Wedding thank-you cards with photos: wording, timing and printing
Choosing the photos, wording that sounds like you, when to send them, image sizes and where to get them printed.
Updated · 6 min read·By the DropSnaps team
Quick answer
A wedding thank-you card with a photo pairs a picture from your day with a short personal message. Choose a photo of the two of you, or of the guest themselves, write two or three sentences that mention their gift or a moment you shared, and post the cards within about three months of the wedding, using the original photo files so they print sharply.
Questions people ask
How long after a wedding should thank you cards be sent?
Within about three months of the wedding is the usual guide, and within two or three weeks for gifts that arrive before the day. Late is always better than never.
What do you write in a wedding thank you card?
Thank them by name, mention their gift or what they did, add one personal detail, such as how you'll use the gift or a moment from the day, and sign off warmly. Two or three sentences are plenty.
Should wedding thank you cards have a photo?
They don't have to, but a photo makes them far more likely to be kept. A photo of the guest themselves at the wedding is the most personal choice of all.
What size photo do I need for a thank you card?
About 300 pixels per inch at the printed size: 1240 × 1748 pixels for an A6 card, or 1500 × 2100 for a 5 × 7 inch card. Original files from a phone or your photographer are big enough; photos saved from messaging apps often aren't.
Where can I get photo thank you cards printed?
Online printers such as Vistaprint, Photobox, Snapfish and MOO, independent stationers and Etsy designers, or a local printer if you design your own in Canva.
A thank-you card with a photo from your wedding turns a polite note into something guests keep on the fridge. The formula is simple: a photo they'll love, a few personal sentences, and getting them in the post while the day is still fresh. This guide covers which photos to use, wording you can adapt, when to send them, how big the photos need to be for printing, and where to get the cards made.
Choosing the photos
You need one photo for the front of the card, or a few for a collage. The most popular choices:
A portrait of the two of you from your photographer. Check your contract allows prints for personal use; most do, but ask for the full-resolution file rather than a web copy.
A candid moment: the confetti, the first dance, the two of you laughing at the speeches.
A photo of the guest themselves from the day. Nothing says "we noticed you were there" like a card with a photo of them on the dance floor. It's more work, so many couples save it for close family and the wedding party.
A group photo of a whole family or friendship group, for one card per household.
Using your guests' photos
Your guests took hundreds of photos from angles your photographer never saw, and they're often the funniest and most natural ones. Collect them in one place before you choose. With DropSnaps, every photo guests shared is in one gallery, in its original quality, ready to download in a single zip. The People tab on the live wall shows everything each guest shared under their name, which makes it quick to find the photos a particular guest took.
Guests' own photos are often the most natural ones from the day
Wording for wedding thank-you cards
Two or three sentences are plenty. Thank them by name, mention what they gave or did, and add something personal. Some wording to adapt:
For a gift "Dear Sue and Martin, thank you so much for the beautiful dinner set. It's already had its first outing at a Sunday roast, and we think of you every time we use it. It meant the world to have you with us. Love, Emma and Jack"
For money or a honeymoon fund "Dear Auntie Pat, thank you for your incredibly generous gift towards our honeymoon. We had the most amazing sunset dinner in Santorini, and we raised a glass to you. Thank you for being part of our day. Love, Priya and Tom"
For guests who travelled "Dear Callum, thank you for coming all the way from Glasgow to celebrate with us, and for the most enthusiastic dancing of the night. It wouldn't have been the same without you. Love, Ali and Sam"
For the wedding party "Dear Jess, we couldn't have done it without you. From the hen do to the speeches, you were brilliant from start to finish. Thank you for everything, and for being the best bridesmaid anyone could ask for. Love, Hannah"
For parents "Mum and Dad, thank you for every bit of help, every phone call and every tear. The day was everything we hoped for, and so much of that is down to you. All our love, Kate and Ben"
For guests who couldn't come "Dear Margaret, we missed you on the day and hope this photo makes you feel part of it. Thank you for your lovely card and gift. We can't wait to see you soon. Love, Lucy and Dan"
For your suppliers "Thank you for the most delicious cake. Guests are still talking about it, and there wasn't a crumb left by the end of the night."
When to send wedding thank-you cards
What happened
When to send the card
A gift arrived before the wedding
Within two or three weeks of receiving it
A gift on the day or after
Within about three months of the wedding
The wedding party, parents, helpers
As soon as you're back from honeymoon
Your suppliers
Within a month (a review helps them too)
Three months is the usual guide, but late is always better than never. Keep a list of every gift and who it was from as you open them; it saves a lot of detective work later.
How big do the photos need to be?
For a sharp print, aim for 300 pixels per inch at the card's printed size. A photo straight from a modern phone or your photographer is more than big enough. Photos saved from messaging apps or social media are often shrunk and can print soft, so always use the original files.
Card size
Pixels needed for a sharp print
A6 (105 × 148 mm)
1240 × 1748
5 × 7 inches (127 × 178 mm)
1500 × 2100
A5 (148 × 210 mm)
1748 × 2480
Square (140 × 140 mm)
1654 × 1654
If your printer warns that a photo is low resolution, believe it and choose another.
Where to get photo thank-you cards printed
Online printers such as Vistaprint, Photobox, Snapfish and MOO have wedding thank-you card designs: upload your photo, add your wording and order.
Wedding stationery designers on Etsy and independent studios can match your invitations, and some will add a photo.
Design your own in Canva or similar and send the file to a local printer or an online print company.
Print at home on good card stock if you're making a small number. Photo paper glued onto a folded card looks lovely too.
Order a single sample first if you can, to check the colours and the paper before you print a hundred.
How to make them, step by step
Keep a list of every guest and gift as they arrive.
Collect the photos: your photographer's gallery and your guests' photos.
Choose a design and size that fits the photos you love.
Check the resolution of each photo against the table above.
Write each message by hand if you can. Split the list between you.
Order a proof, check names and spellings, then print.
Post them within three months of the wedding.
Ideas that make them memorable
A "thank you" sign in the photo. Plan a quick shot on the day of the two of you holding a "thank you" sign, made for the cards.
A QR code on the back linking to your wedding's photos, so guests can browse every picture from the day. With DropSnaps a PIN keeps it to your guests, and on Standard and Premium you can let them download the originals too.
A mini print tucked inside: an extra photo of the guest from the day.
Postcards instead of folded cards: cheaper to post and easy to stick on a fridge.
