Marriage wishes: how to write words that are meaningful

Marriage wishes are a way to commemorate special occasions and remind loved ones you support them. Sending marriage wishes may seem like a small gesture, but it can mean the world to couples beginning their new life together. Writing them is a way to show someone you value their happiness and presence in your life.

Considering some couples hang onto their wedding cards as keepsakes, you likely want your words to be meaningful. However, knowing what to write or where to start can be daunting. Looking at examples of marriage wishes for all types of relationships can give you the inspiration you need to write from the heart.

What are marriage wishes?

Marriage wishes are well wishes given to couples for their wedding day. If you’ve been married, you may remember receiving positive sentiments like these from friends, family, or coworkers. Marriage wishes help couples feel surrounded by love and warmth as they embrace change and embark on their new chapter. 

Marriage wishes often include the following themes: 

• Congratulating the couple on their relationship milestone
• Wishing the couple a happy life full of love and so much joy
• Offering positive affirmations of support for the couple and their union
• Thanking the couple for including you in their special day
• Offering up wisdom from your own marriage

You might write marriage wishes on a store-bought wedding card or in a guest book at the wedding. Sometimes, couples collect them on a website. When in the form of a physical or virtual card, marriage wishes may include cash, a check, or a gift card. You might also send them after the marriage, around anniversaries or vow renewals.

When do you give marriage wishes?

As long as you know the couple is still on track to get married, there is no right or wrong time to give marriage wishes. The point is simply to show the couple that you care for them and are rooting for their happiness. This could be months before their wedding day or even after their honeymoon.

The timing might also depend on your relationship with the couple. For example, if you’re giving a card with warm wedding wishes to a coworker, giving it to them on their last day of work before the wedding might make sense. If you’re a family member attending the wedding, you might want to save your wishes until the day of the ceremony.

Examples of good times to give marriage wishes include the following:

• At an engagement party
• At the wedding shower
• At the rehearsal dinner
• As part of your gift
• During your wedding toast
• The day after the wedding
• The first time you see the pair after their wedding and honeymoon

The anatomy of a wedding card

Once you’ve thought about your relationship with the couple and brainstormed a few things to say, you’re ready to write your wedding card wishes. 

The average wedding size in 2023 included 115 guests, so the couple will likely receive many cards and heartfelt wedding wishes. With that in mind, stop worrying about finding the magic words. There’s no such thing as perfect wedding wishes. Chances are, the pair will be happy you took the time to offer words from your heart and won’t overthink your message. 

If you’re unsure what to write in a wedding card, try the following format. It can help you deliver a message of sincere best wishes for the couple.

1. Include joyful congratulations

Kick off your card with a wedding congratulations message to the newlyweds. You could start with something simple like the following:

• Congratulations on your wonderful love story!
• Congrats to a beautiful couple!
• Congratulations and welcome to married life, [name] and [name]! 
• Sending you heartfelt congratulations and much love for the years ahead!

2. Personalize your wishes

Wedding cards often become treasured keepsakes that people look back on for years. The best wedding wishes are personalized to the couple and your relationship with them.

Your message might depend on the depth of your relationship and the couple’s taste. Consider writing about your hopes for their life together or sharing personal observations about marriage. You might even make a joke about what their partner is getting themselves into. 

If you know the couple well and have specific memories, include those thoughts for an individualized touch. You can try telling a story like the following:

• I remember you telling us about [name] for the first time in the break room. I can’t believe how time has flown by!
• Ever since I saw your face light up when you talked about [name], I knew they were the person for you.
• [Name] is such an incredible person. It’s so special that you found someone who shares the same compassion and empathy as you.

3. Offer thanks

If you land an invite to the ceremony or reception, there’s a reason for it. Show the pair how meaningful being included on their special day is by offering words of gratitude. You could say something like the following:

• Thank you for allowing me to share in your big day!
• Thanks for including me in your joyous celebration!
• I’m grateful I got to join you both on this special day.
• It meant so much that you invited me to witness this happy occasion!

4. Close with warmth

Before signing your name at the end of your message, finish on a happy note. Keep it short and sweet so the actual content can shine. Try including a sign-off like the following:

• Lots of love, [your name]
• Best wishes to my favorite newlyweds, [your name]
• Take care of one another, [your name]
• I can’t wait to see what the future brings for you, [your name]
• Wishing you a lifetime of endless love, [your name]

Example and tips for how to write marriage wishes for everyone in your life

Wedding wishes can look different for each type of relationship. For this reason, your wishes for your sibling’s wedding likely won’t be the same as your sentiments for your coworker’s wedding. Here are a few wedding wish examples you can share based on your relationship.

