Engagement Wishes: What to Write in an Engagement Card

So somebody you know just got engaged? Well, grab a tissue and cue the happy tears—this is exciting stuff. Of course, you’ll want to post or text a quick “Congratulations!” But for someone you truly care about, take a step further and mark the occasion with a handpicked engagement card and some heartfelt words they can keep long after they say “I do.”
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.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmark.
Simple Congratulations
You can absolutely keep your engagement message short and sweet—or short and overjoyed—whatever the case may be.
Examples
- “Congratulations on your engagement! This is such happy news!”
- “With heartfelt congratulations on your engagement,”
- “You’re getting married! That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
- “I just knew it was only a matter of time. Congratulations to you both!”
- “This is just the best news I’ve heard in a long, long time. Congrats!”
- “I had a feeling about you two. Congratulations on proving me right.”
- “Sending warmest congratulations and lots of love as you celebrate your engagement.”
- “Congratulations! Wishing you happy times ahead as you plan your wedding.”
Helpful Tip: Later, when you send a wedding card, you’ll want to address your message to both members of the couple. You could do that for engagement, too, especially if they live together. But at this point, it’s still fine to write and send to just the half of the couple you know well.
Happy for You
Happiness is a very genuine thing to feel—and express—when someone you care about gets engaged. When you let them know you’re happy for them, it’s like adding an extra layer of joy on top of their joy.
Examples
- “I just couldn’t be happier for the two of you.”
- “It’s such a joy to know the two of you are getting married.”
- “So thrilled to hear your big news!”
- “I haven’t stopped smiling since I heard your exciting news.”
- “Feeling overjoyed for you, and wishing you every happiness in the exciting months ahead…”
- “Crying lots of happy tears for you!”
- “You’re engaged…and I’m tickled pink!”
Helpful Tip: Sending your card to an engaged LGBTQ+ couple? Most of the message ideas in this article should work just fine. However, if you want to speak more specifically to the couple’s identity, check out these wedding and engagement messages for LGBTQ+ couples.
Compliments
An engagement can be a great chance to say a little something nice about either or both halves of the couple.
Examples
- “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 favorite 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.”
Helpful Tip: A few other nice phrases to describe a terrific couple: glowing, happy, made for each other, perfect for each other, meant to be, good together, great together, sweet together, got a great thing going.
A Toast on Paper
These are the kinds of messages you can probably imagine saying while raising a glass of something. Only, in this case, you’ll be holding a pen and writing it down. (If there’s a beverage involved, that’s your business.)
Examples
- “Here’s to your engagement! This is such wonderful news.”
- “Cheers on your engagement!”
- “Here’s to a very happy engagement and a lifetime of love.”
- “Cheers to the two of you…and to the love you share!”
- “May your engagement be happy. May your wedding be unforgettable. May your love grow always. Congratulations.”
- “A toast to your engagement! I can’t think of a happier reason to celebrate.”
- “Here’s to the wonderful two of you! May life keep bringing you even more joy.”
- “Celebrating your engagement! Celebrating love.”
Helpful Tip: Should you change your written message at all when one or both members of the couple are getting engaged for the second time or beyond? Not really. Actually, referring to the fact will probably come across as insensitive. You might avoid lofty references to things like “forever” or finding “the one,” but in general, you should sound just as enthusiastic and happy for them as you would for a first-time engagement.
Funny Engagement Messages
If you’re close to your recipient(s), feel free to make them laugh with your engagement wishes.
Examples
- “Whoa! Last time I saw a rock that big, I was in a National Park. Congrats!”
- “The dating pool thanks you for officially taking yourself out of it. Congratulations!”
- “You’re engaged? I’ll drink to that! (Among various other things—but none as happy as this.)”
- “It’s about time! Congrats on an engagement years in the making…”
- “So now you’re a fiancée? This calls for a partée!”
- “She said yes? Nice! Now just be quiet and try not to mess this up, okay?”
- “You’re glowing! In a happy way, not a bizarre way. Love to see it. Love you.”
- “Just heard you two decided to put a ring on it. Congratulations!”
Helpful Tip: Keep your humor good-natured and not mean-spirited. When in doubt, skip the funny and keep your message straightforward and heartfelt.
To Family Member
When writing to a family member or soon-to-be family member, you might refer to the fact that your family circle is expanding, and squeeze in a little extra warmth and love, too.
Examples
- “I can’t believe my little brother is getting married! I couldn’t be happier for you.”
- “Sending love and best wishes as you celebrate your engagement. Our family is about to get a little more wonderful!”
- “Remember growing up when we’d spend hours planning our elaborate imaginary weddings together? Well, yours is about to get real!”
- “Growing up, I sometimes wondered who would ever marry my dumb brother. Well, now I know, and he’s amazing!”
- “Congratulations! I love the wonderful son you are, and I love seeing you this happy.”
- “We always hoped and prayed our daughter would find someone as special as you to share her life. Thanks for making her—and us—so very happy.”
- “Congratulations on the engagement…and welcome to the family!”
- “Thanks for making my dad the happiest man in the world. Looking forward to being family with you.”
Helpful Tip: There’s no need to gush about the person marrying into your family if you don’t really know them or aren’t quite sure about them yet. If that’s the case, you can warmly congratulate either or both members of the couple while still being 100% sincere. And you’ll make them feel great when you do.
Warm Closings
A warm closing before your signature is the perfect ending note for your engagement message. Here are some conventional closings, but feel free to come up with your own unique sign-off if that’s more your style.
Examples
- Warmly,
- Sincerely,
- Cheers!
- Best wishes!
- Best wishes for your engagement,
- All life’s best to you,
- Congratulations!
- Congratulations and best wishes,
- Warmest congratulations,
- Heartfelt congratulations,
- So happy!
- Blessings,
- God bless,
- Love,
- With love,
- Lots of love,
- Love always,
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