Unique Thank You Wording

So many of you have written me looking for inspiration regarding unique wording for your thank you notes and cards. Some want ways to write essentially the same letter to two people, for instance, the two librarians at your sons school or another thank you note to a customer you’ve already thanked prior.

Others just want to find a way to make the words flow.

We’ll start off with a basic template for a thank you note or card that you may have seen me write about before and branch out from there.

Basic Template for a Note

  1. Salutation (Tip use name as printed on the gift or invitation)
  2. Thank you for insert gift, event or favor
  3. Positive comment regarding what you are thanking them for or how you will use the gift
  4. Compliment the recipient or the gift
  5. A second thanks
  6. The Sign Off

A sample of this basic letter would be:

  1. Dear Jane,
  2. Thank you for the gift card to Target you sent for Christmas.
  3. I used it to buy the cutest pair of boots and new socks to go with it.
  4. You always know just what I want.
  5. Thanks again.
  6. Love Christy

Now let’s use this template, but change it up a little for the example of sending it to two librarians. The thing that makes it tricky is that you know it’s likely the two people will talk to each other, and you want each to be special. The same would hold true if you’re sending a note to two bridesmaids that you know equally well and both helped with the same duties. The easiest way to handle this is to just be straightforward and mention each other in the note and change the wording slightly.

Note #1,

Dear Mrs. White,

Thank you for all the joy you bring to Josh at the library. There isn’t a week that goes by that Josh doesn’t mention how much he loves going to visit you and Mrs. Black. The help both of you provide with reading and selecting books is greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the wonderful work you do.

Warmest Regards,
Christy

Note #2

Dear Mrs. Black,

Thank you for being so helpful to Josh when he visits the library. He always mentions how much he loves going to visit you and Mrs. White. The assistance both of you provide him with book selection and his reading is very much appreciated. Thanks again for your wonderful work.

Warmest Regards,
Christy

The Art of the Re-Thank

What about that customer or person you already thanked, but they’ve been so wonderful and done that same thing again, you want to thank them again? As always, just tell the recipient the truth. You want to thank he or she again because she did that thing you appreciate so much once again.

Thank you again! Your loyalty cannot go unnoticed. I know we’ve thank you before, but we’re going to do it again. We appreciate your business, each visit and every time. Thank you!

It’s that time again. It’s time to thank you for your patronage. We appreciate your business and your loyalty.

Moving beyond the thank you note template

You also can switch up the template and put the parts out of order and add personal memories. Some people like to start off with, things that confess why they’re moved to do something so formal as a thank you note or a bit of personal news. Here’s some alternative starters:

Why you were moved to write to the recipient intros

  • I just had to send you an official thank you card, because you were officially awesome for loaning me the down payment to buy a new car!
  • This may seem out of the blue to get, but I’ve been thinking about how much I appreciate the way you helped me when I was sick, and I just had to write you.
  • I saw this card, and it reminded me how grateful I am to know you.

Add personal memories you share

It doesn’t have to be complicated:

  • Do you remember when we went to __________ and ________? That was so _____________.
  • You’ve always been so (insert thoughtful, kind, good with picking out clothes, etc.)! I remember when ____________. And here we are now and you’re _________. Thanks for being a great (friend, sister, BFF).

Here’s an example:

Dear Angela,

Thank you for driving down to help me move last weekend. Do you remember when we went to that Duran Duran concert in high school and you found me when I got lost? It felt like that night was going to be a disaster until you came to the recuse, and here you are doing it again. You’re the best, best friend ever. Thanks again.

Love,
Christy

Wow! This post is getting long, so I’ll write even more on this tomorrow including alternative ways to say thank you and making one-of-a-kind cards! Feel free to write me if you have any questions about note wording, and I’ll either answer it tomorrow, if there’s room, or post a specific answer to you next week.

Stay tuned for Part Two, tomorrow!