Last updated: September 25, 2026
“Congratulations to both of you” is one of the most common phrases in English for celebrating a shared achievement — a wedding, a new baby, a joint business win, or any milestone two people reach together. But if you use it every single time, your message can start to sound flat. This guide gives you 15+ natural, grammatically correct alternatives you can use in emails, cards, texts, and workplace messages, sorted by tone so you always pick the right one.
I’ve edited hundreds of wedding cards, workplace emails, and graduation messages over the years, and the biggest problem I see isn’t grammar — it’s repetition. People default to “congratulations to both of you” because it’s safe, then wonder why the message feels generic. Below, you’ll find formal, informal, and professional alternatives, plus the grammar rule behind the phrase itself and a quick guide on how to pick the right one for the moment.
Why Look for Alternatives to “Congratulations to Both of You”
The phrase itself is grammatically correct and works in almost any situation. The issue is variety, not accuracy.
Using the same congratulatory phrase repeatedly — especially in cards, group chats, or office emails — can make a message feel like it was copied from a template. A well-chosen alternative shows you actually thought about the recipients, not just the occasion.
Native speakers naturally shift tone based on three things:
- Relationship — close friend, coworker, or acquaintance
- Setting — wedding, workplace, family event, or social media
- Formality level — written card, formal email, or quick text
Picking the right alternative signals emotional intelligence, not just vocabulary. That’s the real reason this list matters.
Formal Alternatives
Formal alternatives work best for written cards, official emails, speeches, or messages to people you don’t know well, such as a boss’s engagement or a colleague’s family milestone.
Wishing You Both Every Happiness
This phrase works well on wedding cards and formal notes. It shifts the focus from praise (congratulations) to hope for the future, which fits milestones like marriage or retirement.
Example: “Wishing you both every happiness as you begin this new chapter together.”
Heartfelt Congratulations to the Both of You
A slightly more expressive formal option. Note that traditional grammar guides flag “the both of you” as informal, so save this exact phrasing for warm but still polite messages, not formal business correspondence.
Example: “Heartfelt congratulations to the both of you on your engagement.”
Please Accept Our Warmest Congratulations
This structure is common in official or organizational messages — from a company, a school, or a group signing one card. It reads as sincere without being overly personal.
Example: “Please accept our warmest congratulations on your recent marriage.”
My Sincere Congratulations to You Both
A clean, grammatically tidy formal option. “You both” sits correctly after the preposition “to,” which makes this version safer for formal writing than phrases using “the both of you.”
Example: “My sincere congratulations to you both on the birth of your daughter.”
With Warmest Regards and Congratulations
Useful as a closing line in a formal letter or email, right before your sign-off. It combines a standard formal closing with the congratulatory message in one smooth sentence.
Example: “With warmest regards and congratulations on your well-deserved promotion, both of you.”
Informal / Casual Alternatives
Informal alternatives fit texts, social media captions, and messages to close friends. Contractions and shorter sentences are expected here.
Congrats, You Two!
Short, warm, and widely used among friends. “You two” is a casual but perfectly correct way to refer to a couple or pair in spoken and written English.
Example: “Congrats, you two! Can’t wait to celebrate with you this weekend.”
So Happy for Both of You!
This shifts the focus from the achievement to your own emotional response, which feels more personal than a plain “congratulations.”
Example: “So happy for both of you! You’ve been waiting for this news for years.”
You Two Deserve This!
Great for celebrating something the couple worked hard for, like a new house or a promotion earned after a tough year.
Example: “You two deserve this so much. Congrats on the new place!”
Way to Go, Both of You!
An energetic, casual phrase that works well for achievements rather than emotional milestones — think graduations, competitions, or a joint project finally launching.
Example: “Way to go, both of you! The event was a huge success.”
Cheers to You Both!
Short and toast-friendly. This works in texts, social captions, or spoken aloud at a small gathering.
Example: “Cheers to you both on ten amazing years together!”
Professional / Workplace Alternatives
Professional alternatives strike a balance: warm enough to feel genuine, but appropriate for coworkers, clients, or a company-wide email.
