What to Write in an Engagement Card

Two people deciding to tie the knot is one of the biggest milestones in anyone’s life – it's the moment two people decide to spend forever together, and that's definitely worth celebrating. The only tricky part? Finding the right thing to write in their card. You want to sound happy without going overkill on the Hallmark sap, and if it’s a coworker or your boss? Even more complicated territory – you want to be heartfelt without crossing a line. Sometimes you just need a little inspo to get you going, and that’s exactly what we’re here for. We’ve got 100+ lines for you ready to paste straight into your card. 

Whether you're congratulating your best friend, your manager or your favorite workmate, we've got engagement messages for every relationship – and every writing style. Plus, we reveal what not to write – sometimes avoiding these pitfalls is enough to get you halfway to the perfect message. 

What Makes a Great Engagement Card Message?

The best engagement messages don't need to be long – a congratulations, a personal memory or even some tasteful humor can make a card feel much more meaningful than a soap-opera certified paragraph. 

If you're writing in a GroupTogether group card, remember that your message is just one part of the bigger celebration, which helps take the pressure off. 

Most importantly, just don't overthink it – write something that sounds like you. 

Engagement Messages for Your Friend

When it's your best friend getting married, your message can be a little more personal – and if your relationship is built on humor, there’s no need to hold back. Try some of these lines, and be sure to personalize them with your own memories and in-jokes. 

• Congratulations! I always knew you’d found the one... mostly because no one else could possibly keep up with you.
• Congrats to you both – and to me; I feel like I’m gaining a brand new friend – a friend-in-law, if you will.
• Congratulations! Here’s to never having to build IKEA furniture alone again.
• I'm so happy for you... but I'm going to need your fiancé to understand that I was here first. Congratulations!
• You found your person, and they are incredibly lucky to have you.
• Here's to wedding planning, happy tears and an excuse for us all to dress up.
• Congratulations! Now let's start thinking about the menu...

Engagement Messages for a Family Member

• Congratulations on your engagement! We promise not to embarrass you on the dancefloor…much.
• Seeing you so happy is the best gift of all. Congratulations to you both.
• Some people find their soulmate. Some families get lucky enough to welcome them in too.
• We’re all so thrilled about the news, and we can't wait to celebrate with you.
• Love brought you together, and we know it'll carry you through many wonderful years ahead.
• We’re cracking open the champagne for you both. Congratulations!

Want to get more specific? We get it, whether you’re the mother of the bride or the sister of the groom, everyone wants their message to fit their relationship. Try the following fitting lines. 

Engagement Messages for Your Sister

Your sister's engagement is one of those milestones that can feel surreal in the best way. Seeing your childhood partner in crime take this major life step is huge – whether she's your built-in best friend or your lifelong confidante, here's what to write.

• Congratulations, Sis! I'm so happy you've found someone who makes you as happy as you deserve.
• Watching you find your forever person has been such a joy. Congratulations to you both!
• You deserve all the love and happiness in the world. Congratulations on your engagement!
• I can't wait to celebrate this next chapter with you (and absolutely dominate the dance floor at the wedding).
• Here's to your happily ever after – and to gaining a sibling-in-law who's officially stuck with our family.
• I’m so excited to gain another sibling – cause heaven knows I need help beating you at Scrabble! 

Engagement Messages for Your Brother

Whether he's the protective older brother or the younger one who somehow grew up overnight, these messages strike the right balance.

• Congratulations, bro! Wishing you both a lifetime of laughter.
• So happy you've found someone who makes you this happy. Congratulations!
• Couldn't be happier for you both. Bring on the wedding!
• Wishing you every happiness as you start this exciting new chapter together.
• Congratulations! Just remember, marriage means sharing the TV remote now.
• You’ve been the best brother, and now you’re going to make a wonderful husband! 

Engagement Messages for Your Daughter

Watching your child get engaged is a moment you'll never forget – so make sure your engagement message is unforgettable too. 

• Congratulations, sweetheart. Seeing you so happy means everything to us.
• Wishing you both a lifetime filled with love, kindness and endless happiness.
• We couldn't be prouder of the incredible woman you've become. Congratulations on your engagement.
• We’re thrilled to be gaining a son-in-law/daughter-in-law – you’ve got great taste!
• Congratulations to you both. We're so excited to celebrate this beautiful new chapter.

Engagement Messages for Your Son

• One day you were asking us for lifts everywhere, and now you're planning a wedding. We're so proud of the man you've become, congratulations!
• Congratulations, dear! We couldn't be happier for you both.
• Every parent hopes their child finds someone who feels like home. We're so happy you've found exactly that.
• It's been a privilege watching you grow into the fantastic person you are today. Congratulations on finding your forever person.
• We're so excited to welcome this new chapter into our family.
• Congratulations. We can't wait for everything that's still to come.
• You will make as wonderful a husband as you are a son – we’re so proud!  

Engagement Messages for Your Daughter-in-Law or Son-in-Law

These are the perfect lines to show you’re ready for your in-laws-to-be to join the family. 

• The best part of this engagement? We don't just get a wedding – we get you. Welcome to the family, and congratulations on such a beautiful milestone.
• They say when you marry someone, you marry the whole family... so welcome aboard! We promise we're (mostly) lovely. Congratulations!
• Congratulations! We always hoped our son/daughter would find someone wonderful...and then you came along. We're so lucky to be welcoming you into the family.
• You fit into this family so naturally, we're half convinced you've been here all along.
• We knew you were special long before the ring appeared. Now we just have an official excuse to call you family. Congratulations!
• They say when you marry someone, you marry the whole family... so welcome aboard! We promise we're (mostly) lovely. Congratulations!

