How and What To Write In An Engagement Card in 3 Simple Ways

It’s the most special moment of their life, the engagement of a friend or family member. Forget texts, messenger and emojis and focus instead on a beautiful engagement card with some hand-picked choice words or a poem, perhaps even an inspired quote.

1. Poems for engagement cards

If you are handy with rhyming couplets then nothing can be more personal or heartfelt than you own verse, unique and individual and written straight from the heart. Did you know you can also commission a poet to write a few lines for you? If that all sounds like too much hard work, then why not borrow something from someone who has gone before you and there is a huge choice – poems about romance are one of the biggest genres when it comes to verse.

Here are three favourites but there are literally hundreds more to source online from classical poetry to lyrics from film and song and some light-hearted and humorous one liners. Choose between verse which is written about love or poems which are written from one lover to another – just pick which you think is most appropriate for your happy couple.

A bell is no bell ‘til you ring it,

A song is no song ‘til you sing it,

And love in your heart

Wasn’t put there to stay –

Love isn’t love

‘til you give it away.

Oscar Hammerstein

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

It had to be you, it had to be you

I wandered around, and finally found – the somebody who

Could make me be true, and could make me be blue

And even be glad, just to be sad – thinking of you

It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you

Frank Sinatra

 2. Quotations for engagement cards

If you don’t want to include a poem then sometimes a short quote added to your own personal sentiments can make for a very touching read.  Here are some particularly suitable choices.

Love does not consist of gazing at each other,

But looking together in the same direction.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Grow old with me.

The best is yet to be!

Robert Browning

Whatever our souls are made of,

His and mine are the same.

Emily Brontë

When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody,

You want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Nora Ephron, When Harry met Sally

 3. Personal messages

There is nothing quite as personal as penning your own sentiment and this can be combined with either a quote or a poem too. Here are some simple suggestions which you can use or adapt and personalise.

• I had a feeling about you two - congratulations on proving me right!
• Let the wedding planning commence!
• Ooh, an excuse for a new hat and yet another pair of shoes! Congratulations on your engagement.
• Such lovely news, I knew it was only a matter of time! Congratulations and warmest wishes.
• This is the best news I have heard in a very long time, Congrats!
• Well, this is very BIG news…!
• What wonderful news! We’re so chuffed for you two.
• A perfect match! Here’s to the happy couple.
• May this mark the beginning of a beautiful and long life together.
• Our love and warmest wishes as you embark on a truly special journey together. Congratulations!
• Oh my goodness! When’s the hen night…?!
• Please send urgent pictures of the ring! Congratulations on your engagement!

And, if you want something a little humorous and witty then why not try one of these:-

• The most important four words for any successful marriage – “I’ll do the dishes”
• Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the rest of your life
• Genius! You found someone to share your weirdness with
• There’s a reason why the word ‘engaged’ also means ‘busy’!
• Marriage is the alliance of two people, one who never remembers birthdays and the other who never forgets them
• Here’s to always having someone to put the bins out for you

Top Tips for the perfect engagement card

If you really want to ace the perfect card then follow our top tips:-

• Practice on a piece of paper first until you are totally decided on what you want to write
• Be true to yourself – don’t write something gushing and sentimental if that’s not your style, you want the person reading the card to know who it is from before they see the signature
• If you really can’t find the words, then use a poem or a quote to say it for you