What to Write in a Wedding Card (Based on How Well You Know the Couple)

Wedding card message ideas, from heartfelt to humorous

What do you write in a wedding card for someone you don't know well? Or when they’ve eloped in secret to avoid Aunt Irma’s wrath? Or when you can’t attend (because you can’t afford the $2,000 flight to their destination wedding), but still love them dearly? Finding the right words to say ‘congrats on your marriage!’ can be hard no matter how close you are to the newlyweds, so we’ve put together a simple writing guide and a list of sample messages to inspire you. Here’s what to say in a wedding card depending on the couple and your relationship! 

• Read what marriage means to us here at AMM

Memorable wedding card messages often include three unique ingredients:

• words of support and affection
• a warm welcome to the new spouse
• and at least one personalized element that reflects the nature of your relationship (such as a sweet memory of the individual / couple, an inside joke or pun, or words of wisdom)

The examples below include a mix of these ingredients to create short, heartfelt messages. Use this simple formula to personalize your favorite examples, or as inspiration to write a wedding card message from scratch. Remember to speak from the heart! 

When to Give a Wedding Card

Wedding cards can be given on their own or as part of a monetary or physical wedding gift. If you attend the wedding reception, you might see a small box for wedding cards on the gift table. You can slip your card into this box for the newlyweds to open later. If you can't attend the wedding, send a card by mail with a creative postage stamp and a handwritten message to show your love.

Once you’ve chosen the perfect wedding card design, it’s time to personalize it! Add a gift card to their favorite restaurant, cash for their honeymoon, sprigs of dried flowers and herbs, a meaningful photo, a Lovers tarot card. And of course, write a personalized message using the examples below as a starting point.

Wedding Card Messages for (Almost) Every Occasion

Based on How Well You Know the Couple

Use the wedding card messages below as inspiration. Personalize your favorite suggestions with references to your relationship with the couple, your favorite memories of them together, or a sweet piece of wedding advice. If you're at a total loss for words, or you don't know the couple very well, it's ok to keep it simple, warm, and to the point. 

Wedding card message from the wedding officiant…

Personalize these examples to reflect your experiences planning or officiating the couple's marriage ceremony.

• “_____ and _____, it’s been an honor getting to know you and to celebrate and seal your love. The two of you bring out the very best in each other. Wishing you a lifetime of joy and health together, and many more ‘perfect days’ ahead.”
• “The two of you are kindred spirits and it shows! It was a blessing to marry you. Wishing you many years of friendship, passion, learning, and laughter.” 
• “In your vows you promised to love, cherish, and support each other, and if you ask me, you already do, every day and every step of the way! So happy I got to be a part of your special day, and wishing you a very happy marriage.”

Related: Can you legally perform a wedding ceremony for your friends and family? Yes!

|* mop-button *|

What to write in a wedding card for family by relationship

Personalize these examples based on your unique family dynamic.

What to write in a wedding card to your granddaughter (modify for grandchildren of all genders):

• “To my dearest (Name) and your lovely new husband (Name), may your life together be full of laughter, closeness, and many happy adventures. It’s such a gift to see you love each other so well! (Name), it’s been a joy to watch you grow from a fearless girl into a confident young woman, and now a stunning bride and wife. Remember to lean on each other, and you can’t go wrong. 
  Best wishes with all my heart, Nonna Rosa”
• “(Name) and (Name), Congratulations, you two! I look forward to our next Sunday dinner and the wonderful stories you’ll tell of your new adventures in married life. And maybe one day, all those grandbabies you’ve promised us? Now go enjoy your honeymoon and this new joy of calling each other “husband” and “wife”!! Don’t waste a minute of fun. 
  Love you both, Richard and Ruth (better known as your favorite Pop and Grandma)”
• “Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. (Last Name)! May your wedding day be the first of endless happy days. (Name), we love you so much and we’re so proud of you. (Name), welcome to our family and thank you for making our granddaughter so happy. You two bring out the best in each other, and it’s a joy to share in your special day. Wishing you many more, Connie, Carl, and Henry the Beagle”

Related: 10 Questions to Help You Choose a Unique Wedding Gift

Wedding card messages for a sister or brother (modify for a sibling of any gender)

• “Sis, you’ve been my best friend and role model since we were both too short to ride the rollercoasters, and now you’ve found someone to take the ride of a lifetime with! (Name), you match my sister’s spirit note for note, and I’m so happy to have a new co-bestie in the family. Wishing you guys many happy years filled with family dinners, cheating at Scrabble, dance battles in the living room, and cute photos with the best little sister ever – me!! Congratulations you two, big love to you both.”
• “Congratulations you two! I’m honored to stand beside you today, and I’ve got your back for all the years ahead. (Name), welcome to our crazy family, and thank you for loving my big brother so completely. You really do bring out the best in him, and I know he found the best partner in you. Keep making each other laugh! Wishing you guys a lifetime of love and happiness.”
• “To my sister on her wedding day, look at you shine! You are an incredible, confident, beautiful woman, and I’m honored to call you not just a sister but a friend. The way you and (Name) look at each other melts my heart, you found your match! Thank you for picking the perfect brother-in-law for me too – he fits right in with our funny little family. Know that I am always here for you and cheering you on, from here to the moon and back. Have an amazing honeymoon, and a lifetime of love, true companionship, and joy!”