Congratulations on This Well-Deserved Achievement
This phrase keeps the tone respectful and focused on merit, which suits promotions, awards, or a joint project win between two colleagues.
Example: “Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement — the whole team is proud of you both.”
Wishing You Both Continued Success
A common closing line in professional emails after a promotion, partnership announcement, or business milestone. It looks forward instead of just praising the past.
Example: “Wishing you both continued success in your new roles.”
Best Wishes on This Milestone
A neutral, workplace-safe phrase that avoids sounding too personal while still being warm. Useful when you’re unsure how close you are with the recipients.
Example: “Best wishes on this milestone — you’ve both earned it.”
Kudos to Both of You
“Kudos” is a fairly informal-professional word (it means praise or credit) and works well in Slack messages, team emails, or quick internal notes.
Example: “Kudos to both of you for closing that deal ahead of schedule.”
Hats Off to the Both of You
An idiom that shows respect and admiration. It’s slightly more casual than “kudos” but still appropriate for team recognition emails.
Example: “Hats off to the both of you for pulling off that presentation with zero notice.”
Alternatives for Specific Occasions
Not every alternative fits every event. Here’s how to match phrasing to the occasion.
For a Wedding or Engagement
Wedding messages usually lean warmer and can include hopes for the future, not just praise.
- “Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness together.”
- “May your marriage be filled with joy, from day one and beyond.”
- “So excited to watch your story continue together.”
For a New Baby
Baby announcements call for gentle, family-focused language rather than achievement-based phrases like “well done.”
- “Congratulations on your growing family.”
- “Wishing you both restful nights and endless love ahead.”
- “So thrilled to welcome your little one to the world.”
For a Job Promotion or New Venture
Career milestones respond well to phrases that highlight effort and future success.
- “Congratulations on this incredible step forward, for both of you.”
- “Excited to see what you two build next.”
- “Well-earned success — congratulations to you both.”
Grammar Note: “Congratulations to Both of You” vs “Congratulations to You Both”
Both versions are grammatically correct, and native speakers use them interchangeably. The small difference is rhythm, not rule.
“Congratulations to both of you” places emphasis on both, which slightly stresses that the message is meant for two people equally. “Congratulations to you both” flows a bit more naturally in spoken English and sounds slightly more casual.
A grammar point worth knowing: “congratulations” is always plural, even when addressing one achievement. You’d never say “a congratulation,” because the word functions as a fixed plural noun in modern English, similar to “thanks” or “regards.”
I still see students in advanced English classes try to write “congratulation” as a singular noun. It’s a small mistake, but it stands out immediately to a native reader.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A few small errors show up again and again in real writing, whether it’s a card, an email, or a text message.
- Dropping the “s”: Writing “congratulation” instead of “congratulations” is incorrect in every context.
- Using “the both of you” in formal writing: It’s common in speech but reads as informal on paper — save it for casual messages.
- Overusing “so happy for you” for achievement-based news: This phrase fits emotional milestones (weddings, babies) better than professional wins, where “well done” or “well-deserved” fits more naturally.
- Repeating the same phrase across every card or message: This is the most common issue I catch when editing group messages or shared cards — five people, one identical line.
How to Choose the Right Alternative
Match the phrase to three things: who you’re writing to, where the message will appear, and how big the moment is.
| Situation | Best Category | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding card for close friends | Formal or heartfelt | “Wishing you both every happiness” |
| Text to a close friend | Informal | “Congrats, you two!” |
| Company-wide email | Professional | “Wishing you both continued success” |
| New baby announcement | Warm, family-focused | “Congratulations on your growing family” |
| Coworker’s joint project win | Professional, casual | “Kudos to both of you” |
When in doubt, read the message out loud. If it sounds like something you’d actually say to that person, it’s the right choice.
What to Write After “Congratulations to Both of You”
The congratulations line is the opener, not the whole message. A card or text that stops there can feel rushed, especially for a big milestone like a wedding or a new baby. One or two personal sentences after it make the difference between a message that feels genuine and one that reads like a template.
