What to write in a wedding guest book

You’re at the wedding, guest book in hand, and it’s your turn with the pen… drawing a blank? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our guide on what to write in a wedding guest book! From short wedding book messages to heartfelt wishes the newlyweds will love, write them straight down or personalise them to make them your own. 

Yet to pick out a wedding card? Designed by our team of talented independent creators, our range is full of wonderful designs. Here’s a little selection of our favourites: 

Summer Lane Studio

Palette&Petal

Jess Moorhouse

SABIVO Design

Blush & Blossom

Louise Tiler

Kimberley Rose Studio

Rishi

Belly Flops

Christine Cuddihy Illustration

Poppy & Mabel

Oh, and you’ll also want to check out our guide on what to write in a wedding card so you’ve got all your messages for the big day covered. 

How to write your wedding book message 

While we’ve got tons of wedding guest book messages you can pick from if you scroll down a little, you might want to write your own from scratch. If you’re looking for some tips , this might help.

Keep it short

As lovely as it is to write a nice long message, it’s also important to not hog the guest book for too long. Keeping it short is sensible – and ‘short’ is relative, but as a rule of thumb, we’d say stick to a few sentences, and keep it no longer than a paragraph or so. That way, you can make sure everyone has a chance to fill out their well-wishes!

Tailor your message to the happy couple

When you’re choosing what to write, tailor your message to how you know the couple and the tone of their big day. For example, if the newlyweds are some of your best friends from uni then a snappy, funny message that will make them laugh is bound to hit the mark.

If they’re having a grand, traditional wedding, then they might prefer a more formal message, or even one of our wedding guest book quote suggestions (scroll down to spot them).

If the ceremony was romantic and sweet, then write a heartfelt message to match – and wouldn’t you know it, we’ve got plenty of those below for you as well. 

Short wedding guest book messages 

Shorter messages might seem a bit more formal, but formal doesn’t mean you need to write ‘to whom it may concern’ or sign off your message with a ‘yours truly’. Here are some sweet ‘n’ short wedding guest book messages to sign your name to.

1. I’m so happy for you both – here’s to a lifetime of happiness together.
2. Best wishes to the happy couple on their big day! Wishing you lots of love
3. Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.
4. All the best for your future together
5. Thank you for inviting me to your special day
6. Congratulations and here’s to many happy years ahead
7. It’s been amazing to celebrate with you, thank you for inviting me!
8. Your big day was as amazing as you both are.
9. Wishing you all the happiness possible as you begin your new life together.
10. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your big day.

Heartfelt wedding guest message ideas

This is the happy couple’s big day – they’ve put the effort into arranging it, and you’re here to celebrate it, so write from the heart with some genuinely sweet and sincere wedding wishes like these ones. Need a card to match? We’ve got plenty of heartfelt wedding cards that will do the trick.

1. You both mean the world to me – wishing you an entire lifetime of happiness, joy, and laughter
2. Being here with you both as you begin your amazing new life together means so much to me.
3. I can’t imagine a happier day with two better people. You are going to have a brilliant life together, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.
4. We’ve celebrated so many amazing things together, but this has to be the best one. Here’s to many more days as happy as this one!
5. Thank you so much for having me as a part of your special day, and congratulations on the beginning of your amazing new adventure together
6. May the beautiful love you share continue to grow and flourish over the years.
7. As you take this huge step, know that I will always be there for both of you. You have my love and support, today, tomorrow, and always.
8. I hope this day has been as magical as the two of you are together – cherish every moment, because you guys were made for each other.
9. You two are the best example I know of what true love looks like, and I know you have countless happy years ahead of you. Congratulations and well done!
10. I will treasure the memories of today forever. Thank you for sharing this beautiful day with us all – I couldn’t be happier to be here to celebrate your love.

Wedding guest book advice for newlyweds

The guest book is a lovely place to give the happy couple some hard-won tips about a happy marriage – here are some suggestions for wedding guest book messages that offer advice.

1. Laugh every day, never go to bed angry, and always hold on to each other
2. The small gestures mean as much as the big ones – show how much you love each other every day
3. Be flexible and adaptable with each other, but be solid as a rock in your love
4. Always make time for each other
5. Stand close on the good days. Stand closer on the bad days.
6. The two of you make an amazing team, and you can handle anything this wild world throws at you.
7. Laughter is always the best medicine – if you can laugh at each other and smile through the tough times, you’re onto a winner.
8. Hold hands, hold each other accountable, and hold each other every night.
9. Be there for each other through good times and bad, and always try to be the good thing in each other’s lives in the hard times.
10. Every marriage is unique, and every marriage is special – there’s no one right way to do it, so don’t worry about doing it wrong.

Funny wedding guest book messages

Wondering what to write in a wedding guest book that will make the happy couple laugh? Sometimes your relationship with the newlyweds is a bit more ‘lol you’re getting married’ than ‘I’m crying into my wedding favours’. If that’s the case, then this list of funny things to write in the guest book might be more up your street.

Looking for more inspiration? Our fabulously funny wedding card collection is your next port of call.

