Terms of Endearment: Writing a Love Letter

Rumor has it that the first love letter was inadvertently “written” by two young lovers enjoying a picnic. After eating a juicy pomegranate, the man pressed his lips to a white cloth and noticed that an impression of his mouth remained. In a romantic gesture, he handed it to his lover saying, “With the stain from my lips, I officially pass my love to you.” The woman was genuinely moved because he had put evidence of his love in print.

Love letters are cherished by the recipient and are the most meaningful gift one lover can give to the other. Not only does the billet-doux make you feel loved, it allows you to re-live that feeling each time you read the letter. Although few romantic offerings carry this much weight, love letters are rarely given – not because we live in the age of tweets and texts, but because writing a tender missive has become a lost art.

Whether you wish to use many words or few, use this primer to communicate your affection to your beloved. You can be sure that your letter will create a treasured memory for your lover that will last a lifetime.

A simple framework

Writing a love letter is easier than you might think – you don’t have to be a good writer to turn out beautiful love letters. All you need is a simple framework to guide you through the process. There are three elements to a love letter:

  • The opening – How you address your partner
  • The middle – stating your feelings
  • The end – your final words

Salutation

The opening of your letter sets the tone for that which follows, so it’s important to carefully choose your words. For instance, a letter that begins with, “My dearest love” is certainly going to elicit more feeling from your partner than an opening that reads, “Hi.” This is the time to use pet names, affectionate greetings, or a loving phrase. If you get stuck, try one of these:

  • Hello, Love
  • Treasured Soul Mate
  • My Dearest
  • Ever Dearest
  • The one whom I love most
  • My Darling
  • Sweetheart
  • My precious one
  • To the one who completes me
  • Most Beloved

State your feelings

Creating the body of your love letter needn’t be difficult. Reflect upon the emotions that you feel when you think of your lover, or the feelings that come up when you’re together, and write them down. Use your own words to describe the exquisite evening you shared. Share the vision you have of your future as a couple. Recollect why you fell in love in the first place, and why you continue to treasure your beloved.

To simplify this, you can quote others who describe your feelings in a way that you can’t. A thoughtful, romantic citation is sure to bowl over your lover. Here are several quotes from famous love letters for you to use in your own communications:

  • “I am always conscious of my nearness to you, your presence never leaves me.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
  • “Away from you the world is a desert. You have taken more than my soul.” – Napoleon to Josephine
  • “I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.” – Mae West
  • “An astonishing number of kisses are flying about – the deuce! -I see a whole crowd of them! Ha! Ha! …I have just caught three – they are delicious!” – Mozart to Constanze
  • “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” – Shakespeare


The final word

You should choose your last words as carefully as you chose your salutation. A standard closing will leave your lover with an anticlimactic feeling. For example, a letter that ends with “Sincerely” will not make as much of an impression on your partner as “Yours for eternity.” To help ease you through this final step, here are plenty to choose from:

  • Yours truly
  • Yours devotedly and lovingly
  • I hold you in my thoughts
  • I love you the most
  • Yours forever
  • Most faithfully yours
  • Affectionately
  • More than words
  • Your loving partner
  • Much, much love
  • All my heart

There you have it – the recipe for writing a simple love letter. Write your letter on a beautiful card, scented stationery, or even on the back of a paper napkin you picked up while you and your lover were together. You can be sure that your beloved will cherish your love letter forever.

Delve Deeper

By any other name….

If you want to add a little je ne sais quoi to your love letter, say “I love you” in another language. Here are some examples to get you started:

Arabic: Nhebuk
Bulgarian: Obicham te
Cambodian: Bon sor lanh oon
Danish: Jeg elsker dig
Gaelic: Tha gradh agam ort
Indonesian: Saja kasih saudari
Russian: Ya vas lyublyu
Spanish: Te amo
Welsh: ‘Rwy”n dy garu di
Yiddish: Ich libe dich
Zuni: Tom ho’ ichema

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