Thanks for Remembering

The walk down the aisle from the movie Father of the Bride (photo property of Touchstone).

“Are you crying Dad?” I asked, as he tried to hide it at our rehearsal dinner.  I had only seen my Dad Jack cry once before in my life, when our dog died.  I had just handed him a thank you note and gift, a pen engraved Father of the Bride.  That movie had been special to us since I was a little girl, so it only seemed right to include a quote from it in my note.  As George (Steve Martin) walks his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) down the aisle, he thinks:  This was the moment I’d been dreading for the past six months.  Well, actually for the past 22 years.

My walk down the aisle with my Dad Jack on Carambola Beach (photo by my Aunt, Sandy Smith).

In the hustle and bustle of a wedding, brides and grooms often forget to say “thank you.”  Not because they’re ungrateful, but simply because weddings are a whirlwind.  It is important to take a moment to express appreciation for those making your wedding day possible, like your parents and wedding party.  Not to mention important vendors like your officiant and all the guests traveling to see you say “I do.”

Reverand Koopmans holding our hook bracelets before we exchanged them as part of our ceremony (photo by Quiana Duncan).

For destination weddings, couples often opt for thank you gifts and favors that tie-in their destination.  Personally, I selected original St Croix hook bracelets from Sonya’s for my bridesmaids.  If worn with the hook closed to others, it means your heart is taken and vice versa.  The bracelets looked beautiful worn all-together by the bridal party during our ceremony.  My husband Greg and I also gave each other hook bracelets when we exchanged wedding rings, so it made the bridesmaid’s gift all-the-more meaningful. 

Our guest welcome bags included chocolates from local shop Steele’s Smokes & Sweets, as well as small bottles of Cruzan rum with drink recipe cards attached.      

A few elements of our guest welcome bags, including chocolates from Steele’s Smokes & Sweets in Christiansted (photo by my Grandma, Dorothy Paviolo).

The thank you notes you include are often as or more important than the gift you give.  Consider the following recommendations for writing them:

• Handwriting your notes is a must.
• Invest the time or money to make or purchase stationary.
• Consider typing out what you want to say first to avoid sloppy spelling or grammar.
• Think about something you could only say to the person you’re writing to.  Be it an inside joke or a meaningful memory between the two of you, try to weave it into what you write.
• Don’t just say thank you for the [blank].  Tell the recipient why the gift is meaningful to you or what your plans are for it.  For example, in thanking someone for a monetary gift, tell them you are placing the funds into savings for your first home.      
• The sooner you send, the better.  If you can bring thank you notes and gifts to the wedding, even better.  Etiquette guru Emily Post says thank you notes should be written within three months of the receipt of a gift. 

Thoughtful favors and welcome bags will certainly be appreciated by your guests.  Here are some suggestions on what to give from the knot guide to destination weddings:

• Local food, drink or candy delicacies
• CD from a great local musician
• Beach towel, sunscreen, flip-flops or visor
• Luggage tags personalized with each guest’s name and address
• Photo albums they can fill later with pictures from the trip
• Small stack of postcards from the destination (pre-stamped so guests can write friends back home) 

Take your time, be creative and you’ll be sure to give unforgettable thank you notes and gifts!

Traveling to your destination wedding with gifts and favors can be overwhelming, especially with items that can break or melt.  Let SunCelebrations take care of gifts and favors for you.  Say “thanks” to your guests with customized welcome bags and favors that express your style and incorporate island flair. We offer everything from embroidered beach towels and personalized luggage tags, to local chocolates and rum.  SunCelebrations can provide ideas, place /pick-up orders, assemble and deliver welcome bags (including printed itineraries) for your guests to enjoy on-arrival at their hotel, or place favors at your reception. We also offer thank you gifts for parents of the couple and wedding party.