Saying “congratulations” is always kind, but it can sound flat when everyone uses the same word. The best other ways to say congratulations add warmth, match the occasion, and suit your bond with the person. Phrases like “heartfelt congratulations,” “best wishes,” and “kudos” each send a different tone.
This guide shares 25 other ways to say congratulations to a couple or any pair, with a clear example for each. You will also learn which phrases suit weddings, engagements, success, and professional emails, and which mistakes to avoid. Pick the one that sounds like you.
Quick answer:
The best other ways to say congratulations to two people are “heartfelt congratulations,” “best wishes,” and “warmest congratulations.” Use “cheers” for a casual message, “kudos” for hard work, and “felicitations” for a formal card. Always write “congratulations” with an s.
Correct: “Congratulations to both of you!”
Incorrect: “Congratulation to both of you!”
Why: When you wish someone well, the word is plural.
What Does “Congratulations to Both of You” Mean?
It is a short way to tell two people, “I am happy for you, and well done.” The pair can be a married couple, business partners, siblings, teammates, or two friends who passed the same exam.
“Both of you” matters because it includes each person. Nobody feels left out. You will find many other ways to say congratulations to a pair, but they all share this idea.
Grammar tip: “congratulations” is a plural noun, so you almost never drop the s. In casual texts you can shorten it to “congrats.” Avoid that in formal writing.
Is It Professional/Polite to Say “Congratulations to Both of You”?
Yes. It is polite, neutral, and safe in most settings, including work emails and cards. It becomes stronger when you name the reason: “Congratulations to both of you on closing the Henderson deal.”
The phrase can sound routine if you send it to many people. That is when other ways to say congratulations help. A small change, such as “sincere congratulations” for a manager or “big congratulations” for a friend, makes the message feel chosen rather than copied.
Pros and Cons of Saying “Congratulations to Both of You”
Pros
- It is short and clear.
- It includes both people.
- It is polite in formal and informal settings.
- It is easy for ESL learners to use correctly.
Cons
- It can feel generic if you use it for every occasion.
- It shows little emotion by itself.
- It does not say why you are happy for them.
If you want more feeling, use one of the other ways to say congratulations below, and add a personal detail.
Different Ways to Say Congratulations for Engagement
An engagement is a happy, personal moment, so warm and affectionate phrases work best. Here are lines you can use as they are:
- “Congratulations to you both! I am so happy for you.”
- “Heartfelt congratulations on your engagement. You two are a perfect match.”
- “Wishing you a lifetime of love as you plan your wedding.”
- “What wonderful news! Best wishes to both of you.”
- “Cheers to the happy couple!” (casual)
- “So delighted for you both. Let’s celebrate soon!”
For close friends, mention a memory or a detail about the proposal. For colleagues, keep it shorter and more formal. Many other ways to say congratulations suit engagements, but warmth and personal detail matter more than fancy words.
Synonyms For “Congratulations to Both of You”
The 25 phrases below are easier to choose from when you group them by tone. Use this table first, then read the details.
| Tone | Phrases | Best for |
| Formal | Felicitations, Warmest Felicitations, Heartfelt Felicitations, Sincere Congratulations, Warmest Regards and Congratulations | Formal cards, workplace announcements |
| Warm and personal | Heartfelt Congratulations, Warmest Congratulations, Heartfelt Wishes, Best Wishes, Special Congratulations | Family, close friends |
| Cheerful and casual | Cheers, Big Congratulations, Happiest Congratulations, Joyful Congratulations, Cheers and Congratulations | Texts, social media |
| Effort and achievement | Kudos, Heartfelt Admiration and Congratulations | Work, sports, study |
| Spiritual | Blessings, Blessed Congratulations | Religious or cultural events |
Each of these other ways to say congratulations works best when you add the occasion after it, for example “on your wedding” or “on your new business.”
1. Best Wishes to Both of You
This phrase looks ahead. It hopes for good things rather than praising what already happened, so it also works when there is nothing to “win,” like moving house or starting a new job.
Example: “Best wishes to both of you as you settle into your new home.”
Best for: weddings, farewells, new beginnings.
2. Heartfelt Congratulations to Both of You
“Heartfelt” tells the reader your feeling is real. It suits personal news such as an engagement or a baby.
