With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, what better time to teach all you lovebirds out there how to write a love letter? Forget the low-effort happy Valentine’s Day text this year, channel your inner Wordsworth and craft some beautifully poetic words instead! 

Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry, as we’ve pulled together a guide filled with top tips on writing a love letter—from opening lines to unique sign offs, we’ve got you covered. 

And while the old pen and paper method isn’t a disastrous idea, why not take things up a notch and pour your heart out in one of our Valentine’s Day cards? With a bunch of unique options to choose from, you’re bound to find the perfect design: 

Really hoping to spoil your other half? Pick out a super thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift to go with it! From flowers to chocolates and bottles of fizz, you’ll find everything you need in one place. 

How to start a love letter 

We know, starting a love letter can feel a little bit daunting. But if your mind’s gone blank and you’re suffering with a case of writer’s block, the best place to start is at the very beginning. Open with a sweet yet simple greeting like ‘Dear Darling’ or ‘To My Love.’ And if you’re wanting to keep it casual and avoid sappiness, start by using their nickname. 

Once you’ve got your initial greeting sorted, we’d suggest using your first paragraph to mention why you’re writing the letter. You could explain that you’ve been meaning to express your thoughts for a while now, or that it’s simply because they’re so deserving of one! 

Things to write in a love letter 

It’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of it. From reminiscing on your favourite memories to writing a paragraph filled with all the things you love about them, the possibilities are endless. And while you know your relationship best, here’s some love letter inspiration to kick things off: 

   1. Detail your favourite memory 

From romantic holidays to those little everyday moments, we love the idea of using one of your favourite memories as the main subject. You’ll need to be specific, picking a moment that really stands out. 

Rather than saying, ‘I love our holidays together’, dig deep and describe a specific memorable time (maybe one that had you both in stitches?). Once you’ve written about it in detail, circle things back to your other half—perhaps saying that this is just one of the thousands of instances when you realised you loved them. 

Or, instead of focusing on the grander details, pick out one of life’s more mundane moments, letting them know that they make the everyday that little bit brighter (we’re really good at this, we know).

   2. List your favourite things about them 

Rather than crafting a memory-based letter, you could jot down all the things you love about them instead. Again, you’ll need to be detailed with your examples, making sure your letter feels super personal. 

Get specific: how they hum as they make their morning coffee or how they always save you the last slice of pizza. Once you’re all done, you’ll have yourself a clever list that says ‘I love you’ without even mentioning those little three words. Spare ten minutes to get writing, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly the ideas pile up (hopefully that is, if not, we might have a little problem on our hands). 

Once you’ve got your list, leave it as it is or get to work on popping your ideas into a paragraph. Look at you! A little love letter writing extraordinaire in the making. 

How to sign off a love letter 

So, you’ve poured your heart out on the page, and it’s now time to come up with your love letter sign off. You could end with a simple ‘I love you’, or if you’re looking to jazz things up, here are a few alternative ideas:  

  • All my love
  • Yours always
  • Yours truly 
  • I’m so lucky to have you
  • With all my heart 
  • From your biggest admirer

You can keep this section nice and short by using one of the above greetings or come up with something a touch more personal that means something special to the two of you. 

Top tips for writing a love letter 

Before we go, we thought we’d leave you with a few final tips to ensure your love letter doesn’t fall flat: 

 1. Be authentic 

There’s no point in holding back, as you’ll end up with, well…a letter rather than a love letter. And what’s the good in that, ey? We’re not saying you need to be overly poetic or flowery (unless this comes naturally of course), just be totally genuine, and you’ll find that you can’t go far wrong. 

 2. Be specific 

The more personal you make your love letter, the bigger impact it’ll have. Instead of listing off generic compliments, focus on those special memories and inside jokes that make your relationship so special. Every relationship is different, and maybe the idea of a gushy love letter makes you both cringe? If so, lead with comedy, adding in humorous anecdotes to make them laugh. 

  3. Have fun 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, don’t stress too much about the actual writing. Your other half won’t be expecting a perfectly crafted sonnet or a Pulitzer-worthy story, after all. Plus, it’s the contents that count the most. So, have fun, and who knows, you might actually enjoy it! 

There we have it: a guide filled with love letter inspo to help you secure some serious brownie points. All that’s left to do now is pour your heart out on the page (or in a card) and let your other half know just how fantastic they are. 

Not into declaring your love in a lengthy letter? No worries, head over to the thortful blog for a bunch more ideas. Jot down one of these Valentine’s quotes and let someone else do the talking, or check out our guide on what to write in a Valentine’s Day card for plenty more options. We’ve even got a blog on how to say I love you in different languages if you’re really hoping to surprise them!