Bridal Explorer

Etiquette

What to Write in a Wedding Card: 40 Messages by Relationship

Exactly what to write in a wedding card for the couple, a sibling, a coworker or a close friend — funny, heartfelt and short messages.

Updated May 30, 2026Reviewed by Ava Mercer, Editor-in-Chief

The 3-line formula

  1. Congratulations — one sentence.
  2. Personal note — one specific thing about them or the day.
  3. Wish for the future — one sentence.

For a close friend

  • “I have loved watching you become the person you are with [name]. Today is just the official start. So happy for you both.”
  • “No one deserves a love like this more than you. Cheers to a lifetime of it.”
  • “Watching you two find each other is one of my favorite things to have witnessed. Congratulations.”

For a sibling

  • “I've known you longer than anyone in this room, and I have never seen you happier. Welcome to the family, [partner name].”
  • “Mom and Dad raised a good one. [Partner name], you got lucky. We all did.”

For a coworker or acquaintance

  • “Wishing you both a lifetime of love and laughter. Congratulations!”
  • “So glad we could be part of your day. Cheers to many happy years ahead.”

Funny (for close friends only)

  • “Marriage tip: agree on the thermostat now. Save yourselves the next twenty years. Congrats!”
  • “I claim full credit for setting this up. Bill is in the mail. Love you both.”

Religious messages

  • “May God bless your marriage with patience, joy and a lifetime of love.”
  • “Praying for many happy years together — and many quiet ones, too.”

Short and warm

  • “With love and best wishes for the years ahead.”
  • “Congratulations, [names] — wishing you a beautiful life together.”
  • “Cheers to forever.”

If you're enclosing money

Mention the gift only obliquely — not the amount. A line like, “a little something to start your new life together,” is the warmest way.

Frequently asked questions

Should you sign a wedding card from yourself or your family?
If you're attending alone, sign your own name. If your partner or kids are with you, sign as a family: ‘Love, the Bennetts.’
Is it rude to give a wedding card without a gift?
Not if you're not invited. Wedding guests are traditionally expected to give a gift along with the card.
Do you write the wedding card before or at the wedding?
Before. Bring it sealed and addressed; drop it in the card box at the reception.
What if you don't know the couple well?
Stick to the short-and-warm category. Two sentences and your name is plenty.
Keep reading
Explore more on Bridal Explorer