According to a recent poll, 88 percent of couples get married for the sake of love above all other reasons. As such, marriage is a deeply meaningful affair for most people. If you’re the friend or family of a bride or groom who’s about to tie the knot, it’s important to know just what to say to make them feel appreciated on their special day.

Even though writing a thoughtful message in a wedding card might seem like an easy task, it’s more tricky than you’d think. Depending on your relationship to the newlyweds, there can be a drastic shift in what constitutes an appropriate message.

Here are a handful of ideas on what to write in a wedding card to suit any occasion.

Casual Wedding Wishes

With millennials now comprising the largest living generation, modes and styles of communication are shifting in a big way. The younger generation communicates more casually, so traditional wedding wishes might not be your best bet for a young couple getting hitched. You’re much more likely to see a young couple going for a more non-traditional affair.

If that’s the case, try something a bit more casual and low key, so as not to be off-putting. Short and sweet can work just fine in a situation like this.

Try something timeless but simple like, “Best wishes!” “Congratulations!” or even just, “We/I love you. Congrats!” For most casual weddings, anything along these lines will do the trick just fine.

Formal Wedding Wishes

Young people aren’t the only ones getting married, and for that matter, not all young people come from the same background. You might be presented with the need to compose a more traditional and formal wedding wish.

A good rule of thumb in a formal situation is to be a bit lengthier and more proper, while still not being too verbose. Also, ease off the use of exclamation points and keep it to periods. Try something like, “May the love you share today grow stronger with each passing year.” Or for something more to the point, “Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.”

Formal weddings can come in many forms, from something like a traditional suit and tie affair at a church to something sophisticated like you’d find at Coquelicot Estate Wines & Tasting Room. The above suggestions should have you covered no matter what the details, though.

What To Write in a Wedding Card Isn’t Your Only Concern

The suggestions in this article should serve as a great foundation to help point you in the right direction for well-written wedding wishes. That said, this barely scratches the surface of potential possibilities, so don’t stop digging here.

Also, what to write in a wedding card is far from the only thing you have to worry about. Being a great wedding guest requires time, energy, and know how on your part. If you want to be the best guest you can be, read on to learn all there is to know!