Once you have worked out how much to put in a wedding ang bao, there is one smaller question that somehow manages to cause almost as much hesitation: what are you actually supposed to write on the packet?
The good news is that it does not need to be elaborate. For most weddings in Singapore, your name is the most important thing to include. A short congratulatory message is optional, but a simple “Congratulations to you both” or “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness” is more than enough.
If you would prefer a traditional Chinese wedding wish, phrases such as 新婚快乐 (xīn hūn kuài lè, “happy wedding”) and 百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé, “may you have a harmonious union for a hundred years”) are widely used and easy to write.
You do not need calligraphy, a four-line blessing or an intimate message about the couple’s relationship. In fact, for colleagues and acquaintances, keeping it short usually looks better.
Quick Answer: What Should You Write on a Wedding Ang Bao?
If you want the easiest possible formula, write:
Your name + a short congratulatory wish
For example:
Charmaine & James
Congratulations to you both!
or:
Charmaine & James
百年好合
That is perfectly appropriate for most Singapore weddings.
If you are attending alone, simply write your own name. If the ang bao is from you and your spouse, write both names. If your whole family is attending, you can write the family name or list the adults’ names.
Do You Have to Write Anything on a Wedding Ang Bao?
You should at least write your name.
At a larger wedding, the couple may receive dozens or even hundreds of red packets. An unsigned ang bao can easily become impossible to identify once everything is collected after the banquet.
You do not need to write the amount inside or outside the packet.
The purpose of adding your name is simply to let the couple know who the gift came from.
A congratulatory message is nice, but optional.
Where Should You Write Your Name?
The back of the packet is usually the easiest place.
Many wedding ang baos have a blank section specifically for this. If the front is decorated with a double-happiness symbol, florals or gold lettering, leave it alone and write on the reverse.
A simple arrangement works well:
Samantha & Daniel
Congratulations!
There is no need to turn the back of the packet into a greeting card.
What If the Packet Already Has Chinese Words Printed on It?
You can still add your name.
Many wedding packets already come printed with auspicious phrases such as:
囍 — double happiness
百年好合 — a harmonious marriage for a hundred years
永结同心 — forever united in heart
In that case, you do not need to add another blessing unless you want to.
Just write your name clearly on the back.
Simple English Wedding Ang Bao Messages
English is completely fine.
You do not need to use Chinese simply because the couple is Chinese or because you are giving a red packet.
For most friends, colleagues and relatives, short messages work best.
Some natural options include:
Congratulations to you both!
Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.
Wishing you a beautiful life together.
So happy for you both. Congratulations!
Wishing you love, laughter and many happy years ahead.
Congratulations on your wedding and this new chapter together.
Wishing you both every happiness as you begin married life.
None of these needs to be more complicated.
What to Write for a Close Friend
With a close friend, you can make the message slightly warmer and more personal.
For example:
So happy to see you both begin this next chapter. Wishing you a lifetime of love and laughter.
or:
Congratulations! So glad to be here celebrating with you both.
If you have been friends for years, a short personal reference can also work:
From secondary school chaos to wedding day — so happy for you. Congratulations to you both!
You still do not need to write a miniature wedding speech on the packet.
If you have more to say, put it in a card.
What to Write for a Colleague
For colleagues, simple is better.
You do not need to suddenly write something intensely emotional just because you are holding a wedding ang bao.
Good options include:
Congratulations to you both!
Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.
Warmest congratulations on your wedding.
Best wishes to you both as you begin married life together.
If you mainly know the bride or groom through work, there is no need to pretend that you have intimate knowledge of their relationship.
A polite, warm message is enough.
What to Write for Your Boss
Again, keep it professional and warm. Something like:
Warmest congratulations to you both. Wishing you a wonderful life together.
or:
Congratulations on your wedding. Wishing you both every happiness.
There is no need to sound overly formal, but I would avoid cheeky jokes about marriage, work, promotions or leave approval unless you genuinely have that kind of relationship.
The packet is not the place to write:
Hope married life is less stressful than Q4.
Even if it is true.
What to Write for a Relative
For cousins, siblings and other relatives, you can be more affectionate if you want.
For example:
Congratulations! Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness and good health.
or:
So happy for both of you. Wishing you a wonderful marriage and many happy years ahead.
For siblings, the message can obviously be more personal.
But again, the packet itself does not need to carry everything you feel.
A longer note can go in a separate card.
Simple Chinese Wedding Wishes
If you would like to write a Chinese blessing, these are some of the easiest and most widely understood options.
新婚快乐
Xīn hūn kuài lè
Meaning: Happy wedding / happy newlywed life
This is probably the simplest choice.
It is short, cheerful and easy to use even if your written Chinese is limited.
