A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in a day and age where pictures are plentiful and the written word a lost art, a handwritten letter is worth a thousand pictures. Take that handwritten letter a step further and make it a love letter, and you’ve got yourself a priceless memento that your significant other will cherish forever.
Classic romantic movies like The Notebook and P.S. I Love You feature professions of love via heartfelt, well-written letters. And while they serve as great points of inspiration for your love letter, especially ahead of Valentine's Day, they can also be intimidating. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be a modern-day Shakespeare or Nicholas Sparks to pour out your feelings succinctly and sweetly in a love letter.
To write a beautiful love letter, you just need to remember a few simple things to help you draw those feelings out from your heart and onto your page.
How to start your love letter.
The hardest part of writing a love letter, or any piece of writing for that matter, is getting started. But we can assure you that once you get a good start, the words will flow onto your page like a rushing river. Start strong with a tender greeting such as "Dear (name)," "To my love," "Dear Darling," or "To the man/woman I love." You can even start by greeting them with an endearing nickname for a more personalized touch. Continue by describing why you're writing the letter, whether it's simply because you want to express your overwhelming love or for a specific occasion like an anniversary, birthday, or Valentine's Day. This will serve as a jumping point for you to tap into deeper expressions of love and gratitude in subsequent paragraphs.
What to include in your love letter.
Reflect on romantic memories
Mark Twain famously said, “Write what you know,” and we suggest you do the same when writing a love letter! Reminisce about special moments you've shared in great detail, describing how the sounds, sights, and conversations made you feel and impacted you and your relationship. You can even talk about the first time you met, going into detail on what your partner wore, said, and did at that time that led to your subsequent love story. Revisit the joyous occasions, challenges overcome together, and the simple pleasures that have strengthened your bond to paint a nostalgic and intimate picture with your words.
Express genuine feelings
Instead of just complimenting superficial attributes your partner has, go deeper and explain why you love and appreciate those things about them. Explain how their ability to calm you down or make you laugh in tough situations makes you feel safe and loved, for example, rather than just calling them comforting or funny. You can also share how specific qualities and experiences deepen your connection. And don’t worry about using flowery language or prose if it doesn’t feel natural to you. It’s about what you say, not how you say it, so the more genuine and personal your words, the more impact they will have.
A sincere closing phrase
Like any good piece of writing, the conclusion of your love letter is just as important as the beginning and middle. End your letter with a powerful, affectionate closing to reinforce your love and commitment. “I love you” is a classic way to end a letter of this nature, but there are several other sweet phrases, like “forever yours,” “all my love,” “forever and always,” “with all my love,” or “yours always,” that work great too.
Tips for writing a love letter.
Personalize it
Think about the kinds of things your partner likes to read or watch. Do they love short poems with lots of rhymes or long, deep streams of consciousness? Do they appreciate humor or something more serious? As we mentioned previously, specific anecdotes or compliments about your loved one also add a personalized touch to the letter. For example, don’t be afraid to include your favorite things about them in the letter, even if it’s as simple as the color of their eyes, so the recipient knows how special and unique they are to you!
Don’t neglect the details
Yes, the words you write in your letter are the star of the show, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun playing with the aesthetics of your letter if that’s more your style! Experiment with different types of stationery, cardstock, and pens. For example, you could use a piece of paper that’s your significant other’s favorite color with a complementary colored pen! You can even include stickers or a lipstick kiss mark within the letter for a fun touch!
Take your time and relax
The most important tip to ensure your love letter writing process goes smoothly is to relax. Being vulnerable can be stressful and scary, and it’s okay to feel that way, especially if you’ve never done this before. Allow yourself the time to sit with those feelings and remember why you’re doing this in the first place: to show them how much you love and care about them concretely!
Nitya Rao is the editorial assistant at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, news, and more.