Wedding card messages for a cousin

• “Congratulations, cousin! Wishing you and (Name) many years of happiness and lazy days by the lake. It’s inspiring to see you two take such good care of each other, and to know this is just the start of your incredible life together. Love you (Name), and see you both at the cookout, Mr. and Mrs. (Last Name)!”
• “Watching your love story unfold has been so much fun, and I’m so happy I could stand next to you while you made it OFFICIAL. You two are Aragorn and Arwen, Mulder and Scully, total couple goals!! You’re going to make the sweetest old people together, but in the meantime, I’m wishing you many decades of joy and crazy adventures together. Love you forever, cousin and new cousin-in-law!!”
• “Wishing you a marriage full of love and happiness, travel, and laughter, small joys and big adventures. Congratulations (Name) and (Name), and here’s to many anniversaries and milestones in your future!”

Related: A Simple Guide to Wedding Dress Code Meanings for Guests

What to write on a wedding card for a mom or dad who remarries

• “Congratulations on your wedding day! (Imagine me tossing confetti at you, I promise I’ll clean it up later, Mom…) I’m so happy to see you happy, and welcome to the family, (Name)! I know you guys have been waiting for this day for a long time, and I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside you as you start this next chapter together. Thank you for teaching me that love always gets a second chance, and that listening is a daily act of love. Wishing you years of fun adventures, starting with your honeymoon! Bon voyage and can’t wait to hug you when you’re back.”
• “Congratulations (Name) and Dad! The two of you mean the world to me, and I’m so happy that you found your perfect match. I love watching you two joke around together, cooking and dancing, laughing and taking good care of each other. You’re my favorite dad and stepmom! And who knew that I’d walk you down the aisle first, Dad? Love you both.”
• “What a beautiful wedding for the best parents I could ask for! I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness – and all the laughter, wine, and cannolis your hearts desire. Bravo, brava, I love you!” [We’ve intentionally said ‘parents’ in this example, for those who fully embrace a step-parent as a true parent; however, if you want to shift this, you can also say ‘for two of my favorite people,’ etc.]

Funny wedding card messages for friends or family

Be yourself! Just because marriage is a big deal doesn't mean you have to be solemn or serious about it. Personalize these examples to suit your needs.

• “You two make getting married look like a great idea, and that’s saying something! Thanks for showing us how it’s done, and for loving each other with so much honesty, laughter, and patience. ((Name), aren’t you glad (Name) has so much patience??) Wishing you both years of good health, incredible love, and better stories than the rest of us schmucks! Can’t wait to hear them at Christmas. We love you!”
• “Congratulations, you found your soulmate! FINALLY. ( _____, I owe Dad five bucks now!)”
• “It’s all fun and games until someone gets married… Congratulations, you crazy kids!”
• “Congratulations you two! Your wedding was absolutely gorgeous, (Name), you’re absolutely gorgeous, and (Name) – you were absolutely there too! (Just kidding, you cleaned up way better than any of us expected.) Really though, your love is inspiring to me. Watching you support each other, make each other laugh even when life gets complicated, and genuinely accept each other on a real level, the connection you share is something special. Congratulations on putting in the work to make it work, and wishing you a long lifetime of happiness together. Invite me to the anniversary party, (Name), you know (Name) is gonna ‘forget’!!”
• “Congratulations on your marriage! I have only one piece of advice… never forget the safeword.”
• “We all gotta go sometime! At least you get to go together, right?”
• “Dearest Mr. and Mrs. (Last Name) [or Mrs. and Mrs., etc.], 
  How cool is that? You’re officially hitched! Mr. and Mrs.! Love the new titles, and congratulations on successfully escaping the soul-crushing dystopia that is dating apps! I look forward to reading your “single life” memoirs, where you reveal all the secrets you didn’t tell each other before the wedding day... I’m so happy for you both! Please throw a dinner party immediately so the rest of us can find a mate and go on married double dates! Congratulations!!”
• “I guess there really IS someone for everyone out there! Keep bringing out the weirdness in each other, you cute wonderful weirdos.”

Simple wedding card messages for coworkers & acquaintances 

A.k.a. what to write in a wedding card for someone you don't know well. In this case, you might choose a simple message that focuses on couple's happy future together. 

• “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness. Congratulations on your marriage!”
• “We’re so happy for you! Wishing you a long and loving marriage.”
• “May your bond only get stronger as you start this new chapter of your love story!”
• “Wishing you a lifetime of adventures, laughter, love, and friendship.”

Mix & match messages: short & sweet wedding card messages for anyone

Need something fast and easy for a card? These messages will work for most friends and relatives. Mix and match your favorites. 

• “You two make each other shine! Keep bringing out that glow, and wishing you decades and decades of bliss.”
• “Love looks good on you. Wishing you two a long and happy lifetime of loving each other and looking good!" 
• “_____ and _____, congratulations on your marriage! You bring out the best version of each other, and will be fantastic wives (partners / husbands) to each other. Congratulations, and YAY!”
• “Seeing the two of you happy makes everyone around you happy too. What a joy to be present as you celebrate your love. Congratulations!!”

Need more inspiration? 

Add a quote about love or marriage to your card: 

• 30 Buddhist Quotes on Love & Happiness for Your Wedding Ceremony Script
• 10 Popular Bible Verses about Marriage, Love, & Commitment

Explore Creative Wedding Ideas & Inspiration From American Marriage Ministries

• Include Your Officiant on Your Wedding Invitations! A Special Way to Say ‘Thank You’
• 5 Great Reasons to Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding
• These Wedding Planning Books Make Great Gifts
• 7 Ultimate Engagement Gifts To Make a Couple’s Wedding Planning a Breeze