Crafting The Perfect Wedding Contest Entry: A Guide To Writing A Winning Letter

Writing a letter for a wedding contest can be a daunting task, but it's a great way to express your thoughts, feelings, and wishes for the happy couple on their special day. Whether you're the bride or groom, a bridesmaid, friend, or family member, a well-crafted letter can be a heartfelt and meaningful addition to the celebrations. Here are some tips to help you get started:

- Handwrite the letter: While typing a letter is convenient, handwriting adds a personal and intimate touch. It brings out your character and makes the letter more similar to a traditional wedding card.

- Start with an outline: Organise your thoughts and ideas by creating an outline. Focus on your main points and briefly describe what you want to cover in each section of your letter.

- Write from the heart: As this is a special occasion, it's important to write sincerely and honestly about how you feel about the wedding and your relationship with the couple.

- Make it personal: Ensure the letter is focused on the person you are writing to, while also highlighting your relationship with them and the significance of the occasion.

- Include specific details: Reference how you feel about the wedding day, share milestone moments from your relationship, and express your hopes and wishes for the future.

- End with a wedding-related last line: While a simple I love you is sweet, try to include a specific nod to the day, such as I can't wait to see you walk down the aisle.

Write from the heart

Writing a letter for a wedding contest is a wonderful way to express your thoughts and feelings for someone on their special day. Here are some tips to help you craft a heartfelt letter:

Writing a letter to the happy couple is a chance to express your emotions and convey your happiness for the occasion. Focus on the couple and your relationship with them, and let your words flow from a place of love and sincerity. Think about why you love them and why this occasion is important to you. Reflect on what the couple means to you and how you want to support and celebrate them. Be authentic and speak from the heart—don't overthink it! Your genuine sentiments will be more touching than a flawless but less sincere message.

Include Personal Details and Anecdotes

Share personal anecdotes, inside jokes, and warm memories that illustrate your relationship with the couple. Recount milestone moments and the story of how you met. These details add a special touch to your letter and make it unique to your relationship with the couple. Include references to how you feel about their wedding day finally arriving and any thoughts running through your mind. If there are qualities you admire about the couple, provide specific examples or recount stories that showcase these qualities.

Structure and Length

While there is no rigid rule for the structure, you can follow a basic introduction-body-conclusion format. Start with a simple introduction, express your feelings about the wedding day, communicate the story of your relationship, and end with a wedding-related closing line. As for length, aim for around one page of handwritten text. While it's important to include meaningful details, don't feel pressured to write a lengthy letter. A concise and heartfelt message will be just as impactful.

Presentation and Delivery

Consider the presentation of your letter to make it even more special. Use nice stationery and a coloured pen to add a personal touch. You can also add decorative elements, such as a wax stamp with the couple's initials. If you're including the letter with a gift, you might add flowers or another thoughtful item. Finally, decide whether you want to mail the letter or deliver it yourself. If you choose to deliver it in person, it provides an opportunity for an additional heartfelt gesture or conversation.

Include little details

When writing a letter for a wedding contest, it's important to be open, honest, and speak from your heart. Here are some ideas for including little details that will make your letter stand out:

Share your feelings and hopes for the day

Express how you're feeling in the lead-up to the wedding, and share your hopes and wishes for the day ahead. Are you nervous? Excited? Calm? By sharing your emotions, you'll add a layer of depth and authenticity to your letter. You can also mention specific things you're looking forward to, such as enjoying the food, dancing, or simply seeing the joy on your partner's face.

Recall the moment you fell in love

Take your partner back to the moment when your love first sparked. Was it a specific date? Something they said? Or an accumulation of things over time? Recalling these memories will bring a sense of romance and nostalgia to your letter. It will also remind your partner of the foundation on which your relationship is built.

Make a list of the little things

You and your partner love each other for specific reasons, so embrace every detail, no matter how small. Maybe it's the way they always make you a cup of tea just the way you like it, or how they always remember to put the toilet seat down. These little things add up to create a beautiful picture of your relationship.

Include personal memories and anecdotes

Share anecdotes from milestone moments in your relationship that led you to this day. It could be the story of how you first met, a funny story from one of your first dates, or a memory of a challenging time you overcame together. These personal stories will not only make your partner smile but will also showcase the unique journey you've shared.

Share your proudest moments

Include a moment or two when you felt exceptionally proud of your partner. This could be related to a major life achievement, such as landing their dream job or completing a marathon. Or it could be something more personal, like overcoming a fear or demonstrating exceptional kindness to a stranger.

Remember, when including little details, it's important to be genuine and true to yourself. Add your own flair and personality to the letter, and don't be afraid to get creative.

