No matter the occasion, greeting cards just feel right. Holiday cards, birthday cards, and get well soon cards are often front of mind. But what about cards celebrating unique achievements? Celebrating accomplishments rewards everyone involved. Psychologically speaking, compliments boost the mood of both the complimenter and compliment receiver. The act of congratulating strengthens the relationship.
In the workplace, authentic congratulations messages get excellent results. They can even boost employee morale. Whether at , among friends, or with loved ones, congratulations are worth giving.
They’re also worth giving the right way. That’s why it’s smart to figure out the best congratulations message for the occasion and send it on a real, handwritten card. Read on to learn how.
Send a to go the extra mile. Remember: actions speak louder than words.
The act of sending a card tells someone they mean enough to you to be worth doing the . It makes people feel appreciated and recognized more than a simple, verbal, “congrats!”
People sometimes keep physical congratulations notes. They become meaningful mementos. They can even cheer someone up on a bad day.
Did you know people spent $1.3 billion on Valentine’s Day cards in 2020?
You can celebrate almost anything with congratulations cards. These can be grand life events, like a wedding or having a baby. Or, they can be small accomplishments you know are personally meaningful.
You can also celebrate holidays with funny handwritten cards.
Did you know people spent $1.3 billion on Valentine’s Day cards in 2020? A handwritten letter is a great way to make your card stand out.
Yes! People absolutely appreciate handwritten congratulations cards and thank-you notes. Frames, scrapbooks, and other means of preserving handwritten cards are making a comeback.
People wouldn’t preserve something if it didn’t mean anything to them. Moreover, the beauty of the handwritten card makes it worth displaying.
People even appreciate handwritten cards that are just ads. Studies have shown handwritten direct marketing letters have an 80% open rate. How much better, then, are handwritten cards from someone who cares about you?
People love that they can hold handwritten letters in their hands. They can read-and-re-read a letter without feeling the pressure to instantly reply.
Handwritten letters can connect the reader to an emotional history. They evoke something more profound than a text message ever could.
Email has many of the same problems as a text message. While emails can be retrieved, they feel ephemeral. That can make the words inside them feel less important-or less authentic.
A typed, printed-out physical letter is a bit better than an email. But a handwritten letter still has the upper hand.
Handwriting feels personal. It takes time, and it speaks to the writer’s personality. This gives handwritten letters authenticity and charm.
Are you interested in sending a handwritten ? Excellent! There are a few things to think about before you begin.
Congratulations cards will vary depending on who you’re sending them to. If it’s for a young relative, you’ll want something that speaks to the milestone of the occasion, while still being fun, potentially even ending it off with a ‘with love‘ message. Or, if it’s a congratulations card for a couple getting married, there are some specific things you should include.
Take the recipient’s personality into consideration. Do they have a sense of humor they’re known for or an author they enjoy? Remembering these things lets you make smart style choices.
Personalize the letter to the extent that you know the recipient personally. If you only know them distantly, it’s okay if it’s slightly less personal than a letter to your best friend.
Still, make sure the letter can’t be mistaken for a mass-produced card. It should at least name the recipient’s specific . And, on top of naming what they did, exactly, it should speak to that person’s unique “how.”
Some congratulations cards have specific event deadlines. If you’re congratulating someone on their graduation or wedding, the card should reach them by their big day.
For other achievements, it’s alright to send the card within a week of the event. That said, people often appreciate the recognition, even when it’s belated.
It’s important to choose the right message for your . Pick a message that reflects the recipient and the nature of the occasion.
As we promised in the title, we’ve composed are . Get inspired here!
Thank your employee or coworker, and make sure to mention their best qualities. Try writing, “your creative vision makes working with you a great experience.” Or, “your attitude makes you what you are: a winner.”
Above all, thoughtful messages should be warm and authentic.
Here’s what a thoughtful letter to celebrate a successful event might sound like:
“Dear _____,
Congrats on your big promotion! They couldn’t give it to someone more deserving. Your creativity and generous spirit make you an indispensable teammate.
Sincerely,
_______”
Funny congratulations messages are often sarcastic, use meme-speak, or involve puns. Sarcasm is tricky because it mentions the negative about an .
A pun might be, “a toast to your ,” written as a caption to a picture of toast with butter. Or, “Lettuce celebrate!” with a picture of lettuce. Popular memes for congratulations cards include:
Overall, funny messages can really get into the celebration spirit. Here’s an example of what a funny for your friend can sound like:
“Hiya Bestie!
