You’ve asked and we’ve answered! Welcome to your weekly column ‘Planning Your Happily Ever After’ with wedding consultant Shikima Hinds.

So, you’re officially married! You deserve all the happiness possible, which is why giving thanks feels especially important at weddings, because it’s not just about you two anymore, but also everyone who supported from afar or came together for one amazing day, even if they were simply there as guests.

It’s important for newly-weds to thank each person when given time, whether it’s during their speeches, a thank-you note, or a personalised gift. A well-thought-out list of special people will likely never be fully comprehensive.

Here are some special ways and people to thank during your wedding process:

Your bridal party

Let your bridal party know how much you appreciate them. This wedding task should be top priority.

I’m sure your bridal party has made a special impact on your life — that’s why you chose them. They have been supportive throughout your engagement and were part of making your dream wedding a reality.

It’s common for many couples to give thank-you gifts to their bridal party at the rehearsal dinner or on the morning of the wedding. Sometimes bridesmaid gifts are given out at the bachelorette party. The easiest option is to give them at the end of your rehearsal dinner, as everyone from your wedding will be there, so you can give out your bridesmaids’ gifts, groomsmen’s gifts, and parents’ gifts all at the same time. If you have flower girl or ring-bearer gifts, they can be given out as well.

When making a toast during the reception

It is a common modern tradition for the bride and groom to take turns at the end of the reception formalities to raise their champagne glasses to give their thank-you toast.

It’s important to appreciate everyone’s message to you and thank people for coming to your wedding as they shared in completing the joy.

You’ll be expressing your appreciation for all of your guests at your wedding, and there are some very special people you shouldn’t miss out. Make a list. The last thing you want to do is stand up and start thanking people by name, only to accidentally leave out someone important. We’ve seen it happen, and our best recommendation is simple: Write down everyone you want to thank ahead of time and make sure you’ve got your list handy when you start talking. Either that, or opt to thank your guests without naming anyone in particular.

Thank you to your parents

Saying thank you to your parents at your wedding isn’t just about thanking them for their financial or logistical help with your wedding plans; it’s about publicly expressing your gratitude for all they’ve done for you. Your wedding is a big milestone. It’s often when you officially leave the household to form a new family of your own. Thank your parents for all they’ve done in bringing you to this new chapter, whilst expressing your gratitude for their unconditional love and support, acknowledge their hard work and mention some values they’ve taught you to live by. Remember to also thank your new in-laws; it’s a respectful way to address them for the first time.

Thanking guests for gifts

Wedding thank-you notes are timeless, thoughtful, classy, and just as meaningful as ever. At a bare minimum, a wedding thank you acknowledges that you received a gift or act of kindness and reflects the time and thought that went into giving it. A good general guideline for a wedding gift thank you is to acknowledge the gift, elaborate on why you like it, or how you’ll use it. Compliment the giver on the gift choice to make a personal connection, and say thank you.

Your vendors

Photographers, planners, florists, caterers, and everyone else involved work so hard to make your wedding dreams come true. Thanking your wedding vendors for all of their hard work is crucial. Recognise your vendors during the reception. Writing even a short review for your favourite wedding vendors can really make their day and boost their business. Glowing reviews may also convince other engaged couples to book your vendors.