Dear Bridesmaids: How to Write the Perfect Letter to Your Bridesmaids
A meaningful, handwritten letter with purple flowers. Photo credit: Debby Hudson.
Your bridesmaids are the ones who have your back. They represent the women in your life who have played an instrumental role in you becoming who you are.
If you want to show them just how much you appreciate all of their love and support, write them a bridesmaid letter! Letters are a lost art. A handwritten testament of how you feel will touch their hearts.
Here’s how you can create a letter for each of your bridesmaids they will never forget.
Why Write a Letter to Your Bridesmaids?
With all the hustle and bustle of wedding planning, it’s easy to overlook personal touches.
A letter allows you to reflect on your relationship with each bridesmaid and give them a personalized thank you for their participation in your wedding and your life after you’ve selected your bridesmaids.
A personalized letter is a great way to strengthen bonds and express your gratitude towards your bridesmaids. After all, they’ve spent a lot of time helping you perfect your wedding and celebrating your love story!
Finally, a letter is the perfect keepsake for your bridesmaids. Gifts are great, but there’s nothing quite like a heartfelt letter from someone you care about.
What to Include In Your Letter
A smiling bride walks with her squad of beautiful bridesmaids. Photo credit: Joeyy Lee.
Writing the perfect letter takes some thought, effort, and a bit of planning. Each bridesmaid’s letter should focus on expressing your gratitude and appreciation for all they have done for you.
Include some personal memories and special moments you’ve experienced together. Think of some funny inside jokes, experiences you’ve gone through, and other anecdotes they also fondly reflect on.
You can also include a fun quote from a movie you both enjoy or a lyric from a shared favorite song.
Once you’ve taken a stroll down memory lane, highlight her role in your wedding. Has she been instrumental in planning your wedding day or hosting your shower?
Use the letter to point out all the good stuff she’s done for you. It will make her feel seen and appreciated!
Tone and Style: Setting the Right Mood
How formal you get with your letter will depend on your relationship with the bridesmaid. Closer friends may appreciate informal, funny letters.
If your girl is from the groom’s side of the family and you haven't gotten to know her, stick to formal letters that express your gratitude. You can also express how excited you are to be part of her family!
The perfect letter blends funny anecdotes with meaningful words. Too much humor and the reader may feel that you’re not being serious.
But if you overload her with praise, she may feel you’re being disingenuous, especially if that doesn’t reflect your relationship. To keep your bridesmaid letter balanced, write an equal amount of praise and humor to start and adjust accordingly!
Letter Writing Tips and Best Practices
Bridesmaids embrace their bride to pose for a photograph. Photo credit: Taylor Gray.
Structuring Your Letter: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion
The length of the letter is up to you. Each one should be structured similarly. This will make the writing process easier for you and keep the letters flowing.
Your introductory paragraph should focus on how much you appreciate your bridesmaids. Sing her praises! If you want to save time, you can keep the intro general and use it for all your letters.
The body is where you’ll add personal flair with jokes, stories, and memories. Finally, close the letter with your hopes for the event and life after. This will bring the letter to a natural conclusion and hype your bridesmaid up for the big day.
Tips for Personalizing Each Letter
To make the most of your letter, personalize each one to fit your unique relationship with the bridesmaid. There are lots of ways you can achieve this.
Personal stories
Inside jokes
Special memories
Vacation references
Childhood stories
Movie quotes
Song lyrics
Nicknames
Photos
Memes
Preserving Authenticity and Sincerity
To keep the message as real as possible, take some time to reflect on your relationship with each bridesmaid. Brainstorm everything that comes to mind when you think of her on a sheet of scrap paper.
Write down memories, what she’s done to help you during your planning process, and anything else she inspires. This will put you in the right headspace to craft an authentic, sincere letter.
Bridesmaid Letters Examples and Inspiration
A bridesmaid card on silk with a crushed flower. Image via Pinterest.
Sometimes, it’s hard to find the right words. While your bridesmaids’ letters need to be personal, you can still find inspiration from examples others have written.
Use these samples as a starting point and add special memories, stories, and references she will appreciate.
Sample Letters for Different Types of Bridesmaids
Maid of Honor
Dear [name],
Thank you for being a big part of my special day. I chose you as my maid of honor because there’s no one else I’d rather have standing next to me as I start the next chapter of my life. Thank you for always being there and keeping me grounded!
Childhood Friend
Dear [name],
When we met all those years ago, I knew you’d be standing with me as I said my vows! But I never realized just how much having you my life all this time would mean to me. You are a constant reminder of all things good in life.
Sister
Dear [name],
You’ve always been there for me and today is no different. You’ve made me laugh when things get stressful and held my hand when I got overwhelmed. But through it all, you’ve been my rock.
In-law
Dear [name],
I am the luckiest girl in the world. Not only do I get to spend my life with [groom’s name], but I gain a whole new family, including you. I look forward to building lasting memories at holidays and whenever we can get together!
Inspirational Quotes and Sayings to Include
Luck made us sisters, life made us friends.