Example: “Heartfelt congratulations to both of you. Your news made my whole week.”
Best for: family and close friends.
3. Warmest Congratulations to Both of You
“Warmest” is a superlative that cards often use. It sounds friendly and a little traditional.
Example: “Warmest congratulations to both of you on your wedding. We loved celebrating with you.”
Best for: wedding cards and anniversary notes.
4. Many Congratulations to Both of You
This one is friendly and easy to use in both US and UK English. It feels more generous than a single “congratulations” without becoming formal.
Example: “Many congratulations to both of you on the birth of your daughter.”
Best for: general good news, cards, and emails.
5. Felicitations to Both of You
“Felicitations” is a formal word that means congratulations or good wishes. Today it sounds slightly old-fashioned, which is why it suits formal cards. It is usually plural.
Example: “Felicitations to both of you on your twenty-fifth anniversary.”
Best for: formal cards and official notes. Skip it in texts.
6. Cheers to Both of You
“Cheers” comes from the idea of raising a glass. It is casual and cheerful. In British English, “cheers” can also mean “thanks” or “goodbye,” so context matters.
Example: “Cheers to both of you! Here’s to a great first year of marriage.”
Best for: friends, parties, and casual messages.
7. Kudos to Both of You
“Kudos” comes from Greek and means praise for an achievement. It is best for effort and results, not for life events. You would not say “kudos” for a wedding. It takes a singular verb, and you never say “a kudos.”
Example: “Kudos to both of you for finishing the marathon together.”
Best for: work, sports, and study.
8. Heartfelt Cheers to Both of You
This mixes a sincere word with a casual one. The pairing is a little unusual, so keep it for friendly texts and not formal cards.
Example: “Heartfelt cheers to both of you on the new house!”
Best for: friends and relaxed messages.
9. Joyful Congratulations to Both of You
“Joyful” describes happiness, so this phrase puts the focus on the feeling. Use it for happy news.
Example: “Joyful congratulations to both of you on your baby news.”
Best for: births, weddings, and good news you are excited about.
10. Sincere Congratulations to Both of You
“Sincere” sounds honest and respectful without being emotional. That makes it a safe choice for work.
Example: “Sincere congratulations to both of you on winning the contract.”
Best for: colleagues, clients, and managers.
11. Warm Regards to Both of You
Be careful here. “Warm regards” is a polite closing and a greeting of goodwill. By itself it does not say congratulations. Pair it with a real congratulation.
Example: “Congratulations to both of you on the launch. Warm regards, Sam.”
Best for: ending a professional email.
Also, read this: Forteen vs Fourteen
12. Blessings to Both of You
This wish expresses hope for good fortune and, often, a spiritual meaning. It suits religious or cultural celebrations, where it feels natural.
Example: “Blessings to both of you on your wedding day.”
Best for: weddings, births, and faith-based events.
13. Big Congratulations to Both of You
“Big” makes the message excited and informal. It sounds like you are smiling as you write it.
Example: “Big congratulations to both of you! You earned this.”
Best for: friends, social media, and informal notes.
14. Heartfelt Wishes to Both of You
This is a warmer version of “best wishes.” Like “best wishes,” it looks to the future.
Example: “Heartfelt wishes to both of you for a bright future together.”
Best for: weddings and graduations.
15. Joyous Congratulations to Both of You
“Joyous” is slightly more formal than “joyful.” It often describes occasions, as in “a joyous occasion,” while “joyful” describes a person’s feeling. That is why “joyous” suits celebrations.
Example: “Joyous congratulations to both of you on your special day.”
Best for: weddings and ceremonies.
16. Cheers and Congratulations to Both of You
This joins the casual toast with the standard word. It feels friendly but still clear.
Example: “Cheers and congratulations to both of you on finishing the project early.”
Best for: team messages and friends.
17. Heartfelt Felicitations to Both of You
This blends formal wording with warm feeling. It suits a handwritten card better than a text message.
Example: “Heartfelt felicitations to both of you on your marriage.”
Best for: formal cards.
18. Warmest Regards and Congratulations to Both of You
This one works as a full closing line for a formal email, because it combines the greeting and the congratulation in one.
Example: “Warmest regards and congratulations to both of you on the new partnership.”
