The countdown to Father’s Day has already begun.
And with inboxes more crowded than ever, making your message stand out is no easy feat. Balancing heartfelt storytelling with smart marketing strategy takes time, creativity, and just the right tools.
The good news? You don’t have to start from scratch.
At Email Mavlers, our team of seasoned designers and developers craft over 3,000 custom email templates every month. We’ve taken our years of expertise and distilled it into a curated collection of high-performing Father’s Day email templates, each one designed to grab attention, stir emotion, and drive results.
From driving last-minute sales to showcasing gift ideas or delivering a message that strikes the right chord, we have you covered.
Let’s make this year’s Father’s Day campaign count, starting now.
1. Send an Opt-out Email
Here’s how one customer, who had lost their father, responded to the influx of Father’s Day promotional emails:
“There’s often a real scolding or judgmental tone to it, like ‘Did you remember Mom?’ or ‘Last chance to treat Dad!’ I would love nothing more than to treat Dad, but he’s dead, and now I’m sitting here thinking about that when I just wanted to check my email.”
So much for gung-ho Father’s Day campaign ideas!
Many people find holidays like Father’s Day difficult due to personal reasons such as loss, estrangement, or infertility. As a result, receiving promotional hose-blasts around/on these holidays can be distressing and lead to negative associations with your brand.
Therefore, you want to come off as empathetic. And this is a much better bargain, speaking from the revenue point of view.
As Andy Gilhooley, Product Manager at Red Eye, points out, “By not offering this specific campaign opt out you run the risk of losing the customer completely if they unsubscribe from all email marketing activity. And these could be customers who have a potentially high customer lifetime value (CLV).”
Coming to design, how to create opt-out emails? What are the key ingredients of a Father’s Day opt-out email in particular?
To begin with, take a look at Comrad’s Father’s Day email.
Comrad’s Father’s Day email subject line: Don’t want Father’s Day emails?
Why we dig this email:
- A prominent, action-specific CTA button.
- A short email, which reinforces the focus of the message.
- Zero promotional tangents.
- Minimalist, single-column design.
By offering an opt-out for those who’d prefer to skip the occasion, they show real emotional intelligence. It’s a great example of putting customer well-being first, offering not just a product, but a moment of understanding and support.
Pro tip: Consider sending a plain-text opt-out email from the CEO’s or Product Manager’s desk for the human touch. But if you’re sticking to HTML emails, make sure to keep the evergreen elements (navbar, free shipping, brand-specific copy, etc.) intact.
Additionally, get the opt-out copy written by a copywriter, not AI.
2. Curate A Gift Guide
A Father’s Day gift guide isn’t just helpful, it’s expected.
Shoppers are actively looking for ideas, so these emails consistently perform well when it comes to opens and clicks.
“A well-designed gift guide is an effective tool in helping you increase sales,” says Neil Patel, co-founder of NP Digital. “Additionally, you can attract extra sales by sending out gift guides in your newsletters. That way, not only could you benefit from selling your products, but you can earn affiliate income, too.”
Most audiences are familiar with the classic product-grid layout, so sticking to that format ensures quick browsing decision-making. But that doesn’t mean your design has to be predictable.
Infuse your gift guide with fresh visuals, nice copy, and a Father’s Day theme that feels distinct—whether it’s rugged, heartfelt, or playful. A small twist in presentation can make your email stand out while still delivering the clarity customers count on.
This is how Manukora brings it to life in their campaign.
Manukora’s Father’s Day email subject line: Father’s Day Sunday
Why we dig this email:
- Opens with a product-in-use collage in the hero space.
- The creative use of the Z-pattern.
- The highly-specific CTA buttons in each section.
- The brilliant application of white space.
Manukora’s Father’s Day email strikes a perfect balance between style and substance. Its minimal design and structured layout make for an effortless scroll, while the curated gift ideas feel both intentional and relevant. Crisp product imagery and punchy descriptions guide the reader straight to standout picks for dad.
Pro tip: Add short, meaningful commentary for each item. Explain why it’s a great gift, who it’s best for, and any insider insight or use-case. Basically, avoid letting a gift “guide” degenerate into an affiliate listicle. Keep it short and sweet. But if you have more items, break them up into separate, themed guides.
3. Mix Slapstick & Sales
Father’s Day is the perfect occasion to bring a smile to the inbox with a dose of good-natured humor.
Think puns, playful copy, and witty subject lines that draw people in. Pair that humor with a clear, realistic sales message—whether it’s highlighting affordable gift ideas, last-minute deals, or practical bundles dads will actually use. The goal? Make them laugh and click.
We just love how Turo gets both these aspects just right.
