When writing an email, finding just the right greeting can help you connect with your recipient on a personal level without overstepping the boundaries of professional etiquette. “I hope you had a great weekend” is a friendly opener that conveys warmth and interest, but using it too often might feel repetitive.
Mixing up your greetings with alternative phrases can keep your emails fresh and engaging, setting a positive tone for your correspondence. Each of these alternatives carries its own nuance, helping you maintain a formal tone while adding a personal touch.
In this guide, we’ll explore 20 different ways to say “I hope you had a great weekend” that still resonate in a business environment. Whether you’re reaching out to colleagues, clients, or new contacts, these phrases can enhance your email communication and build professional relationships. Using varied openers also aligns with workplace culture, where a warm, friendly approach can make your emails stand out.
Is It Professional to Say “I Hope You Had a Great Weekend”?
Saying “I hope you had a great weekend” in a professional email can be perfectly appropriate. This greeting adds a personal touch while maintaining a formal tone, showing thoughtfulness and respect for work-life balance. In many workplaces, such phrases help build professional relationships and foster a positive workplace culture.
However, it’s best suited to familiar colleagues or casual settings and may be adjusted for more formal interactions.
What to Say Instead of “I Hope You Had a Great Weekend”
- Trust you had a relaxing weekend
- Hope your weekend was enjoyable
- Wishing you had a splendid weekend
- I trust your weekend was satisfying
- Hope you had a restful couple of days
- Praying your weekend was filled with joy
- Looking forward to hearing about your weekend
- Trusting you had a wonderful break
- Hope you found some time to unwind this weekend
- Wishing your weekend was full of relaxation
- Trust you enjoyed your weekend
- Hope you had a chance to recharge
- Wishing you had a weekend filled with good moments
- Hope your weekend was refreshing
- I trust you found time for yourself this weekend
- Trusting you had a pleasant couple of days
- I hope the weekend treated you well
- Hoping your weekend was restful and enjoyable
- Wishing you had a peaceful weekend
- Hope you enjoyed some well-deserved downtime
20 Other Ways to Say “I Hope You Had a Great Weekend” in an Email
Here are 20 Other Ways to Say “I Hope You Had a Great Weekend” in an Email:
1. Trust you had a relaxing weekend
This phrase keeps the professional tone intact while expressing care in a subtle way. It’s ideal for both familiar colleagues and new contacts.
Example:
“Hi Sarah,
Trust you had a relaxing weekend. I wanted to follow up on our project timeline. Let me know if you have any updates to share. Thanks!”
2. Hope your weekend was enjoyable
A simple, cheerful greeting that’s warm yet still fits well within workplace etiquette. This is a versatile phrase for both internal and external contacts.
Example:
“Good morning, Mark,
Hope your weekend was enjoyable. I’d like to discuss a few points before the team meeting. Are you available for a quick call?”
3. Wishing you had a splendid weekend
This phrase adds a touch of elegance, suitable for formal or business environment interactions. It’s a polite, refined way to greet without sounding overly familiar.
Example:
“Hello Laura,
Wishing you had a splendid weekend. I wanted to share some recent updates on the client account. Please let me know your thoughts.”
4. I trust your weekend was satisfying
Ideal for a professional email that maintains formality. It conveys warmth but doesn’t feel overly casual, making it a safe choice for more formal contacts.
Example:
“Dear Mr. Lee,
I trust your weekend was satisfying. I’ve attached the latest financial report for your review. Let me know if there’s anything that needs adjustment.”
5. Hope you had a restful couple of days
A gentle and calming greeting, perfect for colleagues who may have been working hard. This shows empathy and understanding of workplace culture.
Example:
“Hi Rachel,
Hope you had a restful couple of days. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the proposed design changes. Let’s connect soon.”
6. Praying your weekend was filled with joy
This one works especially well if you share a close relationship with the recipient or know that faith-based phrases are welcome in your corporate culture.
Example:
“Hello James,
Praying your weekend was filled with joy. I wanted to go over the details of our next campaign with you. Let’s find a time to meet this week.”
7. Looking forward to hearing about your weekend
If you’re genuinely interested in how someone spent their weekend, this phrase feels inviting and friendly. It’s perfect for work relationships that are more relaxed.
Example:
“Hey Nicole,
Looking forward to hearing about your weekend. When you have a moment, let’s catch up on where we are with the report.”
8. Trusting you had a wonderful break
This phrase offers a sense of warmth without being overly familiar. Suitable for email communication with a formal touch.
Example:
“Good afternoon, Tom,
Trusting you had a wonderful break. Just a quick reminder about our upcoming presentation deadline. Let me know if you need any assistance.”
9. Hope you found some time to unwind this weekend
Perfect for connecting with colleagues who may have had a busy week. It shows empathy, acknowledging that work-life balance is important.
Example:
“Hi Clara,
Hope you found some time to unwind this weekend. I wanted to follow up on our project and see if you have any updates.”
10. Wishing your weekend was full of relaxation
This phrase strikes a nice balance between friendliness and formality, ideal for most business environments.
Example:
“Hello Mr. Thompson,
Wishing your weekend was full of relaxation. I’d appreciate your feedback on the latest draft when you have a moment.”
