120 Congratulations Messages That Are Perfect for Any Occasion

Congratulations messages for any milestone

Finally reaching a goal or passing a significant milestone is one of the best feelings in the world. But there may be a feeling that’s even better: watching a loved one accomplish something great. You might be speechless with pride or unsure of what to say to mark the occasion, but don’t worry: We have congratulations messages that you can use in pretty much any situation that calls for a round of applause.

You’ll find the perfect words for graduations, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, engagements and more. We’ve even rounded up memorable congratulations quotes to celebrate and honor a loved one’s promotion, new home or new baby.

If you’re looking to craft the perfect congratulations message, focus on being positive. Highlight the occasion, express your best wishes and emphasize what makes the person special. Get serious, inspirational or funny, depending on the occasion and accompanying etiquette rules. Ready to high-five your loved one’s latest accomplishment? Read on for some of the best congratulations messages to share with everyone you care about.

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Short congratulations messages

• Today is your day. Congrats!

• You followed your dreams and made it happen!

• You are truly the GOAT.

• Congrats on your promotion! They’re lucky to have you.

• You are a total rock star!

• Cheers to you!

• Bravo! We knew you could do it!

• Huge congratulations!

• You deserve all this success and more.

• You are our shining star. Well done.

• Here’s to you on your special day!

• Congrats on achieving such a significant milestone.

• Heartiest congratulations! You did it!

• Felicitations, acclamations and congratulations!

• Hats off to you!

• We could not be more proud of you.

• Today, you’ve officially crossed the finish line!

• I’m in awe of you!

• Way to go!

• Congrats is a small word for a big deal!

• Today makes it all worth it.

• You are unstoppable!

• It’s been a long climb, but you’re finally at the top.

• Thanks for giving us a reason to celebrate.

• You’re a class act. Congrats!

Enjoying these congratulatory messages? If so, check out our top “good-luck” wishes that everyone in your life will love.

Funny congratulations messages

• You rule! I guess that’s why you always measure up. Congrats!

• You worked hard and achieved your goal. Now we’re going to help you savor your success. Yep, dinner’s on us!

• Congrats on the new job—and the new paycheck! Drinks must be on you, right?

• By the time you finish reading this, you’ll be covered in confetti. Congratulations!

• We know that success like this involves a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Um, it might be time for a shower. Just kidding—congrats!

• If you keep adding feathers to your cap, you’re going to need a new hat! Congrats on your most recent win.

• I’m putting your achievement into song. What rhymes with GOAT?

• You definitely get a gold star for this one!

• It’s that time again: You keep being awesome, and I keep saying congratulations. So … congratulations!

• Now is really not the time to say “I told you so” … but I knew you could do it. (I told you so!)

• Don’t forget to thank those who were always there for you: Google, SparkNotes and Uber Eats!

• Not many occasions call for a dancing unicorn to serve Champagne, but this one does. Great job!

• Time for a victory lap! (I’ll wait at the finish line with the bubbly.)

• You know I don’t need an excuse to break out a bottle of wine, but this occasion truly calls for it. Cheers!

• You’ve reached your dreams and aspirations. Now take your flowers—congratulations!

• Congratulations on your graduation—you got through the easiest four years of life. It’s all uphill from here!

• I’m so proud of you that I could burst. Also, just to be clear, I totally plan to ride your coattails.

• After telling you two to get a room for years, you finally did. Congrats on your new home!

• You’re the very definition of success. No, really—we added your picture to the dictionary next to the word success.

• Congratulations to our perfect child. You must have the greatest parents in the world! (You’re welcome.)

• Time to change your name to Babe because you knocked it out of the park!

• I love an excuse to celebrate with cake. Thank you—er, I mean, congratulations!

• Are you trying to make everyone jealous? If so, it’s working! But in all seriousness, congrats.

• Time to hire a cleaning crew—someone has to clean up all that glass after you shattered the ceiling.

• I totally plan to brag about you to anyone who will listen, so be prepared to be embarrassed.

What’s as entertaining as congratulations messages? Birthday messages, of course! So make sure yours stand out.

Sweet congratulations messages

• There is truly no one more deserving of this. Congratulations!

• I am absolutely overjoyed to hear your good news. Congratulations on your achievement.

• You’ve sweated and sacrificed, and it’s finally paid off. I’m so proud of you!

• Heartfelt congratulations to the most determined and deserving person I know.

• Today, we’re celebrating your achievement, but we celebrate who you are every day. We’re so proud of you!

• We always knew you were special, and now the world knows it too. Congratulations!

• It takes a special person to weather the storms and keep smiling until they reach the top.

• Success is delivered to the deserving. Congratulations!

• You made your dreams come true. Enjoy the results of your hard work today.

• We’re so happy to be able to share this special day with you. You did it!

• Wishing you all the happiness in the world, with all the blessings your heart desires.