百年好合
Bǎi nián hǎo hé
Meaning: May you enjoy a harmonious union for a hundred years
This is one of the classic Chinese wedding blessings and works particularly well on an ang bao.
永结同心
Yǒng jié tóng xīn
Meaning: May you be forever united in heart
Another traditional wedding wish that is concise enough for the back of a red packet.
白头偕老
Bái tóu xié lǎo
Meaning: May you grow old together
Literally, it carries the idea of staying together until both are grey-haired.
It is warm and traditional without being overly elaborate.
早生贵子
Zǎo shēng guì zǐ
Traditionally, this means something along the lines of “may you soon be blessed with children.”
This phrase has been used for generations, but I would be more cautious with it today.
Not every couple wants children, some may be dealing with fertility issues, and others may simply dislike assumptions about their family plans.
Unless you know the couple very well and are certain the sentiment would be welcomed, one of the more general marriage blessings is safer.
Can You Just Write “新婚快乐”?
Yes.
If you want a Chinese message but do not want to risk writing something too formal or obscure, 新婚快乐 is perfectly adequate.
Add your name underneath and you are done.
For example:
新婚快乐！
Victoria & Marcus
That works for friends, colleagues and relatives alike.
Can You Write Both English and Chinese?
Of course. For example:
百年好合
Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.
Vivian & Marcus
This can look particularly nice if the packet has enough blank space, but it is not necessary.
Do not feel you need to translate your own message twice to make the packet more meaningful.
Traditional Four-Character Wedding Blessings
Chinese wedding wishes often use concise four-character expressions, which is why they fit so neatly onto ang baos.
Some suitable examples include:
百年好合 — a harmonious union for a hundred years
永结同心 — forever united in heart
白头偕老 — grow old together
佳偶天成 — a match made in heaven
琴瑟和鸣 — a harmonious marriage
花好月圆 — a beautiful, complete and harmonious union
You certainly do not need to use the more literary expressions if you are not familiar with them. Writing a phrase incorrectly is more awkward than simply writing “Congratulations”.
Should You Write the Couple’s Names?
You can, but you do not need to. For example:
To Sarah & Wei Ming, congratulations!
is perfectly fine.
But at a large wedding where the packet is going directly into an ang bao box, your own name is considerably more useful than the couple’s.
They already know whose wedding they are attending.
The important information is who gave the packet.
If You Are Giving as a Couple, Whose Name Goes First?
It does not really matter. You can write:
Chloe & Daniel
or:
Daniel & Jane
There is no meaningful wedding-ang-bao etiquette attached to which spouse appears first.
If one of you is much closer to the couple, putting that person’s name first can be a natural choice. For example, if the bride is your colleague:
Jane & Daniel
may make immediate sense to her.
What If the Ang Bao Is From the Whole Family?
You can write:
The Tan Family
or:
Daniel, Jane, Chloe & Ethan
or simply:
Daniel & Jane Tan and family
Choose whichever is clearest.
You do not need to squeeze the name of every toddler onto a tiny packet if there is no room.
Should You Write How Much Is Inside?
No.
There is no need to write:
$288
on the outside of the ang bao.
Some couples may record amounts afterwards for their own reference, but that is their choice. Your job is simply to identify the giver.
Should You Include Your Table Number?
Usually not.
Some wedding receptions use labelled envelopes, stickers or registration systems that include a table number, but there is no general need to add it yourself.
If the reception staff specifically asks you to write your table number, follow their instructions.
Otherwise, your name is enough.
What Should You Avoid Writing?
Most mistakes are less about traditional superstition and more about basic social judgement.
I would avoid anything that sounds negative, backhanded or overly focused on the couple’s private life.
That includes jokes such as:
Finally!
About time.
Good luck — you’ll need it.
No refunds now.
Second time lucky.
These may be funny in a private WhatsApp chat with a very close friend. They can look much less funny when permanently written on their wedding ang bao.
Also avoid comments about babies unless you know they are welcome.
Hope to hear baby news soon!
may sound harmless, but you rarely know somebody’s full situation.
Avoid Mentioning the Previous Relationship
This is especially relevant at second marriages.
Do not write:
Glad you finally found the right one.
or:
This one is definitely better.
or:
Second time lucky!
Even if the bride or groom jokes about their previous marriage themselves, the wedding ang bao is not the ideal place to document it.
A normal “Congratulations to you both” works much better.
Be Careful With Marriage Advice
Wedding packets occasionally attract strangely ominous advice.
Things like:
Never go to bed angry.
Happy wife, happy life.
Marriage is hard work!
These are not necessarily offensive, but they are unnecessary.
The couple did not ask for a premarital counselling session from their ang bao.
A blessing works better than unsolicited advice.
Avoid Overly Romantic Messages for Colleagues
If you are attending a colleague’s wedding, keep the message proportional to the relationship.
