Wedding etiquette... sending thank you notes

I received a thank you note last week for a wedding present I sent this summer... at the end of June.  Still haven't received notes for two other gifts I sent at the same time.

I suppose receiving a note four months later is better than nothing, but only marginally better in my opinion.  I really think that if the people who sent you the gifts have cause to wonder whether you received it, you have waited too long to send a thank you.  It really doesn't take more than five minutes to write, so within a month is reasonable.   Also, if they send the gift before the wedding, consider it a favor-- you can send the note now and not have to worry about it after the wedding!

There are lots of options for thank you note stationary.  Minted  has so many cute ones...  I love this for wedding thank yous-- sweet and simple:
 

Wedding etiquette... lesson one

I sent my best friend Heather the link to this site and she e-mailed me and said, "I think you need to do some posts on etiquette – maybe even a whole section – people need to know a reception where you ask for your guests to pay is not ok!"

Yes, it's true... I actually know someone who received a wedding invitation this summer with an RSVP card that asked guests to select the meal... as well as the prices and acceptable forms of payment!  We thought this was an obvious NO, but apparently it's not.  So lesson one is don't charge people to attend your wedding.  Really.  It is not appropriate and just makes people uncomfortable.   I know weddings are expensive but charging people is not the answer.  They want to share in your joy-- not pay for it!  You don't have to do dinner.  If cost is a very serious issue, I think a punch and cake reception after the ceremony would be a great low cost alternative.  You could do cupcakes, cute napkins, and maybe some cute bags with confetti for a fun send off.  Get creative-- just don't charge your guests!

Let them eat cake... for free!