A simple formula: congratulations line + something specific about them + a wish for the future.
What to add, by occasion:
| Occasion | What to add |
|---|---|
| Wedding | A memory of them as a couple, or what you admire about their relationship. |
| New baby | A wish for the parents, not just the baby — sleep, support, patience. |
| Engagement | Excitement for the wedding to come, or how you knew they’d end up together. |
| Job promotion or business win | A specific mention of what they did well to earn it. |
| Graduation | A nod to the effort behind it, or excitement for what’s next. |
Ways to make the rest of the message count:
- Reference something true and specific. “I still remember how you two met at Sara’s party” says more than any generic line.
- Name what you admire. “You two balance each other so well” feels personal because it couldn’t apply to just anyone.
- Look ahead, not just back. “I can’t wait to see what you build together” adds warmth beyond the achievement itself.
- Offer something concrete, if appropriate. “Let me know if you need help with the move” turns a card into something useful.
- Keep it to two or three sentences. A card doesn’t need a paragraph to feel sincere.
Example messages:
Congratulations to both of you! Watching you two support each other through the last two years made this feel inevitable. Wishing you a lifetime of laughter and adventure together.
Congratulations to both of you on the new role! You both put in the work these past few months, and it shows. Excited to see what your team accomplishes next.
Other Ways to Say Congratulations to Both of You Quotes
Meaning: This phrase is used to celebrate two people at the same time and express happiness about their achievement, relationship, marriage, engagement, graduation, or another special occasion.
Other natural ways to say it:
- Congratulations to you both!
- Congratulations to both of you!
- Many congratulations to you both!
- Warmest congratulations to you both!
- Heartfelt congratulations to both of you!
- Wishing you both many congratulations and continued happiness.
- A big congratulations to you both!
- Congratulations to you both on this wonderful occasion!
- Sending my best wishes and congratulations to you both.
- So happy for you both—congratulations!
Short congratulatory quotes:
- “Congratulations to you both on this beautiful milestone.”
- “Wishing you both happiness, success, and many wonderful moments ahead.”
- “Congratulations to you both, and best wishes for the journey ahead.”
Congratulations to Both of You Is Correct
Meaning: Yes, “Congratulations to both of you” is grammatically correct and natural English.
Why it is correct:
- Congratulations is the standard expression used to praise or celebrate someone’s achievement or happy occasion.
- To both of you clearly shows that the message is addressed to two people.
- The phrase works in both casual and formal situations.
Examples:
- Congratulations to both of you on your success.
- Congratulations to both of you on your wedding.
- Congratulations to both of you on your engagement.
- Congratulations to both of you on your graduation.
Natural alternative: “Congratulations to you both” is also completely correct. Both versions have the same basic meaning.
Congratulations to Both of You Wedding
Meaning: “Congratulations to both of you on your wedding” is a warm way to congratulate two people on getting married.
Natural wedding wishes:
- Congratulations to both of you on your wedding!
- Congratulations to you both on this beautiful new chapter.
- Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and togetherness.
- Heartfelt congratulations to you both on your special day.
- Congratulations to the happy couple!
- Wishing you both a beautiful and happy married life.
- Many congratulations to you both as you begin this wonderful journey together.
Usage tip: For a wedding, adding “on your wedding,” “on your special day,” or “on your marriage” makes the message more specific and meaningful.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Both of You Meaning
Meaning: “Congratulations and best wishes to both of you” means that you are celebrating the two people’s happy occasion while also expressing your hope that they have happiness and success in the future.
The phrase has two parts:
- Congratulations — expresses happiness about something wonderful that has happened.
- Best wishes — expresses your hope that good things happen to them in the future.
- To both of you — shows that the message is intended for two people.
Examples:
- Congratulations and best wishes to both of you on your wedding.
- Congratulations and best wishes to both of you on your engagement.
- Congratulations and best wishes to both of you on your graduation.
Tone: This expression is warm, polite, and versatile, making it suitable for cards, messages, social media posts, and formal congratulations.
