If you have a friend or family member getting married, and you’re faced with a blank wedding card and a case of writer’s block, don’t fret! We’re here to help you find the right words.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 93 wedding wishes below to offer your congratulations to the newlyweds. You can either swipe your favorite from our list or use one as a jumping-off point and take it from there. The only rule to keep in mind? Make sure your message comes from the heart and is tailored to the couple. Other than that, almost anything goes.
General Tips & Wedding Card Etiquette
We mentioned that there aren’t really any hard and fast rules when it comes to wedding cards. That said, there are a few helpful tips, tricks, and traditions to keep in mind when it comes to writing the perfect wedding card:
- Think about your wedding card message in two parts: congratulations and wishes. This framework will help ensure what you write feels both celebratory and heartfelt.
- Always mention both partner’s names in the wedding card. If you have a special message just for one half of the couple, feel free to write it in a separate card.
- Don’t assume the bride will be changing her name. Be wary of addressing your card using outdated traditions like “Mr. and Mrs. Groom’s Name.” If you’re not sure how the couple will be approaching their last name, addressing your card “to the Newlyweds” or simply to their first names is a failsafe way to go.
- No divorce jokes. Many traditional “funny” wedding card greetings attempt to make a joke out of guessing if the marriage will last, which is more mean-spirited than it is funny. If you want to infuse your card with some humor, check out our ideas below.
- Keep advice positive. If you’d like to add a few words of wisdom for the couple, you definitely should! But similarly to our guidelines on humor, keep your advice positive and uplifting (no couple wants to read about how hard marriage is during their honeymoon phase).
- Bring your card to the ceremony. Most couples will have a basket or small box for cards alongside the guest book at their wedding where you can drop off your card, so be sure to bring one long with you, even if you’ve already sent a present to the couple’s home. If you can’t attend the wedding, sending a card one month in advance to one month after the wedding is also acceptable.
Formal Wedding Wishes
Formal wedding wishes are the perfect way to personalize your card if you aren’t super close to the couple, or if you just want to honor the gravity of their wedding day with a message that matches. Each of the ideas below are great examples of how to get formal wedding wishes right. They’re celebratory without being over the top, and focus on what the day is all about: love.
- Congratulations on your wedding! And thank you for letting us be part of your special day.
- I'm so happy you've found someone wonderful to share your life with. Best wishes for your future together.
- May your life together be filled with joy, happiness, and lots of love.
- Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.
- Good luck, good health, and happiness always.
- Wishing you both the best, today and always.
- It’s a joy to celebrate your love.
- Wishing you well as you embark on this next chapter of life together!
- It’s been a joy to watch your love blossom. Here’s to your new chapter!
Casual Wedding Wishes
Casual wedding wishes are perfect for couples that you know a little bit better — or if you know the celebration will be a more laid-back affair, like a micro or backyard wedding. There is more wiggle room in casual wedding wishes to show off some of your own personality. They are also the perfect way to open a message in which you share your favorite memory of the couple, or a lighthearted piece of advice.
- Congratulations on tying the knot!
- Hooray! You tied the knot!
- The best love story is the one you write together.
- Woohoo for you two!
- Best wishes to you both on your special day.
- Here's to love and friendship.
- Cheers to a fantastic couple!
- You are two amazing people. Or, maybe I should say, one amazing couple. Congrats!
- Today is just the start of what is sure to be an amazing love story. Congratulations!
- Tons of love for you today!
- I am so happy you found your soulmate. Cheers!
Religious Wedding Wishes
A religious wedding wish can be appropriate to include in your card to the happy couple if you know that the wedding will be a spiritual affair. Look for religious quotes that are aligned with the couples beliefs, or with more generic religious messages like “may your marriage be blessed.” Below, we’ve included some quotes and messages that work for Christian and Jewish couples.
Christian Wedding Wishes
- Congratulations! Wishing you a blessed marriage.
- Prayer will keep your marriage strong, so never hesitate to seek guidance. Congratulations!
- "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." –1 Corinthians 13:4-5
- “Love bears all things, Believes all things, Hopes all things, Endures all things. Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7
- “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13
- “Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
- “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” — Ephesians 4:2-3
- “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:32
- “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” — Romans 12:10
- “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” — Proverbs 3:3
- “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8
Jewish Wedding Wishes
- Mazel tov! Here’s to many happy years together.
- L’Chaim! (meaning “to life” in hebrew)
- Ahavah (meaning “love” in hebrew) to you both on your wedding day.
- Strong in faith, strong in love. Wishing you a strong and blessed marriage.
- Bracha, Parnasa and Hatzlacha. (meaning “blessing, wealth and success” in Hebrew)
- May God bless you on your wedding day, and all of the days of your lives.
- “Love is the gravity that pulls the universe together.” — Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
- “May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may He lift up His countenance toward you, and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:24-26
Wedding Wishes for a Family Member
If you’re attending the wedding of a family member — whether it is your sibling, cousin, niece or nephew — there are a few ways to get your wedding wishes right. First, use what you write in your card as a chance to welcome their spouse into the family. Then, express how happy you are for your relative. If you’ve had the chance to interact with the two as a couple, be sure to also include a personal message about what their relationship means to you!
- Today, I gained a new sibling/cousin/niece/nephew and I couldn't be happier. I love you both and wish you the best as you begin your new life together.
- Congratulations brother, it seems that a frog can turn into a handsome prince when the right lady appears! Wishing you both the best.
- Welcome to the family! We are so excited to celebrate your love.
- Big hugs, lots of love, and our heartfelt congratulations from your new family!
- In [spouse’s name] our family has gained quite the man/woman. Lucky us!
- Can’t wait to introduce you to all of our family traditions — cheers!
