150+ Wedding Congratulations Messages to Bride and Groom: Heartfelt Words for Their Special Day

I'll never forget the wedding card my grandmother gave me. Her handwritten message was just twelve words, but twenty years later, I still keep it in my jewelry box. That's the power of the right wedding congratulations message.

Photo by Lilen Diaz on Pexels

I'll never forget the wedding card my grandmother gave me. Her handwritten message was just twelve words, but twenty years later, I still keep it in my jewelry box. That's the power of the right wedding congratulations message.

According to The Knot's 2023 Real Weddings Study, couples receive an average of 150 wedding cards, but only remember a handful of messages that truly touched their hearts. The difference lies in choosing words that match your relationship with the couple and their unique love story.

Whether you're writing for your best friend's destination wedding or your colleague's formal ceremony, I've gathered over 150 wedding congratulations messages to help you find the perfect words. From heartfelt emotions to gentle humor, these messages will help you celebrate love in a way that creates lasting memories.

Formal Wedding Congratulations Messages

Formal wedding messages strike the perfect balance between warmth and respect, ideal for professional relationships or traditional ceremonies.

Formal wedding congratulations emphasize respect, tradition, and lifelong commitment using elegant language appropriate for professional or traditional relationships.

• Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and beautiful memories as you begin this wonderful journey together as husband and wife.
• May your marriage be blessed with endless joy, deep understanding, and unwavering commitment to one another through all of life's seasons.
• Congratulations on your wedding day. May your union be filled with love, laughter, and the kind of happiness that grows stronger with each passing year.
• As you exchange vows today, may you find in each other a best friend, a loving partner, and a source of strength for all the years ahead.
• Wishing you both a marriage filled with all the right ingredients: love, laughter, trust, and happiness. Congratulations on your special day.
• May your love story continue to unfold with joy, adventure, and countless blessings as you embark on this beautiful journey of marriage together.
• Congratulations on finding your perfect match. May your marriage be everything you've dreamed of and more, filled with love and understanding.
• As you join your lives in marriage, may you always find reasons to celebrate your love and cherish the bond you share together.
• Wishing you a lifetime of shared dreams, mutual respect, and the kind of love that inspires others. Congratulations on your wedding day.
• May your marriage be a source of joy and strength, bringing you closer together with each passing day. Warmest congratulations to you both.

Heartfelt and Emotional Wedding Messages

These deeply personal messages express genuine emotion and work beautifully for close friends and family members who've watched the couple's love story unfold.

Heartfelt wedding messages express deep emotion and personal connection, perfect for close friends and family who want to share meaningful, touching congratulations.

• Watching you two find each other has been one of life's greatest gifts. Your love gives me hope and reminds me that soulmates really do exist.
• From the moment I saw you together, I knew this was something special. Today, my heart is overflowing with joy for your beautiful beginning.
• You've both grown into the most amazing people, and seeing you choose each other fills my heart with pure happiness and endless love.
• Your love story has taught me what true partnership looks like. Thank you for showing us all what it means to love unconditionally.
• I've watched you support each other through everything, and I know your marriage will be filled with that same beautiful strength and devotion.
• Seeing you two together makes my heart smile. Your love is the kind that changes the world, one beautiful moment at a time.
• Today isn't just about your wedding—it's about celebrating a love that has already touched so many lives, including mine. Congratulations, beautiful souls.
• You've found your person, your safe harbor, your greatest adventure. I'm so grateful to witness this incredible love story beginning.
• Your relationship has been a masterclass in love, respect, and partnership. I can't wait to see all the beautiful chapters still to come.
• Watching you two choose each other every day has been pure magic. Today we celebrate not just your wedding, but the love that brought us all together.

Tip: Consider gifting a beautiful photo album or custom picture frame to help preserve their wedding memories.

Funny and Light-Hearted Wedding Congratulations

Humor can make wedding congratulations memorable, especially for couples who love to laugh together and don't take themselves too seriously.

Funny wedding messages use gentle humor and wit to celebrate couples who appreciate laughter, creating memorable congratulations that bring joy and smiles.

• Congratulations on finding someone willing to put up with your weirdness for the rest of their life. That's true love right there!
• Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond. By the end, you're looking for a club and a spade!
• Welcome to the club where 'What do you want for dinner?' becomes the most difficult question you'll ever answer. Congratulations!
• You've officially found someone who will steal your covers, eat your food, and still be your favorite person. That's marriage goals!
• Congratulations on your wedding! Remember, in marriage, being right is less important than being happy. (But you didn't hear that from me!)
• They say marriage is when a man loses his bachelor's degree and gets his master's. Congratulations on your higher education!
• You two are perfect for each other—you're both equally weird, and that's what makes it work. Wishing you a lifetime of shared weirdness!
• Marriage is finding that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. Looks like you've both succeeded!
• Congratulations on finding someone who thinks your bad jokes are hilarious. That's when you know it's real love!
• Welcome to married life, where 'Yes, dear' becomes your most frequently used phrase. Use it wisely and live happily ever after!

