 

You didn't want it and will be giving it away!

 

Obviously you won't be sharing how awful their gift is. Try to focus instead on the gift GIVER, their style, their lifestyle, and express your gratitude for the item. You can even reference the GENERAL items use and how you like the general item.

 

Example: extremely ugly candle sticks. You can instead of focus on how much you love candles and look forward to having a lot of candle-lit meals as a new married couple. You aren't lying or saying you're going to use THEIRS! But you are giving them a personal gratitude for the "idea" behind the gift.