What do you write in a card? Texts for popular occasions

Writing in a card can be surprisingly difficult - even if you have a clear intention. You want to write something personal, but without being too long, too sweet or too "stiff". Luckily, a good card text doesn't have to be fancy. Often it's 2-4 lines enough if they strike the right tone.

In this guide, you'll get ideas on what to write in cards for the most common occasions - from birthdays and weddings to maternity, confirmation and host gifts. You'll also find small templates so you can quickly write a text that feels like you.

If you get stuck, think of the card as a small message with three parts: first a congratulations or thank you, then a sentence telling what you want for the person, and finally a warm greeting with your name. A text like "Happy birthday. I hope you have a wonderful day filled with smiles and good moments. Love..." works because it's simple, sincere and easy to read. And in fact, that's often what makes people happy.

Birthday

In a birthday card, you can be light and positive. It doesn't have to be deep - just genuine. You can keep it classic: "Happy birthday! Hope you have a great day." If you want to make it more personal without writing a novel, you can add one sentence that points to the person: "You always do so much for others - today I hope you get spoiled." It's often that little detail that makes the card feel written just for them.

Weddings

For weddings, the text is typically about community and the future. Many people want to write something that feels beautiful but still down to earth. A safe wording is: "Congratulations on your wedding. I wish you a life filled with love, laughter and good memories." If you're close to the couple, you can make it even more personal: "I'm so happy for you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day - I look forward to following you."

Engagement

Engagement cards can be more "cheer" than celebration. It often works best when the text is short and sweet: "Congratulations on your engagement - I'm so happy for you!" If you want to go the extra mile, you can add: "I can't wait to see what you create together." It's enough to feel sincere without being heavy.

Maternity leave

Maternity cards are where many people get insecure because you want to be affectionate without writing clichés. The easy way is to wish you a good start: "Congratulations on your new baby. I wish you a smooth start and lots of little moments you'll never forget." If you're writing to mom, you can acknowledge her directly - it often lands really well: "Congratulations - you've done so well. I hope you have peace, care and a gentle start to this new time." It's simple, but it means a lot.

Baptism and naming

At a christening or naming ceremony, the classic "welcome" is almost always right. You can write: "Congratulations on your baptism - and welcome to the world to [name]. I wish you a day filled with joy and a life of love and security." If it's a naming ceremony, you can make it a little easier: "Congratulations on the naming - what a beautiful name. I hope you have a very special day."

Confirmation

For confirmation, it makes sense to write something that both celebrates the day and looks forward. A good, simple text is: "Congratulations on your confirmation. I hope you have a great day - and that the coming years are filled with experiences and good choices." If you want to write shorter, you can also just say: "Happy birthday - you have every reason to be proud."

Graduation and exams

When someone graduates or passes an exam, it's often the effort that you want to recognize. You can write: "Huge congratulations - you've worked hard and now you get to enjoy it." And if you want to make it a bit more personal: "I'm proud of you. You deserve this." It's simple and powerful.

Moving in

Move-in cards don't have to be fancy. You can write: "Congratulations on your new home! I hope you have many good times and feel at home from day one." Or a little more poetic: "A new place, a new chapter - I hope it will be filled with warmth and good memories."

Thanks for last time and host gift

When you say thank you, it works best if you mention one specific thing. It can be as simple as: "Thank you so much for a really lovely evening. The food was amazing and it was so nice to be together." Just that one detail makes it feel sincere - and not like a boilerplate.