Always add a comma after your salutation, unless your salutation ends in an exclamation point. A good formal salutation may be, “Dear John,” or simply “John. ” Creative salutations could be, “I’ve just heard the good news!” or “It’s been a long journey, but you’ve finally made it!”
Another general statement of congratulations could be, “Job well done! You’ve worked hard and it has finally paid off,” or, “Cheers on the new job. ”
Say, “I want to take a moment to point out how proud I am of you,” or “I hope that you get everything you want in your new role. ” Don’t use too many exclamation points. They will lessen the impact of your letter if you use them more than once or twice.
Say something along the lines of, “Becoming a father is a momentous event in life and you’re going to make an excellent dad,” or, “Graduating college is a big step towards becoming an adult, and you have a lot to look forward to. ”
Say something like, “I am so happy to see how you’ve developed over the years and I can’t wait to see what you do with your new degree,” or, “I almost broke down in tears of joy when I heard about Danny’s birth. ”
Formal examples include, “You started out as a mail clerk and now your talent and hard work is paying off. You’ll make an excellent the head of sales. ” or, “Becoming a mother is one of the biggest milestones in a person’s life. You’re going to be great at it. ” Personal examples include, “I remember when you were struggling through 4th grade math, and now you’ve got a degree in physics!” or, “I remember how my heart filled with love when I used to hold you as a baby. Now you’re going to get to experience all of that with your child. ”
Say, “When I started out as a doctor, I wish someone would have told me to always thank the nurses,” or, “I know that becoming a father can be overwhelming, but you can’t let your fears guide your decision making. ”
Simple statements like, “I wish you well at your new position,” or, “I hope that you enjoy your new career as a teacher” are appropriate for the end of your letter.
Say, “I feel so much joy knowing that you’re becoming the person that I always knew you could be,” or, “You have no idea how happy I am that you’re engaged. It means the world to know that you’ve found your special someone. ”
Say, “There will be challenges ahead, but I’m sure that you’re up for the task,” or “I can’t wait to see what you do next. If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out to me. ”
It’s appropriate to use the word “love” when closing a letter addressed to a relative, even if you don’t know them very well. If you’re writing a congratulatory note on behalf of a group of people, have all of them sign it.
Use blue or black ink to handwrite a letter if you want it to give it a classic look, but feel free to play around with different color pens if you want to keep it light.
If you’re sending a congratulations letter to someone who is getting married, it is customary to send them a gift or money. If you’re writing a congratulatory letter to someone that has just had a child, consider sending baby toys or clothes along with your letter.