Not only do I love you, I like you!
White dress, high heels, shining pearls, I couldn’t have done this without all my girls.
I couldn’t have gotten prepared to say “I do” without you!
When worse comes to worse, my girls always come first.
Thank you for standing by me all these years and at the altar!
There are big ships and small ships. But there’s no ship quite like friendship.
Creative Ways to Start and End Your Letter
As you’re writing your bridesmaids’ letters, it’s important to have a strong opening and closing. The opener will catch their attention, while the closing will wrap things up in a neat bow.
Start your letter with a fun quote that encapsulates your relationship with the bridesmaid. You can also dive right in with the praise and appreciation.
When closing your letter, look to the future. Say how excited you are for the wedding day and beyond. This will show that you are planning on keeping the relationship going and won’t ghost them once the wedding is over.
Presentation: Making It Special
Stunning bridesmaids get their first look at the blushing bride. Photo credit: Joeyy Lee.
Choosing Beautiful Stationery and Envelopes
Now that you know what you’ll write, it’s time to decide on how you will deliver your letter. If you are choosing to handwrite your letters, order some stunning stationery, perhaps in your wedding colors.
Opt for a high-quality paper that will make the reader feel like they are opening a piece of art. For example, handmade paper gives an earthy quality to your letter. Embossed paper feels very fancy. Don’t forget the envelopes!
Handwriting vs. Typing Your Letters
It’s totally up to you whether you want to handwrite or type your bridesmaids’ letters. Handwriting makes the letter incredibly personal. It also gives the receiver a little piece of you.
However, if you’re self-conscious about your handwriting or plan to write lengthy letters, typing is absolutely fine. Inject personality by choosing a fun font and signing the letter with ink.
Adding Personal Touches: Seals, Ribbons, and Decorations
Once your letters are written and nestled in their envelopes, add some fun elements to the outside of the envelope. Write their name in neat handwriting or calligraphy if you’re feeling ambitious.
You can order a custom wax seal or sticker with your initials to seal the envelope. You can add 3D stickers and embellishments to the outside or tie the envelope with a beautiful ribbon.
Choose no more than 2 special touches to prevent the exterior from looking cluttered.
When to Give Your Letters to Your Bridesmaids
Give your bridesmaids the letters when it feels right. You can hand them out a few weeks before the wedding. The rehearsal dinner is also a good time since they will all be gathered and in the wedding mindset.
If you’ve typed up a bridesmaid questionnaire for your girls, you can include it in the same envelope so they have your heartfelt thoughts while filling out the document!
Finally, you can carve out some time on the wedding day to present the letters to your girls. But make sure they haven't had their makeup done yet! No one wants running mascara.
Presenting the Letters: In Person or as Part of a Gift Package
If the letters are the main gift, present them to each bridesmaid in person. Take each one aside to verbally thank her, hug her, and hand her the letter.
Planning a gift package or bridesmaid proposal box for each of your girls? Nestle the letter in a prominent place so it’s the first thing she’s tempted to pick up. This would be great presented right as they arrive at the get-ready room, especially if you are gifting her things she can use that morning.
Creating a Special Moment for the Exchange
Remember that this letter reflects all of your appreciation, gratitude and love. Make sure you create a special moment to thank your bridal party properly. You can address all of your bridesmaids at once with a toast or connect with each lady individually.
Digital Alternatives
A woman types on her computer in the park. Photo credit: Vardan Papikyan.
Sending E-Letters or Video Messages
Handwritten letters aren’t the only way to express how much you appreciate your bridesmaids. E-letters can be just as beautiful and meaningful.
Plus, brides can keep them on their phone, so they are always a few clicks away from your kind words.
You can also film individual video messages to send to your squad. You can still follow the same process of brainstorming and planning your words, but you’ll say them out loud instead of writing them.
Send them privately or play them at a gathering. It makes for a special moment and brings the whole wedding process towards a sweet closure.
Using Customizable Templates for Digital Letters
If you’re writing digital letters, use templates from Canva or Etsy to make them sparkle. You can design your own template or purchase a premade one that matches your aesthetic.
GIFS or moving pictures work well here. You can also include pictures of you and the bridesmaid through the years. The sky's the limit with digital letters!
Wrapping Up Your Letters
Your bridesmaids are some of the most important ladies in your life. They represent friendships, family connections, and future relationships.
Take your time when writing your bridesmaids letters. Do some revising to make sure it accurately reflects how grateful you are for them being a part of your big day. When it’s finally time to hand them the letter, they will never forget your kind words!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should the Letter Be?
A bridesmaid letter should take about 1-3 minutes to read. You can write as little as a paragraph or as many as three pages!
What If I’m Not Good at Writing?
If you aren’t a confident writer, it’s OK! The sentiment is what’s most important. Look for inspiration and use Grammarly to boost your confidence.
Can I Write One Letter for All Bridesmaids?
While individual letters are extremely touching, you absolutely can write one uniform letter to give to all of your bridesmaids.