- You’ve felt like part of our family from the start, but now it is official. Congratulations!
- You fit right in! Congratulations on your nuptials.
- This day will go down as one of our family’s favorite memories. We are so happy for you both, thank you for including us in your wedding celebrations!
- You’re now officially a [family’s last name] — we hope you’re prepared for chaos, laughter, and lots of love.
Wedding Wishes for a Son or Daughter
Shepherding your son or daughter through their wedding is an emotional time for parents — and one that can feel like the start of a new chapter for everyone involved. Use your wedding card to the couple as a chance to express how proud you are of your son or daughter, welcome their spouse into the family officially, and share a piece of sage advice for how to keep the marriage a happy one (even if it is just a bit of funny, insider knowledge about your child!). If you have a specific message for your son or daughter, it is always appropriate to include it in a card addressed specifically to them on their wedding day.
- We are so happy to welcome a new son/daughter to the family!
- I’m always proud to be your parent, but today my pride knows no bounds.
- I’m so happy that you’ve found someone who cherishes you as much as I do. You’ve found your person, and I can’t wait to see the beautiful life you build together. I love you!
- I’ve always known you were special, so it fills me with joy to see another person recognize just how wonderful you truly are. Cheers to your big day!
- May you bring each other as much happiness as you’ve brought to me. Best wishes to a long, happy marriage!
- It’s one of my greatest joys to see you find your soulmate. I know I did something right as a parent for you to pick [name] to be your spouse!
Wedding Wishes for Parents or Step-Parents
If you’re lucky enough to be attending the nuptials of one of your parents, use your wedding card as an opportunity to express how excited you are about your new family dynamic. The best messages welcome your parent’s new spouse into the family and make it clear just how much it means to you to watch your mom or dad find happiness. If you know your parent will appreciate it, don’t be afraid to sprinkle a little good-natured humor into your wedding wishes, too!
- Mom/Dad, I’m so happy you found a partner to share your life with!
- I’m thrilled you make each other so happy — welcome to the family!
- I love you both and couldn’t be happier for you two!
- I couldn’t ask for a better partner for my Mom/Dad, thank you for making them so happy!
- Watching you fall in love with each other has been so inspiring. I can only hope to find a love like this one day!
- Took you long enough to find your perfect match! But I’m so glad you did.
Wise Wedding Wishes
If you’ve been married for years or are in a long-term relationship, it is only natural to want to impart some of your hard-earned wisdom onto the newlyweds in your wedding card. The key here is keeping your wisdom and advice positive — to focus on all the ways to revel in the best parts of marriage, instead of imparting wisdom about how difficult marriage can be. Also, stay away from any advice or wisdom that relies too heavily on stereotypical spousal roles, especially if you aren’t certain they hold true for the couple getting married. The pieces of wisdom below are just the right mix of heartfelt and positive!
- Say “I love you” every day.
- Love always, laugh often, and never go to bed angry.
- Remember how you felt today, every day.
- “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” — Audrey Hepburn
- May the love you share today only grow stronger and stronger over the years.
- Everlasting love is a gift, but not one you unwrap just once. It constantly evolves over time and never ceases to amaze. Congratulations!
- May your marriage be filled with trust, respect, love — and above all else, may it be filled with abundant joy!
- Never forget what brought you together. Stay focused on your love and you’ll never go wrong.
- Don’t let anything stand in the way of your love! Congratulations!
- Keep humor at the center of your marriage, and you’ll have a lifetime of love and laughter.
Funny Wedding Wishes
Funny wedding wishes are the perfect thing to include in a wedding card for close friends and family. Going this route works best if you can tailor your message to something personal to the couple — maybe they have a quirky or unusual habit that you can gently poke fun at or you share an inside joke with them that you can resurface here. Otherwise, stick to humor that is uplifting and never make a joke about how hard marriage is or how likely they are to get divorced.
- Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the rest of your life.
- Love is being stupid together.
- Thanks a lot, you two, for getting hitched. The free food today was great!
- Thanks for inviting me to the best party ever (and for all the free drinks)!
- Now you’ll always have someone to laugh at your terrible jokes. Congratulations!
- I just have one thing to say: Finally!
- Beyonce and Jay Z have nothing on you two. Cheers to the newest power couple!
- May your love be as unstoppable as your moves on the dance floor.
- This calls for congratulations…and a lot of champagne. Cheers to your marriage!
- I’m so glad you two weirdos found each other!
- Marriage is basically asking each other what you want to eat…forever.
- Marriage is about choosing to embrace your spouse’s flaws, like their inability to parallel park or their terrible shower singing.
Wedding Wishes for Colleagues
Whether you’ve been invited to a colleague’s wedding or are putting together a card to give to them before they take time off to tie the knot, there are plenty of professional ways to congratulate the happy couple! If you’ve been invited to the wedding, be sure to express your gratitude for being included in their big day along with well wishes for a happy marriage.
- I am so honored to spend this happy day with you and your family. Congratulations!
- Here’s to a long and happy marriage!
- Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.
- Congratulations on your marriage! Best wishes for a happy and fulfilling future.
- Today is just the start of a lifetime of fun, love-filled adventures (just make sure you have enough PTO). Cheers!
- Here’s to many happy years together!
- Wishing you a long and happy marriage.
- Don’t worry, I’ll hold down the fort at work until you're back from your honeymoon. Congratulations!
- If you’re as good of a partner as you are a co-worker, your spouse is one lucky person!
- My work husband/wife/spouse has the real deal now. Congratulations!
We hope this list of wedding greeting ideas inspired you! And, if you’re still looking for the perfect gift to give the happy couple, check out Minted’s complete guide to wedding gift giving.
