Nearly one in four Brits struggle to know what to write in a wedding card – with almost one in 10 turning to AI for inspiration.
Wedding season is in full swing, but while choosing the perfect outfit, gift and card might seem straightforward, a new study has revealed that many Brits face one surprisingly tricky question: what on earth do you write inside a wedding card?
Research from Moonpig has revealed some of the nation’s biggest wedding card confessions, from recycling messages between couples to secretly wondering when the speeches will finally end.
Brits Are Running Out of Wedding Card Ideas
According to Moonpig’s research, 30% of Brits admit they fall back on a simple “congratulations!” when they can’t think of anything else to write.
Others have admitted to recycling the same message for different couples (11%), while 8% have signed a wedding card without even knowing what their partner has written inside.
And for those completely stuck for inspiration, 8% have turned to AI for help, rising to 14% among 25–34-year-olds.
Overall, more than half of Brits (55%) say they have struggled with at least one part of writing a wedding message. Almost one in four find writing wedding cards difficult (23%), while 24% struggle with guest-book messages and 20% experience writer’s block when putting together a wedding speech.
“Congratulations” Remains the Safe Choice
Analysis of the most popular words and phrases used on personalised wedding cards sent through Moonpig in 2025 suggests that Brits are sticking firmly to the classics.
“Congratulations” was the most popular word, followed by “happiness”, while “To the new Mr & Mrs” topped the list of wedding card openings.
When it comes to signing off, “congratulations on your wedding day” was the most popular closing line.
Other familiar favourites included “lifetime of love and happiness” and “to the happy couple”, each appearing on one in 20 cards.
It seems that when inspiration fails, there’s always a classic wedding message to fall back on.
The Wedding Card Confessions Get Cheekier
While Brits might keep their own wedding cards relatively traditional, their definition of what is acceptable to write is considerably more daring.
Moonpig found that 28% think wishing the newlyweds “good luck!” is fair game, while 19% believe it is acceptable to joke about how long the couple took to get married.
Meanwhile, 12% think unsolicited marriage or relationship advice is acceptable – and 8% would even consider writing “I give it a year.”
The thoughts running through guests’ heads can be just as revealing.
More than a quarter of Brits (28%) admit to thinking “this wedding must have cost a fortune”, while 25% have secretly wondered whether the wedding speeches are going on for too long.
Wedding Cards Still Matter
Despite the potential for awkward messages and wedding-day observations, the humble wedding card remains an important part of British wedding traditions.
A quarter of Brits (25%) say giving the newlyweds a card still matters, putting the tradition ahead of asking a parent for permission before proposing (23%) and having “something borrowed or blue” (21%).
So, while wedding cards might cause a little writer’s block, it seems they aren’t disappearing anytime soon.
How to Write a Wedding Card That Actually Feels Personal
To help Brits move beyond the generic “congratulations!”, Moonpig has teamed up with professional wedding speechwriter Heidi Ellert-McDermott, author of The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches.
Her advice? Don’t treat the wedding card like a creative-writing competition.
“A wedding card isn’t a creative-writing competition. The best messages sound unmistakably like the person writing them and could only have been written for that particular couple.”
1. Pass the “Wrong Couple” Test
Read your message back and imagine putting it into somebody else’s wedding card.
If it still works, it’s probably too generic. Instead of writing something like “You’re perfect together”, try to include something that is specific to the couple.
2. Prove It Rather Than Proclaim It
Words such as “amazing”, “gorgeous” and “perfect” might sound complimentary, but they don’t necessarily tell the couple anything meaningful.
Instead, think of a real observation or memory. A small, genuine detail can say far more than a string of generic adjectives.
3. Include a Micro-Memory
You don’t need to write an entire essay about the couple’s relationship.
A tiny shared memory can make a card instantly more personal – whether that’s an unforgettable holiday, a university story or even the moment you realised how well they work together.
4. Write for Their Tenth Anniversary
Imagine the couple finding your card in a box ten years from now.
What would make them laugh or smile when they read it again? A specific memory or observation is likely to have far more meaning years later than a standard “congratulations on your special day”.
5. Think About Their Relationship Superpower
What becomes better when these two people are together?
Maybe they’re more adventurous, sillier or braver. Perhaps they can somehow turn a quick Sunday lunch into an eight-hour event.
Whatever makes their relationship unique, putting that into words could make your message much more memorable.
A Personal Message Beats a Perfect One
Rachael Halliday, Marketing Director at Moonpig, said that choosing a card can sometimes be the easy part, while finding the right words is where people get stuck.
The research, she explained, highlights just how many Brits struggle to write a wedding message and why making it personal can make all the difference.
With wedding season continuing, the takeaway is simple: you don’t need to be a professional writer to create a memorable wedding card message.
Forget trying to sound profound. Think about the couple, remember a moment that makes you smile and write something that could only belong to them.
And if all else fails, perhaps “congratulations!” isn’t such a bad place to start after all.
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