1. Marriage is an endless sleepover with your favourite weirdo
2. Marriage is all about giving and receiving… giving your spouse a hard time and taking all the credit for being right.
3. Thanks for the free booze and a decent party!
4. Marriage is like any other job: it really helps if you like your boss.
5. Look at you two getting all married and all that grown up shit.
6. Well, it’s about bloody time.
7. This seems like a lot of effort to get some new bath towels and a toaster, but whatever works, I guess.
8. Marriage is just asking each other ‘what do you want for tea’ until one of you dies. Congratulations!
9. You two weirdos are disgustingly perfect for each other.
10. 90% of being married is shouting ‘WHAT?’ from the other room.

Wedding book messages from friends

You’ll know your friends the best, but we’ve pulled together some inspo to get you started with your message:

1. It’s been amazing to watch your story unfold. Couldn’t be more excited to help you celebrate today! 
2. I’ll always be cheering you both on, especially today! Happy wedding day to my favourite people. 
3. It’s such an honour to stand by your side as you tie the knot.  
4. So proud to call you my friends and even happier to celebrate your big day. Cheers to the happy couple!
5. Thank you so much for including me in your special day. Can’t wait to celebrate with you!
6. Literally the best day ever. Congratulations! 
7. You two bring out the absolute best in each other, and I’m so happy for you. 
8. Beyond honoured to watch my favourite people get married.
9. My best friend is getting married! Hope today is everything you imagined. 
10. Cheers to the newlyweds. It means the world to me to help you celebrate today. 

Wedding guest book messages from coworkers

Is one of your fave coworkers getting married? Take inspiration from the below message ideas to help them celebrate: 

1. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness. Congratulations from the whole team! 
2. Thank you for letting me share in your wonderful day, I’m so happy to be here. 
3. Hope you’ve enjoyed every second of the day. Huge congratulations on a wonderful wedding!
4. So thrilled to be here to see you marry your perfect match. 
5. Congratulations to the lovely couple. Best wishes from everyone at work!  
6. Sending wishes for a future of love, laughter, and well-earned holidays together. 
7. What a beautiful day. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of it. 
8. So excited to be here to watch my favourite colleague get married!
9. Today has been so much fun. Hope this is the beginning of hundreds of wonderful adventures together!
10. I’m lucky to have found a friend for life through work. Happy wedding day!

Wedding wishes from a future family member 

Whether you’re about to become a sister-in-law or a father-in-law, we’ve brainstormed some message ideas for future family members below:

1. We’re so lucky to welcome such an amazing new family member. Huge congratulations on a wonderful wedding! 
2. We couldn’t be happier to have such an amazing daughter-in-law/son-in-law. Welcome to the family. 
3. From the moment we met you, we knew you’d fit right in. Today has been perfect, congratulations!
4. It already feels like you’ve been a part of the family for years, but today it’s official. Happy wedding day!
5. So excited for all the family dinners, holidays, and celebrations to come. Huge congratulations. 
6. Today is all about you both, and we’re so excited to celebrate. 
7. It’s funny to think there was a time when we didn’t know you. Now, the family wouldn’t be the same without you. Happy wedding! 
8. Families grow in all sorts of ways, but this has to be one of our favourites. 
9. So excited to see where life takes you both. We’ll be cheering you on. 
10. We couldn’t be happier for you if we tried. Here’s to a beautiful wedding day!

Wedding guest book quotes

Sometimes, someone else has already said what you want to say, and they’ve said it better. Plus, writing a quote always makes you look oh-so smart and cultured, right? Here are some quotes by the greats that are ideal for writing in the guest book.

1. “Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can’t sleep with the window shut and a woman who can’t sleep with the window open.” — Ogden Nash
2. ‘Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is thread, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. That is what makes a marriage last—more than passion or even sex.’ – Simone Signoret
3. “When first we fall in love, we feel that we know all there is to know about life, and perhaps we are right.” – Mignon McLaughlin
4. “This may not seem to be a very romantic definition of love… but I think it’s a true one. It’s love, when another person’s needs are as important as your own.” – Abe Burrows
5. “Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.” – Arthur Pinero
6. “I married for love, but the obvious side benefit of having someone around to find my glasses cannot be ignored.” —Cameron Esposito
7. “Being a good husband is like being a standup comic. You need 10 years before you can call yourself a beginner.” — Jerry Seinfeld
8. “Marriage is not just spiritual communion and passionate embraces; marriage is also three meals a day and remembering to carry the trash out.” —Joyce Brothers
9. “I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” – Rita Rudner
10. “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to persuade my wife to marry me.” – Winston Churchill

Hopefully our guide on what to write in a wedding guest book has given you plenty of ideas, and you’re now feeling ready to ace your message. 

Can’t be there on the big day? Don’t worry – we’ve also got ideas for wedding wishes when you can’t attend a wedding, and plenty of funny wedding cards to go along with them. And if you’re busy preparing for the ceremony of the year, make sure you check out the thortful blog where you can find lots of inspiration such as our guide on what to wear to a wedding.