Share your I fell in love memory

When writing a letter for a wedding contest, it is important to be direct and focused. Here is a sample letter with 4-6 paragraphs on the topic "Share your 'I fell in love' memory":

Dear [Recipient],

I still remember the moment I knew I had fallen in love with you. It was a crisp evening in February when we went on a white-water kayaking course in Hertfordshire. The cold air and the thrill of the adventure had me feeling alive and excited. As we navigated the rapids, I felt a sense of freedom and joy that I had never experienced before. But it was when I looked over at you, your face illuminated by the evening sun, that I felt something shift within me. In that moment, I knew that you were the one for me.

Before that day, I had always enjoyed spending time with you and felt a deep connection with you. We had shared many special moments and created wonderful memories together. But it was on that kayaking trip that I truly understood the depth of my feelings for you. It was as if something had clicked into place, and I suddenly saw our future together unfold before my eyes.

I remember the way your eyes lit up when you talked about your passions, and how your smile could light up the entire room. Your kindness, your warmth, and your unwavering support filled my heart with a love I had never known before. From that day forward, I knew that my life would never be the same without you by my side.

Our relationship has brought me more joy and fulfillment than I ever thought possible. Every day, I feel incredibly grateful to have you in my life and to be able to share this beautiful journey with you. As we continue to create new memories together, I am constantly reminded of that fateful day on the water when I first fell in love with you.

I look forward to a lifetime of adventures and memories with you by my side.

Yours always,

[Name]

This letter captures the essence of the "I fell in love" memory by sharing a specific and detailed moment that led to the realization of their love. It includes personal and heartfelt reasons for their love, as well as a reflection on the impact the relationship has had on their life. The letter also expresses their hopes for the future and a lifelong commitment to their partner.

Make it handwritten

A handwritten letter is a wonderful way to add a personal and intimate touch to your wedding contest entry. Here are some tips to help you create a neat and heartfelt handwritten letter:

Choose the Right Tools:

• Select a pen that you feel comfortable writing with. You can experiment with different pen grips and sizes to find what works best for you. Some people prefer fountain pens or gel pens, while others opt for ballpoint or rollerball pens.
• Use lined paper to help keep your writing straight and aligned. You can place a piece of notebook paper under your main paper to use as a guide.
• Opt for a thicker writing pad, as a thin pad may distort your posture and affect your writing.

Improve Your Handwriting:

• Relax your hand and arm, and ensure your grip on the pen is fairly loose. This will help prevent an achy hand and shaky writing.
• Write on a table with your forearm resting on it, so that your arm moves your fingers rather than your wrist.
• Practice basic letter shapes, such as straight lines, circles, and semi-circles, to improve the consistency of your letters.
• Analyze your handwriting by writing a paragraph and identifying areas you want to improve, such as letter slant, spacing, and alignment.
• Look at different handwriting styles online or in calligraphy books to get inspiration and develop your own style.

Craft Your Letter:

• Give yourself ample time to write the letter. Start the process at least three weeks before the contest deadline to allow for reflection and editing.
• Begin your letter with a warm and heartfelt tone. Congratulate the couple and express your well-wishes for their future together.
• Include personal memories, funny anecdotes, or inside jokes that are unique to your relationship with the couple.
• Share words of encouragement, support, and love. You can also add jokes to your letter to make the couple smile.
• End your letter with more well-wishes and sign-off with a positive note.

Remember, your handwriting is a reflection of your unique personality, so embrace your personal style while incorporating some of the above tips to create a neat and heartfelt handwritten letter for the wedding contest.

Add personal touches

Adding personal touches to your letter is a great way to make the bride feel special. Here are some ideas to help you add those extra touches that will make your letter unique and memorable:

Share a memorable anecdote

Think back to a specific memory or anecdote that captures the essence of your relationship with the bride. It could be a funny story, a heartfelt moment, or an adventure you embarked on together. By sharing a personal story, you add a layer of intimacy and sentimentality to your letter.

Include inside jokes

If you have a playful relationship with the bride, don't be afraid to include some inside jokes or references that only the two of you will understand. This will not only make the bride laugh but also remind her of the unique bond you share. It could be a nickname, a shared experience, or a private joke that will bring a smile to her face.

Write about their qualities

Take some time to reflect on the qualities that make the bride so special to you. Are they an incredible friend? Do they have a unique talent or skill? Is their kindness and warmth unforgettable? By writing about their admirable qualities, you reinforce your appreciation and admiration for them.

Mention specific details

The little details matter! Think about specific details, big or small, that make your relationship with the bride so meaningful. It could be the way she always knows how to make you laugh or the little gestures of support she shows. By including these nuances, you create a letter that is deeply personal and reflective of your relationship.

Express your feelings

Don't hold back on expressing your true feelings. Write about how the bride has impacted your life, the joy she brings, and the gratitude you feel for having her in your life. Be open and honest about your emotions, as this authenticity will make your letter even more touching.

Share a proud moment

If there's a moment when you felt exceptionally proud of the bride, be sure to mention it. It could be a time when she overcame a challenge, achieved a personal goal, or demonstrated exceptional strength or compassion. Sharing this moment will not only make her feel proud but also showcase your admiration for her accomplishments.

Frequently asked questions