Wedding Ang Bao Wishes in Singapore (What to Write on a Red Packet)
2026-01-24

The ang bao itself takes seconds to prepare. Crisp notes, auspicious amount, sealed envelope. Done. But those few words on the front? They hold people up longer than the queue at the reception table.

Writing wedding ang bao wishes trips up nearly everyone at some point. The good news: you only need one or two lines.

Anything longer feels out of place on a red packet anyway. These wishes follow a simple formula, and once you know what works, you'll breeze through every wedding season

Wedding Ang Bao Wishes You Can Use Immediately

Why Ang Bao Wishes Must Be Short

Red packets don't offer much writing space. The front panel fits a line or two comfortably, and that's by design. Singaporean wedding culture favours brief, sincere blessings over lengthy messages. If you have more to say, save it for a card.

Wedding Ang Bao Wish Examples (1–2 Lines)

These polite, neutral blessings work for any couple:

• "Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness together."
• "Congratulations on your wedding! May your marriage be blessed."
• "To many beautiful years ahead. All the best!"
• "Wishing you joy, laughter, and endless love."
• "May your love grow stronger with each passing year."

Wedding Wishes on Red Packet (Formal & Neutral)

When to Use Formal Ang Bao Wishes

Some relationships call for a more polished tone. Your manager's wedding. A colleague you've only spoken to in meetings. An older couple where respect matters. Acquaintances from your spouse's side of the family. Formal wishes keep things appropriate without feeling cold.

Formal Wedding Red Packet Wish Examples

These carry a respectful tone with no humour:

• "Heartiest congratulations on your union. Wishing you both a blessed marriage."
• "May your journey together be filled with love and happiness."
• "Congratulations to the newlyweds. Wishing you every blessing."
• "With warm wishes for a wonderful life together."
• "Wishing you a harmonious and joyful marriage."

Wedding Angpao Wishes for Friends

When Casual Ang Bao Wishes Are Acceptable

Close friends only. Your JC kakis, your poly clique, your army buddy who used to complain about route marches with you.

These relationships allow your personality to come through.

That said, even casual wishes shouldn't make the couple cringe when they open ang baos in front of their parents.

Friendly Wedding Angpao Wish Examples

Warm but still respectful:

• "So happy for you both! Here's to love, laughter, and a lifetime of adventures."
• "Finally official! Wishing you all the happiness in the world."
• "Congrats, you two! May married life treat you well."
• "So excited for this next chapter. All my love to you both!"
• "You found your person. Now go be disgustingly happy together."

The exclamation marks feel natural here. The tone matches how you'd actually speak to them.

What to Avoid Writing on a Wedding Ang Bao

Common Mistakes

Jokes about money. "Sorry it's not more!" or "Don't spend it all in one place!" shifts attention to the gift amount. Awkward for everyone, especially the couple.

Marriage complaints dressed as humour. "Welcome to the end of freedom" or "Good luck, you'll need it" aren't funny on someone's wedding day. Not even ironically.

Religious assumptions. Unless you know the couple's faith, skip phrases tied to specific religions. "God bless your union" doesn't fit every couple. Stick to universal blessings and you won't go wrong.

Wedding Ang Bao Wishes Etiquette in Singapore

What Ang Bao Wishes Usually Focus On

Traditional wedding blessings centre on a few themes: happiness, harmony, and prosperity. These values appear in both English and Chinese wishes, reflecting what Singaporean families hope for newlyweds.

English vs Chinese Wording

English works perfectly well. Most couples expect it, and bilingual families appreciate either language.

If you want to add a Chinese phrase, options like 百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé, meaning "a harmonious union for a hundred years") or 永结同心 (yǒng jié tóng xīn, meaning "forever united in heart") add a traditional touch. But this is completely optional. English alone carries the same sincerity.

How to Write Wedding Ang Bao Wishes (Simple Formula)

Safe Ang Bao Message Structure

Follow this two-part formula:

1. Blessing or congratulations. Start by acknowledging the occasion.
2. Positive wish for their future. End with something you hope for them.

Combine both and you're done. Example: "Congratulations on your big day. Wishing you a lifetime of love and laughter."

What to Write If You Are Unsure

Use neutral templates when you're stuck. Keep the wording general and avoid anything too specific to their personalities or circumstances.

The safest fallback: "Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness." No one has ever been offended by that sentence.

Related Wedding Wishes You May Need

Looking for something beyond ang bao messages? You might also want to explore general wedding wishes for cards and messages, or wedding wishes organised by relationship type, whether for family, colleagues, or acquaintances.

Sometimes the red packet needs one line, but the wedding card needs three paragraphs. Different occasions, different approaches, same couple waiting to feel celebrated.