Religious and Spiritual Wedding Blessings

Faith-based messages incorporate scripture and spiritual wisdom, perfect for couples who center their relationship around shared religious beliefs.

Religious wedding messages incorporate scripture, prayers, and spiritual blessings, perfect for faith-based couples seeking divine guidance in their marriage journey.

• May God bless your union with love, joy, and peace. 'Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.' - Mark 10:9
• As you begin this sacred journey together, may the Lord guide your steps and fill your home with His love and abundant blessings.
• Praying that your marriage reflects God's love for us—unconditional, forgiving, and everlasting. May He be the foundation of your union.
• 'Love is patient, love is kind.' May your marriage embody these beautiful words from 1 Corinthians 13 every day of your lives together.
• May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His face shine upon your marriage with grace, wisdom, and unending love.
• As you become one in God's eyes, may His light illuminate your path and His love strengthen your bond through all seasons of life.
• Praying that Christ will be the center of your home, the guest at every meal, and the silent listener to every conversation.
• May your love be a reflection of God's love—patient, kind, and everlasting. Blessings on your wedding day and always.
• As you join hands and hearts today, may God's grace surround you and His love fill every corner of your married life together.
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him throughout your beautiful journey of marriage.

Wedding Messages for Different Relationships

Tailoring your message to your specific relationship with the couple ensures the right tone and level of intimacy for your connection.

Relationship-specific wedding messages are tailored to your connection with the couple, ensuring appropriate tone and content for family, friends, or colleagues.

For Your Child:

• Watching you find your soulmate has been one of my greatest joys as a parent. Welcome to the family, and congratulations to my beautiful child.
• From your first steps to this first dance as a married couple, you've filled my heart with pride every single day. Love you both.

For Your Sibling:

• You've always been my partner in crime, and now you've found your partner in life. So happy for you, and welcome to the family!
• Remember when we used to fight over everything? Now I'm just fighting back tears of joy. Congratulations, little brother/sister!

For Your Best Friend:

• You've been my person through everything, and now you've found your person for life. I couldn't be happier for my best friend.
• From late-night talks about love to watching you find the real thing—this friendship has been the greatest gift. Congratulations!

For Colleagues:

• Wishing you both a wonderful wedding day and a marriage filled with the same happiness you bring to everyone around you.
• Congratulations on your special day! May your marriage be blessed with love, laughter, and all the joy you both deserve.

Short and Sweet Wedding Congratulations

Sometimes the most powerful messages come in small packages, perfect for cards with limited space or quick social media posts.

Short wedding messages deliver heartfelt congratulations in just a few words, perfect for cards, texts, or social media when brevity is preferred.

• Here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after!
• Two hearts, one love, endless possibilities. Congratulations!
• Love wins! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.
• Perfect match, perfect day, perfect love. Congratulations!
• Your love story is my favorite. Congratulations!
• Cheers to the happy couple and your beautiful beginning!
• Love looks good on you both. Congratulations!
• Wishing you a lifetime of love and laughter together.
• Today, tomorrow, always—congratulations on your love!
• Two hearts becoming one. So happy for you both!
• Love is in the air! Congratulations on your special day.
• Your perfect match deserves perfect happiness. Congratulations!
• Here's to love that lasts forever. Congratulations!
• Beautiful couple, beautiful day, beautiful future ahead!
• Love has won, and so have you both. Congratulations!

Cultural and Traditional Wedding Messages

Honoring cultural traditions in your wedding message shows respect for the couple's heritage and adds meaningful depth to your congratulations.

Cultural wedding messages honor specific traditions and customs, showing respect for the couple's heritage while celebrating their union within cultural context.

• May your marriage be blessed with the wisdom of your ancestors and the joy of new traditions you'll create together.
• As you honor your family's traditions today, may you also write beautiful new chapters in your own love story. Congratulations!
• Celebrating not just your love, but the beautiful cultures and traditions that brought you together. Wishing you endless happiness.
• May the blessings of your heritage guide your marriage and the love you share create new traditions for generations to come.
• Your wedding beautifully honors the past while embracing the future. Wishing you both a marriage filled with cultural richness and love.
• As you blend your traditions and create new ones, may your marriage be a celebration of love that transcends all boundaries.
• May the wisdom of your elders bless your union and the strength of your love honor the traditions that shaped you both.
• Celebrating the beautiful tapestry of cultures that your love represents. May your marriage be blessed with understanding and joy.
• Your love story honors your heritage while creating something entirely new and beautiful. Congratulations on your wedding day!
• May your marriage be enriched by the traditions you honor and strengthened by the love that knows no cultural boundaries.

Tip: Consider gifting items that celebrate their cultural heritage, such as traditional artwork or custom pieces reflecting their backgrounds.

Wedding Congratulations for Second Marriages

Second marriages deserve celebration with messages that acknowledge life experience while embracing new beginnings and fresh starts.

Second marriage congratulations celebrate new beginnings and second chances at love, using thoughtful language that honors experience while embracing fresh starts.

