What to write in a wedding card
Believe it or not, if you’re asking what to write in a wedding card then you’re not alone. Along with what to get for a wedding gift, it is one of the most asked questions by wedding guests and we understand why it can seem rife with complexity.
Firstly, it’s normal to want to make wedding card wordings memorable and touching so don’t worry if that seems too sentimental, personal or over the top. Equally, lots of people might want to write something humorous and that’s OK too. Knowing what things to write in a wedding card can feel like a lot of pressure because words have a lasting impact and can be interpreted in different ways by different people. Wedding card message that sound clichéd or unoriginal is an additional concern for a lot of people.
To help you out, we’ve got some guidance about words for a wedding card to help you out of writer's block when you get stuck! We’ve broken it down into sections according to your relationship with the couple and what your anxiety about writing a message might be, with some ideas for messages. We’ve also covered general tips that can be followed in most scenarios.
General tips when writing a wedding card
Use an appropriate greeting. We think for most situations, using “Dear [couples names]” is suitable. The only situation where this might differ is if you are very close with one or both of the people, in which case, you might want to include added sentiment such as “To my wonderful friends [couple’s name]”.
Say congratulations. In any situation, a wedding is a milestone and celebration of a relationship. It’s an easy win to add this in.
Wish the the couple well. This can be achieved in a number of ways to avoid sounding cliched. Something as simple as “May your future together shine bright” or “Sending love and positive vibes for the years ahead”.
Add something personal but relevant to your relationship with the couple, unless they are people you only know formally. This helps people know you’ve given it proper thought and care. This can be applied to humour too - if you’re a person who cracks jokes or regularly uses humour in conversation then it will feel natural to do this in a card. Don’t use humour if it’s not a natural go-to for you. Stay authentic.
Use an appropriate sign-off. This can be a stumbling block for some people. Eek - whether to sign off with the word love? We say, if this is something that feels natural for you to emote, then it’s OK. If your relationship with the people getting married is more formal, such as a distant relative, or a colleague then we think “Best wishes” or “Warmest regards” is perfectly fitting and still warm.
What to write in a wedding card for a friend
Not all friendships are equal. It might be that it’s a new friendship, or someone you used to be very close with but have drifted from in recent years. Equally, it could be that the couple are two of your best friends. Let's go through some eventualities and figure out what you can write…
A new friend
Your greatest concern: writing something meaningful and sincere but also lighthearted for your friend's wedding wishes.
Example:
Dear [couple],
Congratulations on your wedding! It’s been brilliant getting to know you and I feel privileged to celebrate your big day with you. I wish you only happiness in your marriage and look forward to seeing you grow together.
With heartfelt affection,
[Your name]
NB. Even with a newer friendship, you’ll already know how much of a sense of humour you share, so take this into account if you want to write something funny.
A best friend
Your greatest concern: writing a wedding card message full of love without sounding like a giant cliché.
Example:
To my awesome friend and equally awesome partner,
Watching you guys fall in love, finding your soul mates in each other and then sharing so many fun times with you both will stay in my heart forever. Knowing you together, I have no doubts at all that your love will continue to grow and no matter what life throws at you, you’ll do it as a team. Now let's share this awesome day and start your next chapter with a party to end all parties! Congratulations to my favourite people.
With so much love,
[your name]
NB. Add an example of a time when you knew they would end up together long-term or a specific memory about their relationship to make this more personal.
An old friend
Your greatest concern: you’ve known them a long time but aren’t as involved as you used to be. You want to write a heartfelt wedding message that is appropriate for your friendship today.
Example:
Dear [friend’s name] and [friend’s partner],
What a joy to be part of your big day! Knowing you have found your perfect match warms my heart. I hope your future is filled with adventure and fun. Have a fantastic day.
Much love,
[your name]
NB. If you’ve drifted apart in recent years, don’t be tempted to mention this, even with affection. Keep it positive and see the invite as an opportunity to become closer again.
