We are very happy
that you are going to be part of the family, and are looking forward to meeting
your family before the wedding in July.
We enjoyed your
visit last week. We think you and Jane are perfect for each other.
We are delighted
that you are joining our family.
We are so happy to
have you join the Doe family.
Welcome to the Doe
family!
We are delighted to
have you as part of our family!
We are pleased to
welcome you into the family.
Phrases:
are delighted that you
are very happy that you
are all excited about
are eager to meet your
as your future father-in-law
can't wait to meet you
delighted to welcome you
eager to get acquainted with
enjoyed your visit
getting to know you better
happy to have you
into the family
join the family
look forward to
meeting your family
part of the family
pleased to welcome you
seem so right for each other
such a happy occasion
welcome to the family
were delighted to hear that
2. Provide
information about yourself and the family that will help the reader become
better acquainted:
Sentences:
I am sure Eric has told you a little about us. John and I have been doing a lot
of traveling since his retirement two years ago, but when we are home he keeps
busy in his shop and I like to tend my garden.
The Doe family has
lived in Springfield for three generations, and we are thrilled that you have
decided to move to this area when you finish school.
We are a very close
family.
We have a very
large family, with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
I have worked in
industrial sales for 25 years now, and I will soon retire.
Since I have no
sisters or daughters of my own, I have long looked forward to my son's wedding.
Phrases:
am thrilled at the prospect of
are thrilled that
are quite a large family
are quite a small family
for several generations
has scattered all over the
have long looked forward to
have lived in Springfield for
have worked in
is very important to us
is employed at
like to keep busy with my
many aunts, uncles, and cousins
one of our favorite sayings is
our family enjoys
our family has lived in
share an interest in
since his retirement
spend much of our time
tells me that you also enjoy
3. Offer any
help or assistance the newlyweds might need that you are willing and able to
give:
Sentences:
We are sorry that our house is not large enough for you to live here while you
are getting started, but I am sure there are other ways we can help.
I know you are not
interested in the construction business right now, but there will always be a
place for you in my company if you change your mind.
You are always
welcome to visit or call at any time.
I hope you will
always feel comfortable talking to us and seeking help when you need it.
We are happy that
you will be staying with us for two months this summer before fall semester
starts.
Phrases:
all need a little extra help sometimes
always welcome to
any way in which we can help
are sorry that
as you establish your own family
as you set out on your own
don't hesitate to ask
happy to help in any way we can
happy that you will be
hope you will always feel comfortable
regret that we are unable to
understand if you would prefer to
until you get on your feet
want you to be able to
want you to feel comfortable
want you to know that
welcome to stay with us until
will be happy to
will always be a place for you
will try not to give unsolicited advice
4. Express
anticipation of a good relationship in the future. If you have not yet met, it
might be appropriate to suggest or arrange a visit:
Sentences:
Again, we are happy
to welcome you into the family.
We would love to
see you on Thanksgiving so we can talk and get better acquainted.
Why not come and
spend a weekend with us? Any weekend this month would be fine.
We are holding a
small party on 1 September to celebrate John's sixtieth birthday. We would love
to see you there.
We realize that
your schedule is tight, but we do hope you will be able to visit with us for a
few days before the wedding.
You are always
welcome to visit or call.
We have never seen
her so radiant as she is when she talks about you. We look forward to seeing you
again at the wedding on April 23.
Phrases:
are anxious to meet you
are always welcome to
before the wedding
come down to meet us
could you join us for
getting to know you better
get better acquainted
hope you will be able to
look forward to
meeting your parents
realize that your schedule is
seeing you again
spend a few days with
visit or call any time
visit with us
welcome you into the family
will be happy to
would be happy to see you
would love to see you
would be delighted if you could
Sample Letter
#1:
How happy we are to
learn that you and Jane are planning to marry. She is our pride and joy, and we
are pleased that you see her many good qualities, too. We enjoyed your visit
this weekend and could see that you love each other very much. Jane has told us
many things about you, and we are anxious to get to know you better.
We are also pleased
that you will be having your marriage in Springfield where most of her family
will be able to attend. We trust that your family will also be able to come. We
have room in our home for six additional people. I will call your parents to
invite them to stay with us.
John is getting the
yard ready for your garden party. He wants it to be perfect for this happy
event. We are pleased with Jane's choice and look forward to spending more time
with you.
Sample Letter
#2:
We are excited that
you have agreed to marry John and are happy to welcome you as our
daughter-in-law. You are the only topic he has talked about for the past three
months, so the entire family is eager to meet you.
It's nice that you
have such an interest in geology, because most of our family are undaunted rock
hunters. Each summer we take a trip to a different geological site to study
various rock formations. We hope you will join us.
We look forward to
seeing you on Friday and want you to feel comfortable as part of the family.
Sample Letter
#3:
We are so pleased
to welcome you to the Doe family! When Eric called us last night we were so
excited to hear of your engagement. We want to send our best wishes to both of
you. Eric's brother, Fred, is as excited as we are, and we are all eagerly
looking forward to meeting you personally.
We don't know how
much Eric has told you about us. In addition to John's job at the Doe
Corporation, he enjoys fishing and photography. I teach English part-time at
Springfield High School, where Fred is a senior. I also like to garden and write
in my spare time. Fred is on the basketball team and likes to work on computers.
Clancy, our black Labrador retriever, is also an important member of our family.
We've had him since Eric was in junior high.
We know how busy
you and Eric are with work and school. However, we hope you will be able to
visit soon so that we can get to know each other better. We are planning to give
a small party while you are here so that Eric's grandparents, aunts, uncles and
cousins can meet you too. Our family is very loving and close, and we are eager
to welcome you as our newest member.
Ashley, we know that we will love you as much as Eric does, and we hope you will
soon feel like a member of the family. We want you and Eric to know that we will
always be available for help or advice if you need it. We believe that love and
support are what families are for, and we hope you will let us know if we can
help. Again, we send our love and best wishes, and we look forward to meeting
you soon.
Sample Letter #4:
I want to start off
on the right foot. I am so glad that my daughter is going to marry you. She has
dated some fine men, but you, better than all the rest, fit so comfortably into
our family. Ours is a large family, a happy one. I hope you always feel welcome.
Jane and I would
like to help you anyway we can. Still, we don't want to step on any toes. If
there is anything we can do for you while you're starting out, please let us
know. I'm very sincere about this. In the meantime, know that we are glad to
have you in the family.
