What to Write in a Wedding Card: 60 Congratulation Wishes & Quotes

What wonderful news, someone you love is getting married to their soul mate! Now it’s time to figure out what you’d like to say in their Wedding card to congratulate the couple on their happy day. If you’re struggling to find the right words or message, we’ve got you covered! So, whether you need a heartfelt wish for a friend, something funny for a family member or just a simple ‘Congratulations’ for the happy couple, we've got something for you, or at least a little extra inspiration for your own wedding day wish.

And, whilst you’re thinking of that perfect congratulatory message, check out our wonderful range of Wedding and Engagement Cards, and Personalised Wedding Cards to make their BIG DAY extra special.

We are ready and raring to inspire you with our “What to Write in a Wedding Card: 60 Congratulation Wishes & Quotes” guide - but, if the happy couple is more than recently engaged and not quite ready to name the date yet, make sure you check out our equally helpful “What to Write: 50 Engagement Card Wishes & Quotes” guide, we’re sure you’ll find what you need.

Prefer to skip directly to the section you need? Simply click on the links below!

How to Write a Wedding card
Things to Avoid in Your Wedding Message
15 Congratulations Messages
Messages to a Family Member
Messages to Both of You
Messages to a Friend or Best Friend
From a Bridesmaid or the Best Man
Funny Wedding Wishes
Messages to say Thank You
FAQs: Should I put money in a Wedding card?

How to Write a Wedding Card

Wedding cards can mean so much to a newly-wed couple. They’re wonderful keepsakes of their special day to cherish as the years go by, and as the wedding day flies-by in a whirl, these messages are a perfect way for loved ones to share in the happiness and excitement of the happy couple. A good wedding card should follow a clear structure, so it flows effectively from beginning to end – and yes, this applies even if you only plan to write something simple! Here’s our fool proof method for writing a great wedding card.

The Greeting

Open your message in a way that feels natural. If saying ‘Dear’ feels too formal, write something a bit more casual and remember to add both their names to the card even if you only really know one half of the couple, as it adds a personal touch.

The Statement

The body of the message should reflect the relationship you have with the bride and groom. If you’ve been friends for a long time, why not mention how your friendship has passed milestones together, or even just how excited you are for the couple? Bring in a touch of personal details and show them how genuinely happy you are for them.

The Ending

Close your message in a way that also embodies your relationship. ‘Yours sincerely’ is probably a bit too formal, but ‘From’ might not feel like it’s enough. The classic ‘With Love’ is always a good option but, if you’re lifelong friends or they’re a family member, ‘Lots of Love’ might work even better.

What to Avoid in Your Wedding Card

Don’t write something that could embarrass the couple

The focus of the card is to congratulate the newlyweds and their happiness on their Wedding Day. No matter how close you think you might be to the couple, comments on past experiences that the couple might not want to remember, or divorce (yes, even as a joke) will simply get your card placed in the nearest bin… and maybe rethink from making any jokes about their future mother-in-laws, it’s simply rude… and a little clichéd.

Don’t write your card in a hurry

Make sure you’re not sat in your car, ready to enter the venue, with a pen and card on your lap. Give yourself time, in an appropriate setting to really appreciate the importance of the couple’s day. Plan out a heartfelt wish that reflects your relationship and the excitement you feel for their big day and their future adventures together.

15 Congratulations Messages

When writing a wedding card, a simple “Congratulations” shows your support and expresses your love. It’s the easiest wish you can send and takes the pressure off when you’ve only met one half of the newly-weds, or if you’re attending an acquaintance’s wedding, such as a co-worker. “Congratulations” is appropriate no matter whose wedding you’re attending. But, if writing it feels a little too simple for you, here are a few ideas on how to personalise and extend your congratulations,

“Congratulations to you both!”
“This calls for congratulations! (And probably champagne!)”
“It makes us so happy to see the two of you so happy. Congratulations!”
“Congratulations! Sending love to you both!”
“You guys are great together! So happy for you!”
“You’ll always remember this day. Hope it’s even more beautiful and perfect than you’ve been dreaming."
"Hope today is simply the start of a lifetime that just gets better and better.”
“Prayers and blessings on your wedding and on your marriage.”
“You two make this ‘love and marriage’ thing look so easy, and I’m so happy for you!”
“Hope you’ll always find yourselves as much in love as you are today.”
“I hope through the years you become even better friends and share every possible kind of happiness life can bring.”
“Congratulations on your wedding day and best wishes for a happy life together!”
“It means so much to witness the joy of your wedding day. Congratulations to you both on finding the perfect person to share all your days with.”
“Seeing you two make promises and step forward into the future is so inspiring and wonderful.”
“If ever two people deserved a sweet, meaningful, joyful wedding day, it’s the two of you.”
“I just know life has even more wonderful things in store than the happiness you share today. May every day be beautiful and happy for you as a couple.”

