Thank You's.. to Picture or not to Picture

Following. Have the same thoughts.

In my opinion it's not worth your stress. We actually ended up going to Target and buying like 5 boxes of blank thank you cards that we liked. Cheaper than ordering custom ones, makes people feel more important cause literally EVERYTHING is hand written (except the big thank you on the outside, duh), and easy since we are using them for everything (thank yous for engagement party, showers, etc. as well as the actual wedding).

I'd like to do something similar so I looked it up. I think for wedding thank you cards, 1-2 months after the wedding is ok. Most thank you cards I have received have fallen in this time frame. People will know that you are on your honeymoon, and when they see the picture, they will know a lot of thought went into making the card.

When Wedding Paper Divas did a sale - 50% off thank yous - I ordered mine even though they had no picture. Then, once the photographer sent out photos, I really liked one for a thank you so I just printed the photo the same size as the thank you I ordered, and double sided taped it to the back. I saved money by not ordering ones with photos already printed on them and they look alright to me.

Is this something that you should discuss with your photographer before hand? So they can supply you with a few quality photos early (our photographer has a 6 week turn around time, and she is also leaving the morning after our wedding for 2 weddings in Italy).. so even then I am just not sure. Sort of siding with the it is not worth the stress side.

@KE I was thinking the same thing, maybe when they see it is a wedding photo on the card, they can put two and two together and realize that is why it is perhaps later than what is standard?

I just KNOW my grandmother is going to harass me about these damn thank you cards until they are sent out. Not sure if it is worth months of nagging.

I considered it, but I'd rather just buy some without pics and get started on them right away. Don't want to wait for pro pics and then ordering time. Target has some cute ones!

I didn't do this myself, so I don't know all of the logistics involved, but I've heard of photographers doing a specific picture for thank you cards, then getting that one to you almost immediately. This way, you can send it off to be printed while you're on your honeymoon and be able to write them as soon as you get back. If you want to do a picture, it may be worth having this conversation with your photographer, to see if it can be done, or what they recommend.

We got blank thank you cards with our invitation suite, so we were able to start writing them almost immediately. While I like the concept of having a picture, I've gotten too many in the past where the execution was not planned well, so we decided to skip it.

I want to use a picture for mine. If the photographer knows ahead of time I'm sure they can get you a couple pictures for thank you cards in a timely manner. Also when I ordered rehearsal dinner invites from vistaprint, I had them within the same week so I think I'll go that route.

I would much rather have thank yous that match the invitation suite, anyway. The guests were there. They saw what you looked like in your dress and suit/tux.

Emailing your photographer is a great idea. He/she more than likely will already do 'sneak peaks'. Photographers tend to get excited about that kind of stuff/edit right away

Alternatively, I know some couples bring a 'thank you' sign to take a picture with. That way you have a guaranteed shot.

I did this and had the cards in hand by a month after the wedding. Thank yous were out by 6 weeks after. To me it was worth it because it was something I really wanted and they were beautiful. H was visiting a friend/neighbor the other day and he said they had the card framed which was adorable.

I don't like photos on thank you cards. Feels too self centered to me.

All great insight everyone! I will have to go over the pro/cons with FH and decide. Already shot off an email to our photographer to inquire if she can get a photo to us ASAP (she is already getting me a photo of my father and I early, so I can have it in time for father's day) so we will see what she says, I am sure it won't be a problem, But still not sure if it is worth the stress I will unnecessarily put on myself

ETA: spelling eludes me today

I sent out most of my thank yous before the wedding as most people sent their gift to our house prior to the day. My husband and I wrote the few notes that were due from our actual wedding day on the layover on our way to our honeymoon.

I prefer ones without pictures just because after I feel guilty throwing them out.

Ill most likely be going with one without a picture to not have the stress and wait time. I want to get it done so I dont have to worry about it.