Congrats on your new hizzle! Can’t wait for your housewarming rager-lol!
__[Your Name]”
Don’t overthink messages. “!” is great. So are ideas like, “Thanks for being essential to our team’s ,” or, “Here’s to ten great years!”
So, it’s fine to write:
“Dear [Employee]
Here’s to a great decade. Let’s hope for ten more great years to come!”
Sincerely
[Boss’ Name]”
Sweet and simple works.
For relatives, you can get more personal. Mention something you really love about them. Inside jokes can be fun too.
Try starting with, “Wishing you all the best in your life’s next chapter.” Or, consider: “My on your .” You might even write, “I’m so proud of you,” if that makes sense for your relationship.
Try writing a letter like this:
“Dear _____,
I’m so proud of all your . Congrats on your graduation! You know you’ll always have our support, wherever life takes you.
Love,
[Auntie + Uncle ___]”
Though it’s short, it’s a heartfelt message-particularly when it’s handwritten!
A classic religious centers on God’s blessings. “May God’s blessings and joy be with you,” for example. You might also quote a celebratory passage from your religion’s scripture.
A Christian might quote 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love, and of a sound mind.”
A Buddhist might appreciate this quote from Dhammapada, verse 122: “Drop by drop the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.”
Make sure to choose a religious message from the recipient’s religion. An incorrect assumption is a faux pas! Here’s a religious you might write for a Jewish friend ordained as a rabbi:
“My ,
Mazel Tov! Congratulations on your smicha. I know G_d will bless any synagogue you lead through your wisdom and compassion.
Take courage. As they say, “‘Be eager.’ Let your heart rejoice in beautifying every precept. Be like a split bottle and like a deep garden-bed.”-Kallah Rabbati 4:6-7
I feel honored to know you.
Best,
[Your Name]”
The key thing is to name the . Also, name how the positively impacted you or others. Try, “Congratulations on all your on the pipeline assessment. Thanks to you, the city will have clean water!”
You might also note specific, positive personality traits. “We couldn’t have won without your down-to-earth attitude and creative insights.”
You might write a letter using this format:
“Dear ____,
Congratulations on [specific ]! We can always count on your [specific quality] to see things through.
With ,
[Your Name]”
No matter what you do, specificity is key.
You can’t go wrong with, “Congratulations on your wedding!” Classics like, “wishing you many happy years together,” also sound good.
You can also combine congratulations with other well-. A letter in this form might sound like this:
“Dear ____,
Congrats! Wishing you lots of love and joy on this happy day.
Warm Regards,
[Your Name]”
It works because it’s short and sweet.
It can be meaningful to add a quote from a famous thinker, artist, or celebrity to a . Here are a few to try:
You might include the quote at the end of the message. So, a letter might read something like:
“Dear ____,
Congratulations on your new venture. May it be the first of many great things to come! You deserve to celebrate. As the poet Osho wrote,
See that the whole existence is celebrating. These trees are not serious, these birds are not serious.
The rivers and the oceans are wild,and everywhere there is fun,everywhere there is joy and delight. -Osho, poet
I hope you feel the wild delight of the world today.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]”
Make sure the quote you choose fits the tone of the event.
Anyone can write, “Congratulations on the baby!” For something different, try saying, “You’ve got one lucky baby.” Or, write, “BRAVO! A standing ovation for your brand new bundle of joy!”
Another technique is to address the baby directly. Try writing a letter like this:
“Dear [Baby’s Name],
Welcome to the world, baby. Your parents are gonna do great.
Catch you later!
-[Your Name]”
This is a quirky, fun twist on the conventional for new parents.
For a new homeowner, write, “Congratulations on the house!” Or, try something even shorter. You could also write a letter like this:
“Dear _____,
Sometimes the cliches are true: home is where the heart is. Congrats on finding a place for you and yours.
Warm Regards,
[Your Name]”
When it comes to housewarming messages, don’t overthink them!
Sending handwritten cards doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. You might think you don’t have time. Or, you’re painfully aware that your handwriting is terrible!
Good news: you can send handwritten letters right from your phone. Be thoughtful-after all, it’s the thought that counts. Then, type your message out in the Handywrytten app!
Instead of texting what you wrote to your friend, you can send it as a letter. It takes the same amount of time as texting. But, it’s so much more meaningful.
Ready to send handwritten congratulations messages? Sign-up for a free Handywrytten account today. Browse our wide selection of cards, or jump into action with our tutorials. For more great articles, such as sending employee birthday card messages, please see our blog.
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