Etiquette: Writing a Thank-You Note for Dinner

With the risk of sounding like your grandmother, we'll say we do think people should take more time out from their electronic lives to write letters (and yes, we see the irony as we write this on a blog). Not just the obligatory thank-you note for a gift. We think it's nice every once in a while to jot down a heartfelt note in appreciation for a dinner party.

We'll admit we don't always follow our own advice. But let's face it: We all like to hear that friends enjoyed a meal we cooked for them. We love getting emails and comments from you on this site, telling us you loved a recipe. And we expect our friends would appreciate the same.

We remember reading an article in a magazine a while back where a hostess recommended mailing very straightforward, elegant cards as invitations for a dinner party. They simply read (something like), "Dinner at my place! Thursday at 8" in big, bold handwriting. The same works for a thank-you note. One sentence can sum it up:

"I dreamt about your roast chicken on Friday. It was perfect."
"Thank you for making my favorite chocolate cake."
"Next time I'm eating thirds."

Write it on a cool postcard so you don't have a lot of space to fill. Trust us, it's so much nicer than the next-day email, especially for a really spectacular meal or a special occasion.

What's your take on this? Do you write thank-you notes for dinner parties?

(Image: Thank You letterpress cards, $12 for 8 from Yee-Haw Industries)

Comments (6)

I don't, but I might now! I love all the accoutrements (sp?) of letter writing but don't often make the time to do it. A quick note like that would work well.

Handwritten notes are the greatest. I keep a stack of cute stationary and a pile of stamps in my desk so that it is easy and convenient. I love the idea of something so simple and quick as the one-liner..

Always, always for dinner at someone's home. Likewise, if I/we have been a guest at a business dinner out, a note to the host or boss after the fact, even if it was at a restaurant. In that case the note becomes more about our enjoyment of the company or conversation than the dinner.

Love it. I do it, but rarely receive them...it can't be because of my cooking, I hope!!!

I write thank you notes for dinner and everything else. I use ivory Crane note paper and a fountain pen with blue ink---which makes it especially pleasant for me, and nice for the recipient (I hope).

I thought I was in a minority! It's nice to know that there are other people out there who still write the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper. Like SunnyBlue, I use a fountain pen and some gorgeous monogrammed note cards and paper, (a Christmas gift from a thoughtful sister). Those things make writing a pleasurable "chore".