Wedding Wishes for a Second Marriage: 45+ Messages

A second marriage needs a card that celebrates without accidentally referencing the first — no “finally found the one”, no jokes about getting it right this time. Here are 45+ messages that manage it.

Send yours in a free congratulations ecard.

Quick wedding wishes

1. Congratulations to you both! Wishing you every happiness.
2. So happy for you both. Congratulations!
3. Congratulations on your wedding day. What a lovely day.
4. Wishing you both a very happy marriage. Congratulations!
5. Congratulations! Delighted for you both.
6. So pleased for you. Congratulations to you both.
7. Wishing you every joy in the years ahead.
8. Congratulations! A wonderful day for a wonderful couple.
9. Congratulations to you both — enjoy every minute of today.
10. Wishing you both all the happiness in the world.
11. Congratulations! Could not be happier for you.
12. With love and best wishes on your wedding day.

Heartfelt messages

1. Congratulations. It is a fine thing to see two people this happy.
2. Congratulations to you both. You have each found someone worth marrying.
3. Wishing you a marriage full of the ordinary happiness that actually lasts.
4. Congratulations. Whatever came before, today stands entirely on its own.
5. So happy for you both. This is a genuinely lovely thing to witness.
6. Congratulations! You two suit each other enormously.
7. Wishing you both years of contentment. You deserve them.
8. Congratulations. It takes something to do this again, and you clearly knew.
9. So pleased for you both. Here is to everything ahead.
10. Congratulations! You have both been so good for each other.

When there are children involved

1. Congratulations to all of you. What a lovely family you have made.
2. Congratulations! Two families becoming one — no small thing, and beautifully done.
3. Wishing all of you every happiness in your new family.
4. Congratulations to you both, and to the children. A great day for everyone.
5. So happy for the whole family today. Congratulations!
6. Congratulations! Lovely to see all of you so happy together.
7. Wishing your new family a wonderful future.
8. Congratulations to the whole household. What a day.

For an older couple

1. Congratulations! Proof that it is never too late for a very good idea.
2. Wishing you both every happiness. What a lovely thing to see.
3. Congratulations to you both. Here is to the best chapter yet.
4. So pleased for you both. You have earned this.
5. Congratulations! A wonderful day and a wonderful match.
6. Wishing you many happy years together. Congratulations.
7. Congratulations! Lovely to see two people so well suited.
8. So happy for you both. Enjoy every bit of today.

Short messages

1. Congratulations to you both!
2. So happy for you.
3. Wishing you every happiness.
4. What a wonderful day.
5. Delighted for you both.
6. With love on your wedding day.
7. Congratulations!
8. Here is to the pair of you.

What never to write

1. “Second time lucky” or “you got it right this time”. It makes the card about a previous marriage.
2. Any reference to an ex. Even a favourable one. Wedding cards get read aloud.
3. “Finally found the one.” It implies the first marriage was a mistake, which is not yours to declare.
4. Jokes about divorce statistics. Never funny, and considerably less so here.
5. Anything about the children’s other parent. Entirely off limits.

How to write it

1. Write it as a wedding, because it is one. The same warmth applies; nothing needs qualifying.
2. Include the children if there are any. Blended families notice who gets mentioned.
3. Focus on the couple in front of you. Their history is theirs and belongs nowhere in your card.
4. Keep it warm and simple. If in doubt, “congratulations to you both, wishing you every happiness” is never wrong.

Send it — and pair it with a gift

A free congratulations ecard works if you cannot attend. See also what to write in a wedding card and vow renewal messages:

FAQ

What do you write for a second marriage?

Exactly what you would for any wedding — congratulations and a wish for happiness. Nothing needs acknowledging or qualifying.

Should you mention it is a second marriage?

No. There is no version of that reference that improves the card.

What if there are children from a previous relationship?

Include them warmly. Blended families notice who is mentioned, and being counted matters to children in particular.

Do you still give a gift?

Yes, unless the couple say otherwise. Many second-marriage couples already have a full house and ask for no gifts.

What is a good short message?

“Congratulations to you both! Wishing you every happiness.”

Can it be funny?

Yes, but keep the joke on the couple rather than on marriage, divorce or the past.