What to write · Thank-you notes
What to write in a thank you note for dinner
Follow a great evening with a thank you note for dinner that mentions the dish you loved and the company. Choose one and a real card goes to your host, printed and mailed for you.
Messages you can use
Copy one as it is, or change a few words so it sounds like you.
You remembered I don’t eat shellfish and made a whole other dish for me. Thank you for noticing. Few hosts would.
Thank you for letting the kids stay up past bedtime and for finding a seat for my grandmother near the window. I noticed both.
I’m told I went quiet after the first bite of your pie, which I’m taking as a compliment to the baker. Thank you.
You cooked for twelve people and still made each of us feel like the guest of honor. Thank you.
The candlelit patio and the stories after dessert are still on my mind. Thank you for an evening we keep talking about.
We hadn’t laughed that hard in months. Thank you for the invitation, and for refilling my glass before I noticed it was empty.
Lunch tomorrow looks a lot better because of the leftovers you packed for us. Thank you.
The roast was wonderful, and the conversation at your table was even better. Thank you for having us. We’re already talking about having you over.
Thank you for the recipe for that soup. I’m going to make it and tell everyone it’s mine. Don’t worry, I’ll confess eventually.
Your rolls are dangerous. Thank you for not judging how fast I went through the bread basket.
Thank you for the second helping of lasagna and the third. Please tell your oven I said hello.
Thank you for feeding us. Seriously, we haven’t eaten that well all month.
It meant a great deal to be welcomed so warmly at your holiday table. Thank you for including us.
We left full and happy. Thank you for dinner.
Dinner was delicious and the welcome was kind. Thank you both.
Thank you for having us. Your table is a happy place.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield, thank you for your gracious hospitality. The meal and the company were a delight.
Please accept our thanks for the wonderful dinner. We enjoyed every course and the thoughtful touches around the table.
Ways to sign off
Thanks for having us, · With thanks, · Warmly, · Gratefully, · Looking forward to the next one,
How to write it
Hosts remember who said thanks, so a thank you note for dinner that mentions a favorite dish is a gift in return. Hosting takes an entire day of shopping and cooking, then a sink full of dishes. The host often goes to bed replaying what went wrong, like the dry chicken or the late start. Your note tells them what went right: the food, the company, the moment you all laughed.
Send it within a few days, while the evening is still fresh. Mention a dish or a moment you enjoyed. For close friends a joke is welcome. For a boss, an in-law or a new acquaintance, keep it gracious and short. We print your note in a handwriting-style font and mail it, from $2.
- Name one dish, drink or moment, like the pie, the candles or the story after dessert. Hosts love knowing which part landed.
- Thank them for the invitation as well as the meal. Being welcomed is a gift of its own.
- If they accommodated a diet or brought your kids into the evening, mention it. Hosts remember going the extra step.
- Mail it within a few days. A quick note feels warm, while one that comes weeks later can feel like a chore.
- If you want to return the invitation, say so in a line, like "you are next." Skip it if you do not mean it.
Designs that fit
Pick a design, paste your message, and we print it in a handwriting-style font and mail it. Cards from $2 with postage; letters from $3.
Questions people ask
How soon should I send a thank you note after dinner?
Within a few days is a good rule. Cards usually arrive within 8 business days of mailing, so ordering soon after the dinner helps it land while the evening is still fresh in the host’s mind.
Do I need a thank you note if I already texted the host?
A text is polite, and a card goes further. It takes a minute to write and lasts longer. Hosts who put in hours often keep a card on the fridge long after the text is gone.
More guides
- What to write in a thank you note to a teacher
- What to write in a thank you note to a coworker
- What to write in a thank you note to your boss
- What to write in a thank you note to a nurse
- What to write in a thank you note to a doctor
- What to write in a thank you note to a friend
- What to write in a thank you note for money or a gift card
- What to write in a thank you note to a mentor
Found the words? We will mail them.
Choose a card or a letter, add the address, and see a preview before you pay.