Do I need to send a thank you card if someone didn't give a gift?

You are not obligated to thank someone for a gift they did not give. But a short note can still be a kind gesture in the right situation.

• No gift: a thank you is not expected or required.
• Traveled to attend: a brief note thanking them for making the trip is thoughtful and memorable.
• Optional, not obligatory: send one if it feels right, skip it without guilt if it does not.

Thanking someone for their presence, especially when they went out of their way, is a small touch people tend to remember.