Sadly some people you invite won’t be able to attend your wedding. But often they will send a card or gift any way.
When they do you will want to thank them like you would thank anyone who did attend. That might be through a thank you card or message. Maybe even something like an email.
But what do you say to thank wedding guests who didn’t attend?
Well if you’re not sure then the following example thank you messages should help you to say thanks for guests who haven’t attended but have made an effort anyway.
You can edit or personalize them in any way you like so they fit your situation.
Wedding Thank You for Unattended Guests
Dear _____,
It’s such a shame you couldn’t attend our wedding. But we wanted to thank you for thinking of us on even though you weren’t there. Your gift was lovely and the kind words were so thoughtful. We hope we seen you very soon.
Yours,
**********************
Dear _____,
We really missed you at the wedding but thank you for sending your love. It means so much to us that you were thinking of us on our special day.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
With love,
**********************
Dear _____,
Thank you for such a generous gift even though you couldn’t be with us on our wedding day. We are very grateful and really sorry you were unable to attend. We will hopefully see your soon.
Yours,
**********************
Dear _____,
We were very sorry to miss you at the wedding but receiving such a wonderful gift and your kind words meant the world to us. You may not have been there in person but you were with us in spirit.
Thanks again,
**********************
Dear _____,
You may not have been at the wedding but you definitely weren’t forgotten! Thank you for the beautiful gift and card. It meant an awful lot to us. We look forward to celebrating with you in the near future.
Yours,
**********************
Dear _____,
We understand why you couldn’t make the journey and are grateful for the gift you sent anyway. We really did miss you and hope the can meet up soon so you can enjoy some of the celebrations of our special day.
Many thanks,
**********************
Dear _____,
We are very sorry you couldn’t attend the wedding. It was a wonderful day and we are sure you would have enjoyed it as much as we did! You were very missed though and we really appreciate the gift you sent.
Yours,
**********************
Dear _____,
You helped plan and make our wedding happen so it was devastating you weren’t able to be there. We completely understand though and we very touched by the gift you sent. Thank you so much. We can’t wait show you all the pictures!
Love,
**********************
Dear _____,
Thank you for your generous gift. It was a very thoughtful gesture even when you couldn’t attend the wedding. We really missed you but understand you just weren’t able to make it.
Thank you again for the gift,
All our love,
**********************
Dear _____,
We were so surprised to see your gift with all the others! What a thoughtful and generous way to help us celebrate our big day. It was a real shame you weren’t able to be with us but we were touched by your gesture. Thank you so much.
Yours,
**********************
SEE MORE: 15 Wedding Thank You Card Wording Examples
How To Write A Wedding Thank You Card For Someone Who Didn’t Attend
If you’d prefer to write your own thank you message or note then you can follow these few steps.
- Firstly, don’t be negative about them not attending. People have legitimate reasons why they couldn’t come and won’t have said no lightly. So avoid being critical.
- Keep it short. There’s no need to write an essay. You can include a few extra details about the wedding if you want but don’t go overboard. A thank you note or card isn’t the place.
- All you really need to do is say thank you for the gift or card you received and that you were sad they weren’t at the wedding.
- Finish or sign off with a warm closing and maybe at how you hope to see them soon.
Don’t forget to write your thank you’s with your new husband or wife. It should be a joint venture and one where you both contribute.
When Should You Send your Wedding Thank You Cards?
You shouldn’t send them too soon after the wedding but you also don’t want to leave it too long. Aim to have them sent within 3 months of the wedding.
Do you Send Thank You Cards to People Who Didn’t Attend the Wedding?
Yes, even if someone hasn’t attended the wedding but have sent a gift or card you should send them a thank you note. If they’ve made the effort then it’s only polite to say thank you.