9 ideas for what to write in a Christmas card

When you’ve got a long Christmas card list to write for, it can be tricky knowing what to say, without putting a standard “Dear Gran, Happy Christmas. Love from all of us” type of message. So, if you’re lost for words when creating your Christmas cards from Photobox , here’s some inspiration to get you started.

First, create your Christmas cards

There are around 180 Christmas card designs at Photobox that you can customise with your own photos and messages. From classic to cute and modern to minimalist, there’s something to suit everyone. But if you’re feeling extra creative, you can design your own from scratch.

Once you’ve picked the card, choose your favourite photo to upload to our creator tool. You could add a scenic shot or a family portrait. And if you need some more picture inspiration, check out these festive photo ideas.

When you’ve got the design sorted, it’s time to get writing. So, here are nine ideas to help you mix it up a bit this year and sign off your Christmas cards too.

1. Keep it short

A photo on the front of your card can already say a lot, so you can keep the message short and sweet inside. This type of message is perfect to send to friends and family who you see fairly often, so they won’t need a rundown of what you’ve been up to throughout the year.

Photobox loves…

“Merry Christmas and a happy new year”

“Hope this is your best Christmas ever”

“Happy Christmas to the world’s best dad.”

2. For your close family

Stuck for what to write in a Christmas card for your parents or grandparents? You could recreate a cute baby photo for the front. And if you print a pack of photo cards from photobox and leave the inside blank, you can then write an individual message by hand for everyone.

Maybe keep it more traditional for Gran and Grandpa, but have a bit more fun with your parents’ messages.

Photobox loves…

“Warm Christmas wishes to the most wonderful grandparents I could ask for.”

“Big Christmas hugs for an amazing mum.”

“Happy Christmas! Here’s hoping this card makes up for all the missed phone calls this year. Can’t wait to celebrate together!”

3. For family who are far away

If you’re sending a Christmas card to friends and family on the other side of the world, it can be difficult to choose what to write. There’s so much they need to catch up on, so why not slip some photo prints in their card from the past year and share a few highlights of what you’ve been up to.

Photobox loves…

“Wish you were here for Christmas. Because we can’t catch up over the holidays, here’s what we’ve been up to this year.”

“Merry Christmas from all of us here. Until we can catch up in person, we wanted to share some of the best bits from our year with you”

“Wish we could be together for the holidays. Until then, here’s a little love from across the miles.”

4. Send one to your friends

You can keep your Christmas card messages much more casual when you’re writing to your closest friends. You could share an inside joke that only you guys would get, or you could just write a light-hearted Christmassy message to keep things simple.

You can also have some fun with the design for your friends. So, why not add a throwback photo of you all to the front, and then add clip art and backgrounds to create a kitsch Christmas scene?

Photobox loves…

“Eat, drink and be merry! Hope you have the best Christmas ever.”

“Merry Christmas to the most amazing friend. I love you more than pigs in blankets.”

“Have the happiest of holidays, and I’ll see you in the new year.”

5. Keep it professional

Deciding what to write in a Christmas card for work colleagues can be tricky if you’re giving them out to lots of people. You’ll want to keep it formal for your bosses, so you could stick with something a little more traditional to play safe. You can always add a few personal touches for your close workmates after you’ve got your cards printed anyway.

Photobox loves…

“Happy holidays! Have a great time over the Christmas break.”

“Warm wishes for a happy holiday season.”

“Wishing you a relaxing break and a fresh start to the new year.”

6. Share a song

If the words aren’t coming to you naturally, you could quote your favourite Christmas songs in your cards. With a traditional carol or a cheesy Christmas classic stuck in their head, they’ll get that festive feeling in no time.

Photobox loves…

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

“Baby it’s cold outside.”

“‘Tis the season to be jolly”

7. Get a little romantic

Don’t know what to write in a Christmas card for your boyfriend or girlfriend? If you’ve printed a pack of holiday cards and left the inside blank, you can handwrite an extra special message for your other half. You’ll know what message they’ll like best, but if you need a little inspiration to get started, how about one of these suggestions?

Photobox loves…

“All I want for Christmas is you.”

“Merry Christmas to my favourite person ever”

“You make every Christmas special. Can’t wait to make more memories with you.”

8. Stick with tradition

If you’re more into traditional Christmas cards or are writing to someone who is, we’ve got a few ideas that will help you spread some cheer. You can frame a cosy photo of the family with a classic card design, featuring a wreath or a festive robin, and then add your message inside.

Photobox loves…

“Wishing you peace and joy this Christmas.”

“Hope this special time of year is filled with joy.”

“Spreading love and light to you and your family this Christmas.”

9. How to sign off your Christmas cards

At photobox, we often go with a classic “with love” to sign off our Christmas cards. But if you’d like to try something different, here are some other ideas you can use instead.

Photobox loves…

“Lots of love.”

“Warmest wishes,”

“All my love,”

“Best wishes.”

“Hugs and kisses.”

With these ideas, your Christmas cards are set to feel a little more personal and memorable this year. Whether you’re keeping it simple, adding a bit of humour, or sharing heartfelt wishes, you’ve now got plenty of inspiration to make each message unique. So, choose your favourite designs, add those thoughtful words, and send a little festive cheer to everyone on your list.

Create a Christmas card