Best for: workplace emails.
19. Happiest Congratulations to Both of You
“Happiest” adds a cheerful, upbeat tone. It fits life events where happiness is the main feeling.
Example: “Happiest congratulations to both of you on becoming parents!”
Best for: weddings and births.
20. Heartwarming Congratulations to Both of You
“Heartwarming” usually describes news or a story that makes people feel warm, not the person sending the wish. The phrase is understandable, but a smoother version is “Your news is heartwarming. Congratulations to both of you.”
Example: “What heartwarming news! Congratulations to both of you.”
Best for: emotional family news.
21. Special Congratulations to Both of You
“Special” tells the reader the milestone is unusual or important. Add the reason so it does not feel empty.
Example: “Special congratulations to both of you on fifty years of marriage.”
Best for: big anniversaries and rare achievements.
22. Heartfelt Cheers and Best Wishes to Both of You
This layers three ideas: sincerity, celebration, and future hopes. It is fine in a card, but do not stack more words than this or the message will feel crowded.
Example: “Heartfelt cheers and best wishes to both of you on your graduation.”
Best for: cards for close friends.
23. Heartfelt Admiration and Congratulations to Both of You
This one praises effort, not only the result. It fits achievements that took real work.
Example: “Heartfelt admiration and congratulations to both of you for building this business from nothing.”
Best for: business wins and hard-earned goals.
24. Warmest Felicitations to Both of You
This is the most formal phrase on the list. Use it on wedding cards or official notes, not in everyday chat.
Example: “Warmest felicitations to both of you on your wedding.”
Best for: formal ceremonies.
25. Blessed Congratulations to Both of You
“Blessed” is usually said about a person or an occasion, so this phrase is uncommon and sounds religious. A smoother option is “Congratulations, and may you both be blessed.”
Example: “Congratulations to you both, and may your home always be blessed.”
Best for: religious celebrations.
Other Ways to Say Congratulations on Success
Success covers exams, promotions, awards, and business wins. For these, praise the effort, not only the result. These other ways to say congratulations work well:
- “Well done to both of you. You worked hard for this.”
- “Kudos to both of you on a brilliant presentation.”
- “Well deserved! Congratulations on the award.”
- “Heartfelt admiration and congratulations on your results.”
- “Proud of you both for getting this far.”
Mind the preposition. The standard pattern is “congratulations on your promotion.” “Congratulations for your promotion” is less standard in careful writing. You can also use a verb: “I congratulate you on your success.”
Among all the other ways to say congratulations on success, the strongest messages name the achievement: “Congratulations to both of you on passing the bar exam.”
How to Say Congratulations in a Professional Way
Keep it short, specific, and sincere. Name the achievement, avoid slang, and match the other person’s level of formality. Do not use too many exclamation marks.
A simple structure is: congratulation + reason + good wish. For example: “Sincere congratulations on the merger. I wish you both continued success.”
Email Examples
“Dear Maria and Tom, congratulations to both of you on your promotions. Your hard work has clearly paid off. Warm regards, Anna”
“Hi team, kudos to both of you for delivering the report ahead of schedule. Great work.”
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: “Congrats guys!!!” in a formal email.
Correct: “Congratulations to both of you on the launch.”
Why: “Congrats” and several exclamation marks are too casual for formal writing.
Incorrect: “Congratulation to both of you.”
Correct: “Congratulations to both of you.”
Why: The wish is always plural.
Incorrect: “Warm regards on your promotion.”
Correct: “Congratulations on your promotion. Warm regards, Sam.”
Why: “Warm regards” is a closing, not a congratulation.
Incorrect: “Kudos on your wedding.”
Correct: “Best wishes on your wedding.”
Why: “Kudos” praises effort. Use warmer wishes for life events. If you remember this one rule, choosing among the other ways to say congratulations becomes much easier.
Conclusion
The best other ways to say congratulations match the tone and the occasion. “Heartfelt congratulations” suits personal news, “kudos” praises effort, and “felicitations” fits formal cards. Remember that “congratulations” is plural, and use “on” before the achievement.
Next time, pick one phrase and add a personal detail. Even small changes make other ways to say congratulations feel genuine. A short, specific message always sounds warmer than a long, generic one.
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