Engagement Messages for a Colleague

Knowing what to write for a colleague’s engagement card is a tough one for most of us – the goal is professional, warm and workplace-appropriate. And, unlike with family and friends, there’s a more discernible line. We’ll show you how to craft the perfect message that doesn’t cross it, without skimping on heart either.

• Congratulations on your engagement! Here’s to having a guaranteed plus-one for every work function.
• We promise not to ask too many wedding planning questions...although we definitely want to see the photos.
• Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and unforgettable memories.
• Congratulations! We hope wedding planning is almost as fun as finally getting married.
• So excited for you – enjoy every moment of this special time.
• This is the best news to hit the office since the Christmas party!
• I know how hard you work every day, so you deserve this beautiful celebration and a lifetime of happiness! 

Engagement Messages for Your Boss

Boss cards should be warm without getting too personal! It can be a complex balance, but it’s not as hard as you think. Here are a few examples. 

• Congrats to the best boss! We fully support taking a very well-earned honeymoon (auto-reply highly encouraged).
• Congratulations! Leading a team is one thing – planning a wedding is another project entirely. We know you'll absolutely ace both.
• Congratulations on your engagement! Wishing you both every happiness as you start this exciting new chapter.
• Congratulations! We hope your future together is filled with amazing celebrations.
• You have dedicated so much time and support to the team, now it’s time to celebrate your incredible milestone!
• Congratulations from all of us – we're so happy for you both!
• Wishing you every happiness as you plan your big day.

Engagement Messages for an Employee

You want to keep your employee messages supportive and warm, a bit of humor works but reign it in. 

• Congratulations on your engagement! Wishing you both every happiness for the future.
• Such exciting news! Enjoy this special chapter – you deserve every moment.
• Wishing you all the best as you celebrate this wonderful milestone.
• Congratulations! We hope the months ahead are full of excitement (and minimal seating chart drama).
• So happy for you – congratulations from the whole team.
• To our star worker, it’s time to finally take a break and enjoy your engagement! 

Funny Engagement Card Messages

Not every engagement card has to be serious – if you’ve got a special friend or colleague who gets your humor, then don’t hold back! 

• Congratulations! You've officially found someone willing to share the TV remote forever.
• Here's to love…and disagreeing on where to order dinner.
• Congratulations on finding your favorite person to annoy for the rest of your life.
• Engagement looks good on you.
• Wishing you a lifetime of happiness – and as few flat-pack furniture arguments as is humanly possible.
• Congratulations! Your 2015 Pinterest boards have finally found their purpose.
• Marriage: the only project where nobody agrees on the guest list.

Warm + Heartfelt Engagement Messages

We’ve curated a few lines specifically for those warm and fuzzy relationships. 

• Wishing you a lifetime filled with endless happiness.
• Congratulations on finding someone who makes every ordinary day extraordinary.
• May this be the beginning of your happiest chapter yet.
• Here's to a lifetime of adventures together.
• Wishing you all the joy this exciting season brings – and many more years beyond it.

Engagement Quotes

So you’ve got a love for the Bard and want to express yourself with a bit of poetic flare? Here are some of the best quotes for an engagement card. 

• "Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." – Franklin P. Jones
• "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." – Audrey Hepburn
• "Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be." – Robert Browning
• "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." – Emily Brontë (Okay, this one’s from a tragic novel featuring one of fiction’s most toxic couples to date – but no one needs to know that!)
• "To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." – David Viscott
• “She’s your lobster…you can actually see old lobster couples, walking around their tank, you know, holding claws.” – Phoebe Buffay 

What Not to Write in an Engagement Card

Not every intrusive thought needs to make it into the card. Here are a few things it's probably best to leave unsaid.

• "So...when's the wedding?": They're probably already being asked this several times a day.
• "Marriage is hard.": Even if you mean well, it rarely lands the way you hope.
• Comments about the ring: Whether it's too big, too small or "not what I expected," now isn't the time.
• Ball and chain references: Let’s leave this one in the 50s.
• Questions about babies: One life milestone at a time, guys.
• Stories about your own wedding (that go on for three paragraphs): The engagement card is about them, not the centrepieces from your 2009 reception.
• Anything that compares relationships: Avoid comments like: "I always knew this one would last." or "This one is much better than your ex." Even if everyone agrees.

The winning formula you probably noticed from all our what to write examples is just to:

1. Congratulate them.
2. Share a happy memory.
3. Tell them how excited you are.

That's all an engagement card really needs. No embarrassing stories, no grave warnings of the perils of marriage and no annoying questions. 

Where to Write Your Engagement Messages

A GroupTogether engagement group card, of course! With thousands of beautiful designs to choose from, there’s a card cover for every type. After all, it's the collection of messages from everyone who loves the happy couple that makes the card so special – it’s the perfect chance to rope in your family or your work team and make the experience that much more moving. 

Remember, a dozen genuine messages often mean more than one very long paragraph. Whether it's your colleague, your boss, your best friend or someone in the family, getting engaged is one of life's biggest milestones – so don’t underestimate the significance of a beautifully-animated, gorgeously-designed GroupTogether group card. It’s easy for everyone to add their own message, photo or memory in one place, so the happy couple can look back on all the love long after the wedding cake has been eaten.

If you'd like to make the celebration even bigger, you can also add an AnyCard, giving everyone the chance to contribute towards an engagement gift the couple can spend however they like – no more toaster pileups. Look we all love toast, but there’s only so much two people can consume! 

If you take one thing away from this, it should be that the best engagement cards don't just say "Congratulations", they remind the happy couple just how loved they are. Remember that when it comes time to write your message, and you’re gold.