Writing:
May your eternal souls remain entwined until the end of time
may be technically positive, but it is probably more intensity than the office relationship calls for.
“Congratulations and wishing you both every happiness” is enough.
Do You Need to Write in Chinese for a Traditional Chinese Wedding?
No.
English is completely appropriate in Singapore.
If you speak or write Chinese comfortably, a traditional Chinese blessing can be a lovely touch.
If you do not, there is no need to copy complicated Chinese characters from the internet and hope they mean what you think they mean.
Simple and sincere beats decorative and inaccurate.
What If You Make a Mistake?
If it is minor, do not panic.
A small spelling error on the back of the packet is unlikely to become the defining memory of the wedding.
If you have badly crossed out a name or written the wrong couple’s names, however, use a fresh packet if you have one.
This is another good reason to keep a few neutral wedding-friendly packets at home.
Should the Message Match the Ang Bao Design?
Not necessarily. If your packet already says:
百年好合
you can simply add:
Jane & Daniel
There is no need to repeat the same blessing underneath in English.
Likewise, if the packet says “Congratulations”, just add your names.
Wedding ang baos look better when they are not covered in unnecessary text.
What About Digital Ang Baos and PayNow?
If you are transferring the wedding gift digitally, you lose the physical space for a handwritten note, but the principle is the same.
Where the banking app allows a message, keep it simple:
Wedding ang bao — congratulations to you both! — Vivian & Daniel
If the reference field is extremely short, prioritise your name.
You can send a separate WhatsApp message or card if you want to write something more personal.
A Few Easy Messages by Relationship
If you want something you can use immediately:
For a colleague
Congratulations to you both. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.
For your boss
Warmest congratulations on your wedding. Wishing you both every happiness.
For a friend
So happy for you both. Congratulations and wishing you many wonderful years together.
For a close friend
So happy to be celebrating this with you. Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter and very good days together.
For a relative
Congratulations to you both. Wishing you a happy and harmonious marriage and many wonderful years ahead.
Short Chinese option
新婚快乐，百年好合！
Happy wedding, and may you have a harmonious marriage for a hundred years.
The Simplest Wedding Ang Bao Message
If you are standing outside the ballroom with a pen in one hand and your phone in the other, you do not need to search for anything more elaborate.
Write:
Congratulations to you both!
[Your name / names]
That is enough.
Wedding ang bao etiquette in Singapore tends to become complicated because so much attention goes into the amount, the venue and the auspicious numbers. The message itself does not need the same level of calculation.
A clear name and a warm wish will do the job perfectly well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I write on a wedding ang bao in Singapore?
Write your name and, if you wish, a short congratulatory message such as “Congratulations to you both” or “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.”
Do I have to write my name on a wedding ang bao?
It is strongly recommended. Couples may receive many packets at a wedding, and writing your name lets them identify who the gift came from.
What Chinese phrase can I write on a wedding ang bao?
Simple choices include 新婚快乐 (happy wedding), 百年好合 (may you have a harmonious union for a hundred years), 永结同心 (forever united in heart) and 白头偕老 (may you grow old together).
Is “百年好合” appropriate for a wedding ang bao?
Yes. It is a classic Chinese wedding blessing and one of the safest traditional phrases to use.
Is “早生贵子” appropriate?
It is a traditional wish for the couple to have children soon, but it can feel overly personal today. Unless you know the couple well and know they would welcome the sentiment, a general marriage blessing is safer.
What should I write for a colleague’s wedding?
Keep it simple and warm: “Congratulations to you both. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.”
What should I write for my boss’s wedding?
Something professional but friendly works well: “Warmest congratulations on your wedding. Wishing you both every happiness.”
Should I write the amount on the ang bao?
No. There is no need to write the amount on the packet.
Do both names go on a couple’s ang bao?
Yes, if the gift is from both of you, writing both names is helpful.
Can I write in English on a Chinese wedding ang bao?
Absolutely. You do not need to write in Chinese for the message to be appropriate.
Should I write a long wedding message?
No. A sentence or even a few words are enough. If you want to write something more personal, use a separate wedding card.
What should I avoid writing?
Avoid jokes about divorce, previous relationships, babies, how long the couple took to marry or anything that could sound backhanded. Keep the message celebratory.
Can I just write “Congratulations”?
Yes. Add your name and that is completely sufficient.
What should I write for a second marriage?
Use the same kind of message you would for any other wedding: “Congratulations to you both” or “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.” There is no need to mention that it is a second marriage.
About the author
Vivian YEditor & ResearcherSingapore-based publisher and marketer with a background in editorial, digital marketing and building independent online publications. Vivian researches and maintains Singapore Ang Bao Rates’ wedding venue database, reviews published banquet pricing and edits practical guides on ang bao amounts and local gifting etiquette.