Writing tip: If you’ve chosen a card that already has “Congratulations” printed inside, add an ellipsis (…) or a comma and continue with your message.

Messages to a Family Member

Attending a family member’s wedding is such a special moment, and whether it’s your brother, sister, nephew, niece, or even your own child, sending them a Wedding card is the perfect way to welcome their significant other to (or jokingly warn them about) the family.

“[Sarah], welcome to our big, crazy family! [Ben], what a lucky guy you are. Congratulations and lots of love to you both.”
“[David], you’ve been like family for a long time, but now it’s official. [Jenny], it means so much to see you marrying the love of your life. I’m so overjoyed for both of you!”
“Today you officially become your very own family of [2]. So glad to have you both as part of our bigger family, too!”

“Your wedding is such a wonderful day for the two of you and for our family.”
“Today, our family grows by one new member and by so much love and happiness.”

Messages to Your Daughter

“We're so happy for you today. It feels so good to see our little girl happy and in love. Marriage has been a great adventure for us, and we hope it will be for you, too.”
“We can’t believe our little girl is all grown up! We wish you all the excitement, hope and joy on your wedding day and beyond.”
“It brings us such joy and happiness to know you’ve found the kind of love that lasts, and may you both find great joy in all you share. Warmest wishes to you both.”

Messages to Your Son

“It means so much to us to see the joy you give each other, and it means so very much to have a son and daughter-in-law like you!”
“We love you so much, and nothing is more important than knowing how happy you are! Congratulations to you both.”
“We’re so proud of the man you’ve become, and so happy you’ve found your someone special.”

Messages to Your Sister

“Growing up with you gives me a lot of reasons to know what you're like to live with! Now that you're getting married, I can safely tell you this: I couldn't have asked for a better friend or a person more fun to be with. [Greg] is really lucky to be marrying you!”
“When we were kids, it was hard for us to imagine being all grown-up someday and getting married. But that "someday" is here-- and I'm really happy for you.”
“We've shared so many memories, [Lucy], and this moment is going to be one of the best. I'm so happy you've found your person and love that will last a lifetime. Love you.”

Messages to Your Brother

“It brings so much happiness to see such a wonderful brother become a wonderful husband. May today be the beginning of a long, beautiful life with the person you love.”
“Some things will change now that you're getting married, but one thing will stay the same... You're a great brother. What a wonderful husband you'll be, and what a happy family you'll have. Congratulations.”
“I am so happy to see my loving brother become a loving husband. Congratulations.”

Messages to Both of You

When you know the couple well, or want to add a little extra sentiment to their Wedding card, addressing their card to both of them will really make them smile. Sending a special wish to both the newlyweds is the perfect way to show your love and support for both halves of the happy couple!

“You're both so delightful, it's safe to conclude that no nicer couple has ever said “I do!”
“When you first fell in love, there was no telling where it would take you… but even from the very start, we knew one thing, that no matter where you were going, you’d get there side by side. That's always been my favourite part of your journey together.”
“A new page turns. A chapter starts. The same love blooms inside two hearts. Congratulations on your life together.”
“Happy Wedding Day! Remember to dream big together, love strong and laugh lots, Congratulations to you both on your marriage!
“A special Congratulations to a very special pair, we wish you a world of joy to share.”
“I’m so happy I got to celebrate the both of you today on your special day!”

Messages to a Friend or Best Friend

Attending a friend’s or even a best friend’s wedding can mean so much, and writing their Wedding message might be even more important. Whether you’ve been friends for a lifetime, by each other’s side through thick and thin, or are more recent friends formed through a shared experience or situation, their journey to their Wedding Day might have made a big impact on you too!

