How late is too late to send wedding thank you notes?

Etiquette guides usually say three months is the ideal, and six months is the absolute maximum. After six months, a thank you note can feel awkward, because the wedding is no longer recent and the giver may have assumed you forgot. That said, life happens. Illness, family emergencies, or simply being overwhelmed can delay things.

If you are past six months, do not give up. Write a short, honest note. You do not need to explain the delay in detail. A simple line like "I am so sorry this is late, but we wanted to thank you properly" is enough. Most people will be touched that you remembered at all.

What is truly too late is never sending one. A guest who gave a gift and heard nothing may feel hurt or wonder if the gift went missing. That can sour a relationship. So if you are reading this and you have a pile of unsent cards, start today. Even a year later, a card is better than silence.

For the future, if you are a guest, remember that a thank you is a courtesy, not a legal requirement. But as a couple, you will feel better once the notes are done.