Congratulations to You Both Engagement
Meaning: The natural phrase is “Congratulations to you both on your engagement.” It is used to congratulate two people who have recently become engaged.
Natural engagement wishes:
- Congratulations to you both on your engagement!
- Congratulations to both of you on this exciting new chapter.
- Heartfelt congratulations to you both on your engagement.
- Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness.
- Many congratulations to you both! May your future together be filled with wonderful memories.
- So happy for you both—congratulations on your engagement!
Usage tip: “Congratulations to you both engagement” is incomplete. You normally need “on” before the occasion: “Congratulations to you both on your engagement.”
Congratulations to Both of You Guys
Meaning: “Congratulations to both of you guys” is a casual and friendly way to congratulate two people.
Usage:
- Congratulations to both of you guys!
- Congratulations to you both!
- A huge congratulations to you guys!
- So happy for you both—congratulations!
Tone: The word “guys” makes the expression more informal and conversational. It can work well in texts, social media comments, and messages to friends.
For formal situations: Instead of “Congratulations to both of you guys,” use:
- Congratulations to both of you.
- Congratulations to you both.
- Heartfelt congratulations to you both.
Congratulations to You Both or Both of You
Meaning: Both “Congratulations to you both” and “Congratulations to both of you” are grammatically correct.
Congratulations to you both:
- Sounds natural and slightly more concise.
- Common in personal messages and cards.
- Example: “Congratulations to you both on your wedding!”
Congratulations to both of you:
- Also completely natural and correct.
- Places a little more emphasis on the two people.
- Example: “Congratulations to both of you on your achievement!”
Which can you use?
- “Congratulations to you both” — natural and concise.
- “Congratulations to both of you” — natural and slightly more explicit.
Important: There is no major difference in meaning. Both expressions clearly congratulate two people.
Congratulations to Both of You on Your Graduation
Meaning: “Congratulations to both of you on your graduation” is used when two people have successfully completed their studies or graduated from a school, college, university, or another educational program.
Natural graduation wishes:
- Congratulations to both of you on your graduation!
- Congratulations to you both on this incredible achievement.
- Heartfelt congratulations to both of you on your graduation.
- Wishing you both success and happiness in the next chapter of your lives.
- Congratulations to you both! Your hard work has truly paid off.
- Many congratulations to both of you on reaching this important milestone.
- Congratulations to both of you, and best wishes for your bright future.
Example in a message:
“Congratulations to both of you on your graduation! Wishing you continued success, happiness, and exciting opportunities in everything you do.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to say congrats in a unique way?
Make your message more personal by saying, “A huge congratulations on this wonderful achievement!” You can also add a warm wish for continued success and happiness.
What are some synonyms for “congratulations to both of you”?
Try phrases such as “Warmest congratulations to you both,” “Many congratulations to you both,” or “Heartfelt wishes to you both on this special occasion.”
What can I say instead of “congrats”?
Instead of “congrats,” you can say “Well deserved!”, “You both did it—wonderful news!”, or “Wishing you both continued success!” These sound natural while keeping your message warm and elegant.
Is “congrats to both” correct?
“Congrats to both” is understandable, but “Congrats to both of you” sounds more natural and complete in everyday English. For a formal message, “Congratulations to you both” is a polished choice.
What are some simple but elegant congrats quotes?
Simple options include “Congratulations on this beautiful achievement,” “Wishing you both joy and success ahead,” and “A heartfelt congratulations to you both on this special milestone.”
Conclusion
“Congratulations to both of you” is correct and works almost everywhere, but the best writers and speakers adjust their wording to match the relationship and the occasion. Keep a few formal, informal, and professional alternatives in your back pocket, and your messages will feel personal instead of copy-pasted — every single time.
Riaz Ahmad is the founder and writer at DefineGrammar.com, dedicated to simplifying English grammar for students and writers worldwide. With a passion for language, he breaks down complex grammar rules into clear, practical lessons, helping readers write with confidence and clarity every day.