“May your marriage be a beautiful celebration of your love and commitment and the beginning of a wonderful life together.”
“Your big day's finally here and after all the preparation you can relax at last and just enjoy the celebration... Hope every detail of today works out just as you planned.”
“Congratulations to my best friend and your amazing partner! I hope your life together is as fun and adventurous as our friendship has been.”
“As your best friend, I look forward to seeing your marriage filled with love, respect and endless support for each other.”
“Congratulations on finding someone who puts up with your quirks and weirdness, and still loves you unconditionally!”

From the Bridesmaid or a Best Man

As a Bridesmaid or Maid of Honour, your dedication and hard work towards their perfect day won’t go unnoticed, but make sure they know exactly how happy you are to be involved and how in-love with their love you are. As an important person involved in their day, your words will mean an awful lot.

“To the happy couple, thank you for letting me be a part of this wonderful celebration. Cheers to a lifetime of love and laughter!”
“Congratulations to the newlyweds! I hope your life is filled with endless adventures, love to you both!”
“Here’s to the bride and groom! I hope your love story is as magical as a fairytale, with just as much adventure, fewer dragons and more wine nights. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!”

As a Best Man, your responsibilities are important… from getting the suits fitted, keeping the rings safe, to greeting the wedding guests, you might overlook how important this day is to you too. Make sure the couple know how happy you are to help out and be involved, having a message they can cherish will make their day even better.

“To the newlyweds, may your marriage be filled with laughter, love, and a mutual understanding that no matter what, you’ll always be each other’s biggest fan! Cheers to you both.”
“Congratulations to my best friend and their amazing new spouse. Here’s to your love, laughter and a lifetime of inside jokes."
“They say you don’t marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you can’t live without. Wishing you all the best.”
"Congratulations to my best friend and your amazing partner! May your life together be as fun and adventurous as our friendship has been. Here's to love, laughter, and a lifetime of inside jokes!"
"Here's to the happy couple! May your love be like a cosy fire in the winter - warm, comforting, and always there to chase away the chill. Love and congratulations to you both!"

Funny Wedding Wishes

If saying something heartfelt and emotive doesn’t feel quite right, you can always take a different route and go with some humour! There are loads of ways to make the newlyweds smile, from inside jokes shared between you, to silly gags that’ll make their eyes roll.

“Marriage is just one big sleepover with your favourite weirdo! Congrats!”
“Welcome to the world of marital bliss… where the laundry is never-ending the dishes are daily! Happy Wedding Day.”
“Congratulations on your happy-ever-after! Now you can’t escape each other’s farts!”
“I heard you mention you were marrying your ‘best friend’ in your vows… but I was in the audience! Love, your real best friend (Also congratulations! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!)”
“Marriage is when a couple promises to love, honour and annoy each other for the rest of their lives! Congrats.”

Messages to say Thank You

Every couple puts in a lot of time, money and preparation to make their big day as special as can be, and it's wonderful that they want you to be a part of it too! So, if you want to express your gratitude to the newlyweds for including you in their day, we've got some sweet messages that you can use alone or include as part of your Wedding Day congratulations.

“Congratulations, it means so much to be part of your big day!”
“We’re so thrilled to be celebrating with you! Now let’s get this wedding party started!”
“Thank you for inviting us to your wedding. It’s a pleasure to share this beautiful and important day with you.”
“It’s such an honour to witness your vows and be among those to wish you a beautiful new adventure together.”
“You’ll remember this day for the rest of your life, and so will those there with you. Sending you best wishes forever as you enter your happily-ever-after.”
“Watching you both together, I know I’m witness something beautiful. Thanks for letting me be there with you.”

FAQs

Should you put money in a Wedding card?

Traditionally, a couple would create a Wedding List of items they might need for their new home and future together but, as couples increasingly live together before getting married, it has become more common for soon-to-be-married couples to ask for alternative gifts instead. The best thing is to talk to the couple and see what their personal plans are. There may be a pre-planned wedding list with ideas and recommendations for gifts that would be useful for the couple, or some couples might request money to put towards a certain goal like their honeymoon or a family holiday in place of wedding gifts, some couples would prefer you to make a charity donation in their name, and some might just want your presence on their special day and nothing more. So, speak to the couple in person to see what they’d prefer and just take it from there… and remember, gift cards make a great alternative to cash if you’re sending your congratulations through the post. 

We hope you have found our quotes and ideas inspirational, and that the Wedding Card you’re writing out is filled with heartfelt wishes and all your love.

Looking for more insights and inspiration? Check out our other blog posts to learn about your Love Language, discover unique poetry from the Hallmark writers, and so much more!