Dear Carson: I sent a wedding gift to a bride in August and have yet to receive a thank-you note. If she did not receive my gift, I need to know. How much time should pass before calling a bride to see if she received a gift? I do not want her to view my call as a reprimand. - Wedding Gift Worry

Dear Gift Worry: Some etiquette books once stipulated that a bride had a year to send her notes, but that is no longer true. Three or four months is sufficient time to send out notes, so a call from you would not be improper.

Some weddings are so enormous that a longer period is needed. In that case, printed cards should be mailed out saying, ``Your gift has been received, and a personal note expressing my thanks will be sent shortly.''

Write to Ask Carson, The Augusta Chronicle, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903-1928. Send e-mail to askcarson@home.com. Carson Elliott's Web site is at www.theproperthing.com.