• Love has found you again, and this time it's even more beautiful because you know how precious it truly is. Congratulations!
• Your journey to love hasn't always been easy, but it led you to each other. Here's to your beautiful new beginning together.
• Second chances at love are proof that the heart never gives up hope. So happy you found each other and chose happiness again.
• You've both learned what love really means, and now you get to share that wisdom together. Congratulations on your new chapter!
• Love is even sweeter the second time around because you appreciate every moment. Wishing you both endless joy and happiness.
• Your love story proves that it's never too late for a happy ending. Here's to your new beginning and all the joy ahead.
• Experience has taught you both what really matters in love, and now you get to build something beautiful together. Congratulations!
• Sometimes the best love comes when you're not looking for it. So grateful you found each other and chose to love again.
• Your courage to love again inspires everyone around you. Wishing you both a marriage filled with joy, laughter, and new adventures.
• Love has brought you together at exactly the right time. Here's to your second chance at happily ever after. Congratulations!

Wedding Messages for Destination and Elopement Weddings

Couples who choose intimate or adventurous wedding celebrations deserve congratulations that honor their unique choices and independent spirit.

Destination and elopement wedding messages celebrate couples who chose unique, personal wedding experiences, honoring their adventurous spirit and intimate celebration choices.

• You chose love over tradition, adventure over expectation, and each other over everything else. Congratulations on your perfect elopement!
• Some love stories are meant for grand stages, others for intimate moments. Yours is perfectly, beautifully yours. Congratulations!
• Your destination wedding proves that love is the only destination that truly matters. Wishing you endless adventures together!
• You didn't need a big wedding to make big promises. Your love speaks louder than any celebration ever could. Congratulations!
• Adventure brought you together, and adventure will keep your love story exciting forever. Congratulations on your destination wedding!
• You chose to celebrate your love your way, and that makes it even more beautiful. Congratulations on your perfect intimate wedding!
• Sometimes the most meaningful celebrations are the ones that matter most to you. Your elopement was absolutely perfect. Congratulations!
• Your love doesn't need a big audience—it shines bright enough on its own. So happy you chose each other and your own path.
• From destination wedding to destination marriage—may your journey together be filled with beautiful adventures and endless love.
• You proved that the size of the wedding doesn't matter when the size of the love is infinite. Congratulations on your special day!

Tips for Writing Your Own Wedding Congratulations

Creating personalized wedding messages becomes easier when you follow a few key principles that ensure your words feel genuine and memorable.

Start with your authentic feelings about the couple and their relationship. The most meaningful messages come from real emotions, not generic phrases you found online. Think about what you genuinely admire about their love story or what makes them special as individuals and as a couple.

Include specific memories or observations that show you truly know them. Maybe you remember the first time they mentioned each other, or you've witnessed how they support each other through challenges. These personal touches transform ordinary congratulations into treasured keepsakes.

Consider your relationship with the couple when choosing your tone. A message for your best friend can be more casual and include inside jokes, while congratulations for your boss should maintain professional warmth. Match your language to your connection and their personality.

Balance personal elements with universal marriage wishes. While specific memories make messages special, including hopes for their future—like happiness, adventure, or growing love—gives your message broader meaning. According to relationship research from the Gottman Institute, couples who receive support from their community have stronger, more lasting marriages.

Keep your message focused on celebration and positivity. Wedding congratulations should look forward to their bright future together rather than dwelling on past relationships or potential challenges. This is their moment of joy, so let your words add to that happiness.

Proofread your message before sending it. Check not just for spelling and grammar, but also for tone and appropriateness. Read it aloud to make sure it sounds natural and conveys the emotion you intended.

Conclusion

The perfect wedding congratulations message combines genuine emotion with thoughtful word choice, creating something the couple will treasure long after their special day. Whether you choose a formal blessing, heartfelt emotion, gentle humor, or spiritual guidance, the key is matching your message to both your relationship with the couple and their unique personalities.

Remember that couples receive many generic congratulations, but they remember the messages that feel personal and authentic. Use these examples as inspiration, but don't be afraid to add your own voice and specific memories that make your message uniquely yours.

Take a moment to consider what makes this couple special, choose words that celebrate their love story, and create a message that will make them smile every time they read it. After all, the best wedding congratulations aren't just about the words—they're about the love and support behind them.

When sending wedding messages via text or digital platforms, always follow U.S. texting regulations and include opt-out options where required for commercial communications.

What should I write in a wedding congratulations message?

Include genuine emotions, specific memories about the couple, universal marriage wishes, and match your tone to your relationship with them.

How long should a wedding congratulations message be?

Wedding card messages work best between 25-75 words, while text messages should stay under 160 characters for easy reading and sharing.

Is it okay to use humor in wedding congratulations?

Yes, gentle humor works well for couples who appreciate it, but avoid jokes about divorce, past relationships, or sensitive topics.

Should wedding messages be different for second marriages?

Focus on new beginnings and celebrating their current happiness rather than referencing past marriages or relationships directly.

When is the best time to send wedding congratulations?

Send messages on the wedding day or within a week after, though congratulations are always welcome and appreciated anytime.