11. Trust you enjoyed your weekend
This is a light, friendly way to show interest without sounding overly casual. It’s a good choice for general workplace emails.
Example:
“Good morning, Alex,
Trust you enjoyed your weekend. I’d love to connect this week to go over the budget proposal. Let me know your availability.”
12. Hope you had a chance to recharge
This phrase works well when reaching out to someone after a demanding week, showing an understanding of the importance of downtime.
Example:
“Hi Samantha,
Hope you had a chance to recharge. I wanted to get your input on the new project outline when you have a moment.”
13. Wishing you had a weekend filled with good moments
This greeting is ideal for building rapport, expressing warmth without being overly personal.
Example:
“Hello David,
Wishing you had a weekend filled with good moments. I’m reaching out about the upcoming audit. Let’s touch base soon to ensure we’re on track.”
14. Hope your weekend was refreshing
Perfect for creating a sense of renewal, this phrase conveys thoughtfulness and is fitting for both familiar colleagues and newer contacts.
Example:
“Hi Jenny,
Hope your weekend was refreshing. I’d love to discuss our goals for the month. Let’s schedule a time to chat!”
15. I trust you found time for yourself this weekend
This expression acknowledges work-life balance in a subtle way, making it a respectful choice for colleagues or team members.
Example:
“Good afternoon, Max,
I trust you found time for yourself this weekend. I’ve attached the latest report for your review. Let me know if there’s anything to discuss.”
16. Trusting you had a pleasant couple of days
A flexible, neutral greeting suitable for many professional scenarios, it maintains a friendly tone without overstepping.
Example:
“Hello, Christine,
Trusting you had a pleasant couple of days. I wanted to follow up on our previous discussion regarding the new policy changes.”
17. I hope the weekend treated you well
This phrase is light-hearted yet polished, making it a solid choice for both formal and informal email communication.
Example:
“Hi Henry,
I hope the weekend treated you well. Could you provide me with an update on the client feedback when you get a chance?”
18. Hoping your weekend was restful and enjoyable
This phrase shows care for the recipient’s well-being, a friendly opener for clients or colleagues with whom you interact frequently.
Example:
“Good morning, Sarah,
Hoping your weekend was restful and enjoyable. I’m looking forward to your thoughts on the attached proposal.”
19. Wishing you had a peaceful weekend
This phrase offers a soothing tone, perfect for emails where you want to convey kindness without being overly familiar.
Example:
“Hello Mr. Garcia,
Wishing you had a peaceful weekend. I wanted to discuss a few upcoming deadlines with you. Let me know a time that works for you.”
20. Hope you enjoyed some well-deserved downtime
Ideal for busy colleagues, this phrase recognizes hard work while encouraging a work-life balance, especially after a hectic week.
Example:
“Hi Jessica,
Hope you enjoyed some well-deserved downtime. I’m excited to get started on our next steps. Let’s connect to discuss priorities!”
Pro Tips
The most important part of your email is the opening sentence. A good opener, like any of the alternatives we’ve covered, sets the tone for the rest of the message. When crafted thoughtfully, it can build rapport, show empathy, and demonstrate email etiquette qualities that resonate well within any corporate culture. For instance, using a phrase like “Hope you found some time to unwind this weekend” subtly conveys that you value the recipient’s well-being, which can strengthen professional relationships over time. Keep this opening brief and aligned with the nature of your message, and follow up with the main purpose of the email.
Frequently Asked Question
What is another way to say I hope you had a great day?
Another way to say “I hope you had a great day” could be, “I trust your day went well” or “I hope your day was enjoyable.” These alternatives convey the same friendly sentiment while adding a touch of warmth and professionalism.
Have had or had a good weekend?
Both “Have had a good weekend” and “Had a good weekend” are correct, but they’re used differently based on context:
- “Have had a good weekend” is typically used when the weekend is just ending or has very recently ended, making it a present perfect phrase. For example: “I hope you have had a good weekend so far.”
- “Had a good weekend” is more straightforward and is usually used once the weekend is over. For example: “I hope you had a good weekend.”
Is it correct to say “hope your day went well”?
Yes, it’s correct to say “Hope your day went well.” This phrase is a friendly, informal way to express interest in someone’s day and works well in both professional and personal contexts. For slightly more formal phrasing, you could say, “I hope your day went well.” Both versions are commonly used and grammatically correct.
How do you formally reply to hope you had a great weekend?
A formal reply to “I hope you had a great weekend” could be:
- “Thank you, I had a pleasant weekend. I hope yours was enjoyable as well.”
- “I appreciate your kind wishes. My weekend was restful, thank you for asking.”
- “Thank you, my weekend was productive. I trust you had a wonderful weekend too.”
Final Thoughts
Incorporating alternative phrases for “I hope you had a great weekend” can enrich your email communication and make each message feel personalized. Tailoring your language to fit the workplace culture and your relationship with the recipient demonstrates both respect and attentiveness. By doing so, you’re likely to foster a more positive response, enhance workplace relationships, and leave a lasting, positive impression.
Emily Olivia is an experienced writer specializing in grammar and English language topics. With a passion for clarity and precision, she shares valuable insights on synonyms, grammar rules, and writing tips to help readers enhance their language skills on Grammar Path.
