Having recently made news for her candid advice on marriage, a kind and somewhat shocking gesture from former first lady Michelle Obama – and her husband Barack Obama – has made headlines in recent days, as PEOPLE reports.

According to the outlet, the former first couple sent a signed letter filled with encouraging words for the new spouses in response to an unexpected invitation to the pair's ceremony.

Longshot requests sent

As PEOPLE explains, the chain of events was set into motion when then-future bride Bree Woodrum dispatched invitations to her September 2023 wedding to fiancée Jean.

On a lark, Bree Woodrum decided to contact a number of high-profile figures, on the off-chance they might accept and attend the same-sex marriage ceremony.

On the list of longshot potential attendees were Barack and Michelle Obama, as Bree explained.

Symbolic gesture yields welcome surprise

Speaking to PEOPLE about the progression of events, Bree Woodrum said, “The Obamas were first on my list because he legalized gay marriage, which allowed us to get married as a same-sex couple.”

She went on, “I've just always loved the Obamas in general because they're just a powerhouse couple. He was also the first president I got to see and remember getting inaugurated, so he's special to me.”

It was not just the Obamas, however, who were welcomed to join in the celebration, as Bree outlined, saying, “I knew I wanted to send out invitations to some celebrities and famous TikTokers I love just in case any of them might actually reply.”

“I have seen others online in the past show responses or gifts they received from celebrities they invited to graduations, baby showers, and weddings, and just thought, why not?” Bree declared.

Response happily received

To her shock and delight, a few months after mailing the invitation to the Obamas, Bree received a letter directly from the famous couple.

In a TikTok video chronicling the occasion, Bree is heard saying, “So I went to check the mail today and I open up the mail and this [is] what was inside the mailbox,” and she proudly displayed an envelope bearing Barack Obama's official seal and signature.

Bree's spouse Jean was not at home when the letter arrived, so she waited a few more hours to open the correspondence and reveal its contents, which included words of warm congratulations and best wishes from the former president and first lady.

“Congratulations on your wedding. We hope that your marriage is blessed with love, laughter and happiness and that your bond grows stronger with each passing year. This occasion marks the beginning of a lifelong partnership and as you embark on this journey, know you have our very best for the many joys and adventures that lie ahead,” the Obamas wrote, before affixing their signatures by hand.

Mrs. Obama recently offered insights into her decades-long union with the former president, telling podcast host Jay Shetty that every enduring relationship has its bumps along the way and that it is necessary to develop the wisdom to determine which “rough patches” are “quit-worthy” and which are not, advice the Woodrums would surely do well to heed.