What to write in a wedding card for family
Ok - we know this is broad. There are so many different types of families out there. For some cultures and religions, it’s customary to invite the entire family to a wedding, no matter how distant or long ago you may have seen each other. Some families are small or unconventional and have lots of very close friends who feel like family members. To keep this simple, we are working with the most common familial relationships and suggestions for what to write on a wedding card.
What to say on a wedding card for a close family member
Greatest concern: with so much shared history it can be hard to know where to start with your wedding card message, and how to say everything you want to with both feeling and brevity.
Example 1:
To the best Brother/Sister/Cousin and [partner’s name],
Welcome to the family bro/sis/cous - you're one of US now! [Partner’s name], I couldn’t wish for a more perfect match for [family member’s name] and just know that your future together has success written all over it. We’ve already shared so much together but I can’t wait to make more fun filled memories as a family. I’ll always be here to support you both. Wishing you the best day ever and a massive congratulations.
Love always,
[your name]
Example 2:
To my wonderful Mum/Dad/Parent and [partner’s Name],
You guys are an example to us all of what true love looks like. It warms my heart that you’ve found each other - you deserve nothing less than your own happy ever after! You’re an inspiration to me and I couldn’t be more proud that you’re my parents. I’ll be the first in line to clink a glass with you! A huge congratulations and buckets of love to you both.
[your name]
NB. You could add special memories you have about them being together or times you’ve spent as a family prior to the Wedding. Lighthearted banter or any in-jokes are also great additions to your wedding day wishes for close family members if you share this type of humour.
What to say in a wedding card for a distant family member
Greatest concern: striking a balance between being too warm or too cold.
Example:
Dear [couple’s Names]
What a joyous occasion to share with you! I’m so happy to celebrate this special moment in your lives. Wishing you a future full of laughter, love, and beautiful memories.
Best wishes always,
[your name]
NB. Everyone is happy to receive well wishes in their wedding day messages. You can’t go wrong with saying you’re happy to be there and wishing them well for the future.
What to write in a wedding card for when you’re in the wedding party
Maybe you’re the best man or the maid of honour. Perhaps there haven’t been any formal roles assigned. Either way, if you’re in the wedding party, you will likely have been helping the couple plan it for months, if not years. You will have been through a journey with them and helped them make decisions, perhaps even helped them through uncertainties and worries. You’ll almost be as ready as they are for the big day. So empathising with them and acknowledging your part in the wedding will feel natural.
Greatest concern: acknowledging both sides of the wedding party sufficiently and finding the right words to show how excited and happy you are to share their day with them.
Example:
Dear [couple’s Names],
Woohoo! It’s finally here - the day we’ve all been waiting for! Today we all get to celebrate, marvellous, wonderful YOU! Thank you for making me part of this amazing day; you guys mean the world to me and I can’t wait for us all to shower you with the love and attention you deserve. Let’s make this the best day EVER!
With love always,
[your name]
NB. Talking about what you have been through with them and sharing happy memories in your wedding card message will mean so much to the recipients. Using familiar nicknames to address them is also a nice touch for congratulatory wedding messages.
What to write in a wedding card for a colleague
It might be that you’re writing a wedding card for a colleague as a team or giving it to them from just you. We’re assuming here that if you’ve been invited to the wedding, then you’re friends and not just colleagues. So our example is for the scenario in which you haven’t been invited but would like to send happy wedding wishes in a card.
Your greatest concern: to avoid being overfamiliar with your wedding message but wanting to express joy for their day.
Dear [colleague] and [partner’s Name],
Congratulations on this wonderful milestone! Wishing you a lifetime of shared success, happiness, and unforgettable memories.
Best wishes,
[your name]
NB. Addressing your colleague’s partner by their first name is an easy way to make your congratulations message warmer but make sure you get it correct!
The Lawrence Boutique Hotel - For Beautiful Weddings in Lancashire
During weddings at The Lawrence, we see many happy couples open wedding cards and share tears of joy at the words their friends, family and guests have written for them so you could call us experts on the matter! A well-written wedding card is a cherished keepsake that the couple can look back on for years. We say - take a few moments to write from the heart, and your message will undoubtedly resonate. What matters most is that your words reflect the joy and excitement of their monumental day.
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