How to thank your guests for wedding gifts
Thank your guests for their wedding gifts with a personal message to each one, mentioning their gift or contribution, in the weeks after the wedding. So nobody is forgotten, keep track from the start of who gave what, including bank transfers.
Keep track from the start
After the wedding nobody remembers who sent each transfer. Note down every gift as it arrives, with the name of the giver and, if they left one, their message.
If you use an online gift registry, make sure it records who reserved or contributed what and lets you export it.
A personal message
A generic thank-you shows. A few lines that mention the gift or what you'll do with the contribution ("thanks to you we'll be having dinner in…") mean more than a printed card that's the same for everyone.
When
Ideally in the weeks after the wedding, while it's all fresh. If you're away on honeymoon, when you get back. For gifts that arrive before the wedding, a short message to say it arrived is a nice touch.
A photo says more
If the gift was for the honeymoon or something specific, a photo of you enjoying it is the best thank-you. And a photo from the day with the guest, if you have one, is always appreciated.