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26 letter ideas

“Open when…” letters for newlyweds

The wedding is one day. These letters are for the years after it: the honeymoon, the first home, the first big fight, the holidays with the in-laws and every anniversary. Give them before the big day, and they’ll keep opening them long after.

Each idea comes with a starter letter. The parts in [brackets] are where your own memories go.

Make them with Whenvelope

Start a box and these ideas are waiting in it. Pick the ones you like, rewrite each letter in your own words, and add photos, a video or a gift card. Your kid opens one at a time, right on their phone. You pay only for the envelopes you send.

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Married life

Open when it’s your wedding day

Today’s the day! 💍 We’ve loved you your whole life, and today we get to watch you start a whole new chapter. [A memory of them growing up, or of the day you met their partner]. Soak it all in. Dance a lot. Eat the cake.

Open when wedding planning is stressing you out

Breathe. A year from now, nobody will remember the napkins. What matters is the two of you, and everyone who loves you in one room. [Something reassuring from your own wedding]. Take a night off from planning. Dinner’s on us.

Gift card idea: DoorDash.

Open when you leave for your honeymoon

You did it! Now go relax. 🌴 Text us when you land, then put your phones away and enjoy each other. [A honeymoon tip or story of your own]

Gift card idea: Uber.

Open when you move into your first home together

Your first home together! 🏡 It doesn’t matter if it’s tiny or the couch is a hand-me-down. Ours was [your first place together], and we loved it. Make it yours. Hang the pictures. Have people over.

Gift card idea: Target.

Open when you have your first big fight

Every couple fights. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong. What matters is how you come back together. What’s worked for us: [your advice]. Take a walk, cool off, then talk. And whoever says sorry first wins.

Open when you need a date night

Life gets busy: work, errands, [everything else on their plates]. It’s easy to forget to just be together. Tonight, phones down. Dinner’s on us.

Gift card idea: DoorDash.

Open when it’s your first anniversary

One year! 🎉 A year ago today, [a favorite moment from their wedding day]. The traditional first-anniversary gift is paper, so consider this letter ours. Happy anniversary. We love you both.

Open when it’s your anniversary

Happy anniversary, you two! 🥂 Watching you build a life together is one of our favorite things. [Something you love about them as a couple] Go celebrate. Dinner’s on us.

Gift card idea: DoorDash.

Open when you’re spending the holidays with the in-laws

Two families, one holiday. Taking turns is part of the deal, and we get it. Really. We’ll miss you, and we’ll [your plan: FaceTime during dinner, save you a plate]. Have fun, help in the kitchen, and bring us back some of their pie.

Open when you want our best marriage advice

After [how many years you’ve been together], here’s what we know: [Your best marriage advice] And never stop being friends.

Open when you want to see our wedding pictures

Here we are on our wedding day, [the date or year]. Look at us! [A story from your wedding day] We hope your marriage is as much fun as ours has been.

Hard days

Open when you’re having a bad day

Some days are just heavy, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. When I had a day like this at your age, [a time you struggled and what got you through]. Go get some fresh air, drink some water, and remember: tomorrow is a brand new page.

Open when you’re stressed out

Deep breath. In for four, hold for four, out for four. You have handled hard things before, like [a hard thing they got through]. You can handle this too, one small piece at a time. Nothing is worth losing sleep over. We love you no matter what.

Open when you feel lonely

Everyone feels lonely sometimes, even surrounded by people. Especially in a brand new place. You are such a good friend: [something kind they did for someone]. The right people will find you. In the meantime, call us. We always want to hear your voice.

Open when you can’t sleep

Put the phone down after this (okay, after this letter 😉). Remember when you were little and [a bedtime memory]? Close your eyes and picture it. Sleep tight. We’re thinking of you.

Link idea: a sleepy playlist.

Open when you’re nervous about something big

Butterflies mean you care. That’s a good thing. Whatever it is, you’ve prepared more than you think. Remember [a time they were nervous and crushed it]? Go get ’em. We’re cheering from here.

Open when you really need to talk

Call us. Any time, day or night. We mean it: 3 a.m. is fine. [Your phone numbers] There is nothing you could tell us that would make us love you less.

Open when you need a sober driver

If you’ve been drinking, or whoever was going to drive has, don’t get in that car. Call us, any hour: [your phone numbers]. We’ll come get you or send a ride. No questions tonight and no lecture tomorrow, we promise. We’re just glad you called. There’s a ride in this envelope too, so getting home never depends on money. Getting home safe is always the right call.

Gift card idea: Uber.

Family & home

Open when you want to see our faces

Here we are! Hope this makes you smile. [A caption or memory for the photos] We love you to the moon and back.

Open when you miss home cooking

Here is how to make [the family recipe], just like at home: [Ingredients and steps] It won’t taste quite the same in a dorm kitchen, but it’ll be close.

Big & little moments

Open when it’s your birthday

Happy birthday! The day you were born, [a memory from that day]. We’re sorry we can’t be there to embarrass you with a song. Consider yourself sung to. 🎶 Have the best day.

Gift card idea: Amazon.

Open when you need a laugh

Remember the time [a funny family story]? We still laugh about it.

Link idea: a funny family video.

Open when you had a great day

Ahh, we love to hear it! Write down what made today great so you can remember it. And call us, we want details.

Open when you’re heading abroad

Look at you, going global! 🌍 Before you go, run through this list: ☐ Passport (good for 6 months past your return date), and a visa if you need one ☐ A photo of your passport on your phone, and a paper copy packed separately ☐ Your health insurance card, and prescriptions in their original bottles ☐ A card with no foreign transaction fees, and tell your bank you’re traveling ☐ A little local cash for when you land ☐ A phone plan or eSIM that works there ☐ A power adapter (and a portable charger) ☐ Sign up for STEP at step.state.gov, so the U.S. embassy can reach you in an emergency ☐ [Your program’s emergency contact, and the address where you’re staying] Text us when you land. Have the adventure of a lifetime, and come home with stories.

Open when you need advice

The best advice I ever got: [a piece of advice that stuck with you]. You already know more than you think. Trust your gut, and when in doubt, call us.

Open when you need to know we’re proud of you

We are so proud of you. Not for any grade or accomplishment, just for who you are. One of my favorite things about you is [something you love about them]. Never forget it.

Their next big step is coming.

Start their box now, fill it at your own pace, and send it when it’s ready.

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