• We always knew you could reach whatever heights you aspired to. Congratulations on this amazing achievement.

• There is nothing sweeter than the success that comes from hard work. Enjoy every bit of it!

• This might be one of the best days of your life so far, but there are so many more to come. Well done!

• Welcome to the next chapter of your life. I know you’re going to make it a great one.

• We are so proud of you. But more important, we hope you are proud of yourself and all you’ve achieved.

• There’s nothing better than seeing good things happen to good people. I am just thrilled for you.

• You’ve shown us the way to work, the way to be and the way to shine. Way to go!

• Today, everyone knows you’re a winner, but you’ve been a winner every step of the way to me. Well done!

• No one worked harder than you to make this happen. I’m so proud of you!

• You have come so far, and that makes this success even sweeter. Congratulations!

• Success is always sweet—but it’s even sweeter when you’ve worked so hard for it. Amazing job!

• You’ve worked so hard for this, and we’re so proud of you. No matter what life brings, remember that we’ll always have your back.

• May today’s success be the beginning of tomorrow’s achievements.

• You’re a shining example of how to achieve anything through dedication and perseverance. Congratulations, superstar!

Don’t wait for a big milestone to connect with someone you care about. Just like these congratulations messages, our “thinking of you” notes will bring a smile to your loved one’s face.

Inspirational congratulations messages

• We’re celebrating your success today because you made it happen with your belief, confidence, hard work and dedication.

• You’ve raised the bar and set the standard for excellence. Well done!

• Success is the result of good ideas pursued with energy, intelligence and determination.

• From the moment you started, you decided to succeed—and today you have. Congratulations!

• You are so prepared to take on this wonderful challenge. You got this!

• It takes courage and vision to achieve your dreams, and you’re filled to the brim with both.

• You followed your heart, and it led you down the right path. Congratulations!

• Enjoy your success today! You created all the opportunities that led to this moment.

• You’ve done well in the world, but more important, you’ve done good too.

• Your determination, dedication and drive are truly impressive. You are an inspiration!

• Where others see one day, you saw day one. Congratulations—you made it!

• You kept your feet on the ground and your eyes on the stars. Congrats on achieving your dreams.

• Nevertheless, you persisted.

•  Your success today all comes down to you. You didn’t wait to get what you wanted—you went out there and found it.

• You never, ever gave up—now you’ve made it!

• You are a true role model to so many—including me.

• The way you run after your dreams is truly inspiring.

• You climbed a mountain of “no’s” to get to the highest “yes.”

• Your hard work inspires me, your determination motivates me and your success makes me so happy. Congratulations on the results of all your hard work.

• Every time you hit a wall, you climbed it. Every time you made a mistake, you learned from it. Every time you stumbled, you got up again. And that’s what makes you great.

• Your success is proof that being yourself and doing your best can take you all the way to the top.

• The hard days made you stronger, and the good days got you further. Through it all, you showed up with a smile on your face. You deserve all your success!

• You put the extra in extraordinary.

• First, you predicted a great future for yourself—then, you created it. I’m so proud of you!

A friend’s new home is the perfect reason to send a congratulations message. Check out our new home wishes to share just the right sentiment.

Congratulations wishes for a team

• Fantastic work, everyone! Congrats on hitting this important milestone. 

• Fantastic work, team! Your achievement showcases your combined talent and commitment.

• Congratulations on your amazing success! You truly are an exceptional team.

• What an extraordinary accomplishment! Congratulations on a job well done.

• A huge congratulations to the entire team on this incredible success!

• Great job, team! Your hard work, dedication and teamwork have truly paid off.

• Hats off to the whole team on this remarkable achievement. Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring.

• Wow, what a success! Congrats to the entire team on a job well done.

• Congratulations on your impressive achievement. You should all be proud of your hard work and ability to collaborate.

• Congratulations! Your team’s success is a true reflection of your talent, perseverance and dedication to excellence.

Want to send your team a little something extra? Inspire collaboration with teamwork quotes too!

Congratulations quotes

• “You must act as if everything depended on your individual efforts. The secret of success is constancy of purpose.” —Benjamin Disraeli

• “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places. You’re off and away!” —Dr. Seuss

• “Congratulations. The fact that you’re reading this means you’ve taken one giant step closer to surviving until your next birthday.” —James Patterson

• “So on behalf of a well-oiled unit of people who came together to serve something greater than themselves, congratulations.” —George W. Bush

• “My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to. Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small and that you never need to carry more than you can hold.” —Rascal Flatts

• “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” —Robert Collier

• “In all our deeds, the proper value and respect for time determines success or failure.” —Malcolm X

• “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” —Herman Cain

• “The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest.” —Deepika Padukone

• “A minute’s success pays the failure of years.” —Robert Browning 

Whether you read them on a good or bad day, encouraging words and hope quotes can really make a difference. So spread a little love to someone who needs it!

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.