Marriage wishes for your children

A child’s wedding is a big deal for many parents. Maybe you’ve dreamed of this moment ever since your daughter’s senior prom or you watched your son leave on his first date. Now that the day has finally arrived, how can you express your feelings in words?

To make your wedding messages extra meaningful, consider incorporating one or more of the following elements: 

• Your favorite memory from their childhood
• Your pride in how your child has grown into a loving adult
• How you can’t wait to get to know their partner better
• How excited you are to see where this new chapter takes them
• How much you love and support them

If you still feel stuck, here are a few examples of marriage wishes you can include:

• Congratulations to a perfect pair. We love you both and can’t wait to see your journey!
• We’ve been waiting for this day ever since you took your first steps, and now we’re so grateful to be a part of it. Cheers to the happiest of futures!
• Happy wedding day! If your wedding day is anything like mine, it will go by in a flash. Enjoy every second!
• I hope today is everything you want it to be and more!

Marriage wishes for close family and friends

It’s so special to witness a close friend or family member marry the love of their life. To show your support, consider including wedding wishes like the following in your card:

• To my best friend on your wedding day: Know that your happiness means everything to me. I’m so glad you’ve found that with [name]!
• I’ve been blessed to witness your love story unfold, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this day!
• I hope your marriage is full of smiles, laughter, warmth, growth, and LOTS of love. Congratulations!

Marriage wishes for children of close friends

If you have close friends with children, you may have been watching them grow up for quite some time. Consider writing them a meaningful card with messages like the following:

• From your preschool days to now, you’ve always been the sweetest soul. I’m so grateful I get to watch you continue to shine.
• You used to play in my driveway after school, and now you’re getting married. It’s such a privilege to celebrate with you during this time!
• I’m so glad you’ve found your happily ever after. Wishing you a happy marriage!

Marriage wishes for distant family

Sometimes there are family members that you just don’t get to see as often as others. However, you can still build rapport by showing your support for their marriage with messages like the following:

• May today be the start of a wonderful journey filled with adventure.
• I’m honored we could share this special day, and I wish you all the best!
• This is just the beginning. May your marriage be filled with endless love!

Marriage wishes for colleagues

More than 2.4 million people got married in the US in 2022. It’s an everyday occurrence, so you’ll likely have a coworker who gets married while you work together. 

You may have made friends at work or be a more distant supervisor. In either case, celebrating personal milestones other than work anniversaries can be a good way to build good work relationships.

Extending wedding wishes to a colleague doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are some professional yet meaningful short wedding wishes to give a coworker:

• Good luck and warmest wishes as you start this exciting new chapter.
• It’s such a joy to join in your happiness. Congratulations to you and your partner!
• Warm wishes to you and your true love.
• May your years be filled with endless joy, happiness, and love.

Formal vs. funny wedding wishes: when you can let loose

Weddings don’t have to be serious. When you have a sense of humor in common with the people getting married, sending a funny wedding wish can bring smiles for years to come. Just make sure it suits your relationship and doesn’t overstep any boundaries.

Examples of funny marriage wishes include the following:

• My marriage advice to the newly married couple: love, honor, and … do the dishes!
• Congratulations on finding the best person to spend the rest of your life annoying.
• Congrats on making the second-most important choice of your life! (The first was becoming friends with me.) Here’s hoping marriage lives up to it.

Extra-meaningful marriage wishes examples

If you want to send extra-meaningful wedding wishes to a good friend or close family member, here are some examples of messages that show a bit more emotion:

• Of all the big life events we’ve celebrated over the years, today tops the list.
• Remember when you made that list of qualities of a perfect partner? Well, you found them.
• Today, we gain a new family member, and we couldn’t be happier.
• May the true love you share today grow stronger as you age well together.

Marriage wishes: show up for your loved ones with thoughtful words

Marriage wishes can help make a wedding day special for people you care about. By celebrating important stages of life, you can maintain and build fulfilling interpersonal relationships in all settings.

If you’re looking for ways to help build healthy relationships, consider working with a personal coach. Coaches can be a wonderful tool for helping you find purpose and build confidence in all your relationships. Find your coach.