Are you as bit like me? When a friend or family member makes a big announcement like 'We're getting engaged!' 'We're getting married!' 'We're having another baby!' To celebrate this special occasion, I rush out to buy a card, can't find the right one, then decide to make my own, spend ages getting it just right (this is my favourite part). And then comes the tricky bit when you open up that card and see an ocean of blank white space that you have to fill with a thoughtful, lasting message to mark their true love and happiness.
Your congratulations to write in an engagement card is your chance to express your happiness, excitement and support for the newly engaged couple. Whether your best friend or big brother just announced their engagement, sending well wishes is a thoughtful gesture. Tailor your message to the couple and your relationship with them. Is the card for a family member or a close friend? Opt for sentimental engagement quotes that share your excitement. If the couple is religious, consider including a Bible verse or a quote from the Torah. Prefer to keep your message lighthearted? Choose a funny engagement wish for a great couple that loves to laugh.
So you want to create the perfect congratulations wishes to write in an engagement card?
My go-to is my old friend Google to find some inspiration, usually for engagement quotes for the newly engaged couple starting on their exciting journey together. We've got you covered with writing tips and wording examples for offering your best wishes to the happy engagement couple.
What you write in an engagement card doesn’t have to be wedding-day formal or deep or wonderfully clever. (Unless you are formal, deep or wonderfully clever, in which case, just write what comes naturally.) When it comes down to it, all you need to do is be your caring self, note the big news and add your excitement to the couple’s.
Need a few idea starters? Keep reading for tips and inspiration for thoughtful, hopeful and happy things to write when you sign an engagement card.
Hallmark, so famous for their cards have lots of ideas on their website...They even have different categories for 'Simple Engagement Congratulations', 'Happy for You', 'Compliments', 'A Toast on Paper' 'Funny Engagement Message', and even 'To a Family Member'.
- “You two are so right together. Congratulations.”
- “I just love it when two wonderful people decide to spend their lives together.”
- “Here’s to your engagement! It couldn’t have happened to two nicer people.”
- “I’m smiling just thinking about your smile in the proposal photo. I love seeing you this happy.”
- “If ever a couple deserved this much happiness, it’s you two.”
- “Celebrating my favourite newly engaged couple!”
- “Of course he wanted to lock this thing down. You’re amazing! There’s no way he was going to let you get away.”
And more classic quotations from popular writers and poets for a traditional engagement card message.
- “There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” – Martin Luther
- “You don’t need to be on the same wavelength to succeed in marriage. You just need to be able to ride each other’s waves.” – Toni Sciarra Poynter
- “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.” – Sophocles
- “There’s a big difference between falling in love with someone and falling in love with someone and getting married. Usually, after you get married, you fall in love with the person even more.” – Dave Grohl
- “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” – Eden Ahbez
- “You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.” –Anonymous
- “Chains do not hold marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.” – Simone Signoret
- “You don’t need to be on the same wavelength to succeed in marriage. You just need to be able to ride each other’s waves.” – Anonymous
- “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- “True love stories never have endings.” – Richard Bach
The Knot even comes with a guide on how to set out your message along with ideas for engagement wishes for friends, brother, sister, son, daughter or for a religious couple.
- Open your message with a salutation (i.e. "Dear [insert couple's names]," or "To a wonderful couple," or "To my dear sister").
- Follow that up with a statement of congratulations (e.g. "Congratulations on your engagement!") and a personalised happy engagement message based on your relationship with the couple (e.g. "I am so happy to hear this wonderful news, and I can't wait to celebrate with you.")
- Close it off with well wishes (e.g. "Best Wishes", [insert your name(s)]).
Hitched even suggests wonderfully touching messages from Mum and Dad to their daughter or son.
- "Your father and I have always tried to set an example for you of what a marriage should look like. May you always have each other’s back and each other’s heart as you navigate a new life together."
- "We’re the luckiest parents in the world to have watched you grow into the beautiful person you are today. The moment you first introduced us to [insert name] we could tell you were head over heels and now we’re so fortunate to welcome them into our family too."
- "We've been waiting for this day since you were in nappies! No turning back now..."
- "I always knew this joyous moment would come, and I’m honoured to call you my son/daughter as you take this exciting new step to starting your own family."
- "Once of the proudest moments of a father's/mother's life is when they get to watch their little girl/boy walk down the aisle. The second proudest is when they ace their father/mother of the bride speech."
- "May the love you share only grow stronger as you grow older."
- "Enjoy every moment of planning your wedding. This is just chapter one of the most exciting book."
Writing Tip for Engagement Wishes to Your Best Friend
If you're a close or best friend, it's likely that you were around when your bestie and their partner first met. A reference to the early days is a nice way to bring some nostalgia into your engagement card message.
- Note that if you are going to make any jokes or write any stories from the past, to ensure they are in jest and will be received well by your best friend and their spouse-to-be.
- We'd also recommend not making any assumptions about wedding party roles unless you have already been asked. They may not have even thought about bridesmaids or best men so if they haven't brought it up to you, best to leave that alone.
Writing Tip for Engagement Wishes if you've been asked to be a Bridesmaid or Groomsman.
If you are serving as a bridesmaid or groomsman at the couple's wedding, you're likely related or a close friend of the to-be-wed. Alongside the typical engagement quotes, include a bit of your history. Use an inside joke or an anecdote from when you formed your friendship, or thank the couple for including you in their wedding plans.
Here's an example:
- Dear [insert names],
- I am so happy for both of you on your engagement! I can't wait to watch you start your lives together—with a front-row seat, no less! Thank you for including me in your wedding day. I can't wait to celebrate.
- Best wishes, [insert your name(s)]