The hardest cards to write are not birthday cards. They are the sympathy card for a colleague’s family, the wedding card for a couple you only half know, and the graduation card for a teenager you have watched grow up. Below are short messages for each, written in plain English, with an Estonian version for when the card is going to an Estonian.

The one rule for all of them: short and sincere beats long and polished.

Sympathy cards

People who are grieving rarely remember the exact words in a card. They remember who reached out. So do not wait until you find the perfect sentence.

• Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time. Estonian: Mõtleme teile sel raskel ajal.
• With sincere condolences to you and the whole family. Estonian: Siiras kaastunne teile ja kogu perele.
• [Name] will always be remembered. Estonian: [Nimi] jääb meile alati meelde.
• There are no words, but we are here for you. Estonian: Sõnu ei ole, aga oleme teiega.
• I am so sorry. I am here whenever you want to talk. Estonian: Mul on väga kahju. Olen olemas, kui tahad rääkida.

Avoid lines that try to explain or soften the loss, like “everything happens for a reason”. If you offer help, make it specific: “I will drop off dinner on Friday” is easier to accept than “let me know if you need anything”.

In Estonia, sympathy cards are usually addressed to the closest relative or to the family by surname, for example “Tamme perele” (to the Tamm family).

Wedding cards

• Congratulations on your wedding day! Wishing you a lifetime of laughter and adventures together. Estonian: Palju õnne teie pulmapäeval! Olgu teie ühine teekond täis naeru ja seiklusi.
• Wishing you a love that grows every year. Estonian: Soovime teile armastust, mis kasvab iga aastaga.
• Take care of each other. Estonian: Hoidke teineteist.
• Today your best story begins. Estonian: Täna algab teie kõige ilusam lugu.
• Marriage is teamwork, and you already have the best team. Estonian: Abielu on meeskonnatöö ja teil on juba parim meeskond.

Graduation cards

Graduations are a big deal in Estonia, from kindergarten all the way to university. School graduations happen mostly in June, and it is very common to give money in the card.

• Congratulations on your graduation! Every door is open now. Estonian: Palju õnne lõpetamise puhul! Kõik uksed on nüüd lahti.
• You worked hard for this. Be proud of yourself. Estonian: Oled selle nimel kõvasti tööd teinud ja võid enda üle uhke olla.
• Wherever you go next, we are on your side. Estonian: Ükskõik, kuhu sa edasi lähed, me oleme sinu poolt.
• Do not be afraid to choose your own path. Estonian: Ära karda valida oma teed.

New baby cards

• Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Estonian: Palju õnne pere uue liikme puhul!
• Welcome to the world, little [name]! Estonian: Tere tulemast maailma, väike [nimi]!
• Wishing the baby good health and the parents some sleep. Estonian: Soovime väikesele tervist ja vanematele und.
• Small hands, big love. Estonian: Väikesed käed, suur armastus.

How to sign off

A card that fits the moment

A photo makes any of these cards more personal: the couple’s first photo together, the baby’s first picture, or a photo from the graduate’s first school day. You can design a card with your own photo in our shop, preview it, and order it like any other product. Our cards are folded A4 on 250 g matte photo paper with an envelope included.

For more wishes, see our Estonian birthday card guide. The Estonian version of this post has 40 messages in Estonian.

Frequently asked questions

What do you write in a sympathy card?

Keep it short and honest, for example: "Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time." You do not need perfect words. A simple, sincere line means more than a long one.

How do you say condolences in Estonian?

"Siiras kaastunne" means "sincere condolences". A full line could be "Siiras kaastunne teile ja kogu perele", meaning "Sincere condolences to you and the whole family".

Is it normal to give money for graduation in Estonia?

Yes. Money in a card is a very common graduation gift in Estonia, especially for high school (gümnaasium) and university graduates.

What do you write in a wedding card?

Congratulate the couple, wish them well for the future and sign your name. For example: "Congratulations on your wedding day! Wishing you a lifetime of laughter and adventures together."