Finally: you are married.  The big day has come and gone and although there were a few bumps along the way, the wedding was perfect in every way.  You danced, laughed, cried, ate cake and got to see people from your elementary school teacher to your new best friend at work share in on the joy and love of the beginning of this new chapter in your life.  Oh, and the gifts! From the bridal shower to the morning brunch, you’ve received gifts both big and small, thoughtful and pricey to help pave the way into your new life. The outpouring of love and support is overwhelming and you are beyond touched by everyone’s thoughtfulness and generosity.  How can you show each person what they mean to you and how grateful you are to them for being on this journey with you? Here are some tips to help you show appreciation to all those who helped make your wedding day special:

1. Thank you cards.  Soon after your wedding, pick a photograph of the two of you and upload it online to one of the many card creating websites out there. Include a small note of thanks to express your gratitude.  As an added bonus, you can also include a link to a page where all photos from the wedding can be uploaded so that guests can view them when ready.

2. Phone calls.  If there are a few guests that you especially want to thank, sometimes a phone call might be best instead of sending out a card.  This works especially if it is someone who you have not seen in a while and you didn’t really get a chance to spend quality time with during the festivities.  You can still send them a note in the mail, but the phone call will give you the added bonus of catching up and expressing your thanks in a more heartfelt way.

3. Dinner parties.  A good way to invite others into your home and to break in the new china is to have a dinner party.  Try to keep these dinner parties intimate as you don’t want to throw a big event so soon after having your wedding.  Want to make it extra special? Invite your VIP guests to celebrate your one year wedding anniversary and eat cake. It will be a special way to remember your wedding day and thank those who made the day possible.

However you decide to say thank you, just do it.  Weddings are amazing because it is one of the few times in your life where people from all walks of life will want to shower you with gifts just because it is an exciting time for everyone involved.  Saying thank you, then, is not the closing remarks to a fun filled event, but rather an invitation to keep the abundance of love and support flowing into your marriage each and every day.