After your wedding, it is essential to get your thank-you notes promptly written and sent out to all those who were involved in your wedding process, whether it was bridal showers, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding itself, or the wonderful mound of gifts you got to open. Taking time to write a thank-you is the least you can do in return for all the time and thoughtfulness the givers spent for you and your groom.

Wedding thank-you’s aren’t something you can put off: the year-long grace period doesn’t stand. Ideally, get them sent off within two weeks after getting back from your honeymoon, and no later than a month. However, don’t worry about writing thank-you’s on your honeymoon. Your honeymoon is a time for you two to relax together—you can start checking of your list of thank-you’s when you get back.

With the number of cards you have to write, it can seem to be a daunting task. But determine to write five a day, and you will be surprised how quickly you get through them! Include your hubby, too.

Remember your thank-you’s do not have to be perfectly formatted. What really matters is to make sure you sound genuinely appreciative. A trite note will only seem as if you were too unappreciative to take time to really think about what you were saying.

Specifically mention the gift and tell how you look forward to using it—or already have. If you returned the gift, simply express your thankfulness for their thoughtfulness. Be sure to write notes to those who helped you with all which was involved in your wedding. And thank those who attended.

Always handwrite your thank-you’s. E-cards, general thank-you’s on your website, or typed out cards do not cut it. Handwritten cards mean you took a personal effort in thanking them. Use black or blue ink, and write as legibly as possible.

Be sure to include your return address on the envelopes. This way the recipients now have your new address handy.

Try not to use many “I”’s in your note. Focus more on the person, using “you,” instead.

Read over your card before you send it off, checking for proper spelling and obvious grammar mistakes. To cut down on errors, consider typing out your note before handwriting it in your card.

If you have a wedding photo of you two as a couple, include copies in your card. However, if it will make you delay in sending notes out, forgo this. Send the pictures later or make them available online.

You can purchase cards which match your wedding theme. Often, when ordering your invitations, you can also buy your thank-you cards. Or stock up on appropriate cards from your local Dollar Tree as a budget saver.