Two lines. The right words. Use our rule-of-thumb character counts and simple tips to make every letter count—plus ready-to-use examples for weddings, new babies, and anniversaries.

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Why Engraving Matters

An engraved frame is a tiny time capsule. It preserves names, dates, and the emotion of the moment so future you can revisit the day in a glance.

Pro tip: Imagine the recipient reading the engraving 10 or 20 years from now. What do you want them to remember most?

Two Lines, Limited Space: How to Make Them Count

Most frames support two lines of engraving. The exact character count per line varies by frame design and orientation. Treat line one as your headline and line two as the details.

Top Line (Headline)	Bottom Line (Details)
Emma & Jack	June 1, 2025
Our Forever Begins	The Smith Family
Happy 50th Anniversary!	With Love Always

Formatting: Aim for visual balance. A slightly shorter first line draws the eye and looks elegant.

Rule of Thumb: Character Counts by Frame Size

Exact capacity varies by the specific frame, font, and bezel/plate width. Use these estimates as a planning guide—our Personalizing & Engraving Sheet will guide you for the exact count on your chosen frame.

Frame Size	Portrait (approx. chars/line)	Landscape (approx. chars/line)
4 × 6	~20	~28
5 × 7	~24	~36
8 × 10	~30	~42

Tip: Longer lines are possible with condensed fonts, all-caps, or smaller point sizes; shorter lines may be advisable on narrow bezels or highly decorative frames.

Don’t struggle with character counts—this should be fun! If the form stops you, just put what you want in the Notes section of the engraving order form (it appears on each engravable item—look for the Personalize This Item). People read the notes, not robots. Our engraver may also be able to resize the font or suggest tasteful abbreviations so your message fits beautifully.

Prefer live help? Use our Live Chat (link on every page) to work with a U.S. company employee.

Common Engraving Mistakes to Avoid

Overcrowding: Too much text reduces legibility and impact.
Skipping dates: You’ll want them later. Abbreviate if needed (“Aug 17, 2025”).
Generic phrases: “Best Day Ever” is fine—specific is better.
Unbalanced lines: Keep line lengths visually harmonious.

Personalized Frame Engraving Ideas by Occasion

Wedding Frame Engraving Ideas

Mark the moment with names, the date, and a short blessing or quote.

What to include: Couple’s names • Wedding date • A meaningful phrase (e.g., “Two Souls, One Journey”, “Our Forever Begins”, “Mazel Tov!”)

Top Line: Emma & Jack
Bottom Line: June 1, 2025

Top Line: Two Souls, One Journey
Bottom Line: Emma & Jack – 6.1.25

Real story: We helped a long-distance couple who engraved “Miles Apart, Hearts as One” and added their cities on the second line. When the bride saw it, she cried—it captured their journey perfectly.

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Baby Frame Engraving Ideas: Welcoming a New Life

A birth engraving becomes a family record—keep it sweet and timeless.

What to include: Baby’s full name • Birth date • Optional weight/time • A short phrase (“Our Little Miracle”, “Dream Big, Little One”)

Top Line: Olivia Grace Thompson
Bottom Line: Born 8.17.2025 – 7 lbs, 4 oz

Top Line: Dream Big, Little One
Bottom Line: Olivia Grace – 8.17.25

Expert tip: Use abbreviations (lbs, oz) to stay tidy if your frame’s limit is tight.

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Anniversary Frame Engraving Ideas

Celebrate years of love with a milestone note, names, and a meaningful date.

What to include: Milestone year (“25 Wonderful Years”) • Names • Anniversary or wedding date

Top Line: 25 Wonderful Years Together
Bottom Line: Emma & Jack – 6.1.25

Top Line: A Love That Lasts Forever
Bottom Line: Happy 50th Anniversary!

Fresh idea: If the wedding frame already exists, use the anniversary frame to highlight the life you’ve built—children’s names, a shared motto, or a favorite lyric.

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Quick Reference: 25 Engraving Ideas (Copy-Ready)

Use or adapt these to fit two lines and your frame’s character limit.

Weddings (8)

Emma & Jack • June 1, 2025
Two Souls, One Journey • Emma & Jack
Our Forever Begins • 06.01.25
Mazel Tov! • Sarah & David • 10.12.24
I am my beloved’s • 1/20/26
Love Never Fails • Ava & Noah
Happily Ever After • The Garcias • 9.14.25
Miles Apart, Hearts as One • Boston ? SF

Birth of a Child (8)

Olivia Grace Thompson • Born 8.17.2025
Welcome to the World • 7 lbs 4 oz • 8:22 AM
Our Little Miracle • Noah James • 03.04.26
You Are Loved Beyond Measure • Emma Rose
Dream Big, Little One • 09.12.25
Tiny Hands, Big Dreams • Liam Carter
Sweetest Blessing • Mia Harper • 5.5.26
Hello, Sunshine • Aria Quinn • 2025

Anniversaries (9)

25 Wonderful Years Together • 6.1.25
A Love That Lasts Forever • 50 Years
Together Through It All • Emma & Jack
Still My Favorite Person • Since 1999
Cheers to 10 Years • The Patels
Every Day I Choose You • 08.08.28
From This Day Forward • 11.11.11
Our Best Adventure Yet • Mr & Mrs Chen
Golden Anniversary • Maria & Luis • 1975–2025

Your Engraving Checklist

Stay within the character limit shown on the item page (two lines on most frames).
Triple-check spellings, punctuation, and dates.
Keep Line 1 as the “headline”; Line 2 for details.
Balance line lengths for a polished look.
If your message doesn’t fit, use the Notes box—our engraver may resize the font or suggest tasteful abbreviations.

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By Mary B. Mary is the full-time marketing manager for SendAFrame. She helps customers craft timeless, meaningful engravings and curates our collection of engravable gifts. You can write to her at mbarkley@sendaframe.com.