Turo’s Father’s Day email subject line: [insert dad joke]
Why we dig this email:
- The clever, gut-breakingly funny subject line.
- Opens with a stylish hero image.
- Well-written copy, almost a “felt” sales pitch.
- The minimalist two-column section.
- The use of HTML text.
Turo’s Father’s Day email delivers a smooth ride from start to finish.
Bold car imagery grabs attention right away, while the clean layout guides readers effortlessly toward action with standout CTAs. The design isn’t just good-looking—it’s smartly built with HTML text for better accessibility and responsiveness across devices.
And the cherry on top? A dad-joke-inspired subject line that adds a splash of personality, setting the tone for the email.
Pro tip: If you’re using humor, make it known in the subject line and preview text itself as these are the main “skim zones.” Consider GIFs in the hero space to add to the fun.
Looking for humorous Father’s Day campaign ideas? Dip into these dad jokes from some of the top-rated comedians on Netflix.
4. Leverage Social Proof
Featuring real reviews, customer photos, or top-rated gift picks builds trust and adds authenticity to your message.
Highlight bestsellers with star ratings or pull quotes from happy gift-givers. You can even include user-generated content to showcase how your products look in real life.
Ansel Smith at Selzy also recommends namedropping, “Shoutouts from cultural and internet icons are often used to promote companies on social media. You can do the same in your emails to give your newsletter an extra punch. The endorsement can be a quote, a video, or a link to an Instagram post.” Yep. Totally.
These signals of satisfaction nudge hesitant shoppers and make your email feel more personal and relatable.
Fishwife’s email nails the social proof thing. Check it out.
Fishwife’s Father’s Day email subject line: WE ASKED YOUR DAD 👴
Why we dig this email:
- The Strategist’s mention converted into a hero image.
- Clarity on order dates.
- Sales-optimized CTA buttons.
- Vibrant colors and well-sectioned content blocks.
- Smart use of icons (fish-tin to anchor)
The playful design and punchy color palette immediately grab attention, while the clever nod to The Strategist adds credibility in a fun, unexpected way. Clear call-to-action buttons and prominently displayed shipping deadlines keep the experience seamless from scroll to click. It’s a spirited, well-executed campaign that hooks you with style and guides you effortlessly to the finish line.
Pro tip: Line up your testimonials across the template, instead of restricting them to a CTA button or a footer-ward afterthought. A dedicated social proof email, in other words.
Use real names and faces where possible—authenticity matters. Include star icons for visual appeal if showcasing ratings. Limit to 3–5 testimonials or proof points to avoid clutter.
5. Design for Accessibility
With inbox competition heating up, it’s not just about bold visuals or clever copy. Designing for accessibility ensures your message reaches a wider audience, including those with visual impairments.
The playbook for accessibility hasn’t changed.
Use high-contrast colors for better readability, add descriptive alt text to images, and structure your content with clear headings and logical reading flow. Avoid embedding key messages in images alone; instead, rely on live HTML text to ensure screen readers can interpret your content. Make the CTA buttons large and tappable.
For example, Metallica shows us how it’s done.
Metallica’s Father’s Day email subject line: 🥃 Color Your World Blackened by Enjoying A Nice Whiskey Cocktail
Why we dig this email:
- Bold, roomy, product-showcasing hero image.
- High-contrast colors make the CTA buttons pop.
- Use of HTML text (accessibility focus).
- The brand logo in the header and footer.
- Specific, block-optimized CTA buttons.
This Father’s Day email campaign hits all the right notes, combining gritty elegance with smart email strategy. The sleek black color palette sets the tone, capturing the brand’s signature aesthetic while keeping the design visually cohesive.
What really stands out is the content structure: plenty of HTML text ensures accessibility, while the messaging feels authentic, energetic, and on-brand. It’s more than just a product plug, it’s an experience crafted for fans and shoppers alike.
Pro tip: Even if your email design already features a dark color scheme, that doesn’t mean it’s fully optimized for Dark Mode. Email clients often apply their own Dark Mode rendering, which can impact text readability and button visibility. To prevent these issues, use high-contrast color combinations and apply CSS that defines specific styles for both light and dark modes. Designing with a dark palette is a strong first step, but without proper optimization, your emails may still display inconsistently across different clients. For more Father’s Day campaign ideas, dive into Sender’s curation.
Wrapping Up
Father’s Day is more than just a retail moment.
It’s an opportunity to connect and create memorable experiences through thoughtful, well-crafted emails.
All the Father’s Day email examples in our curation strike a balance between emotional intelligence and strategic execution. As the holiday draws near, take inspiration from these standout brands and approach your email marketing with purpose, creativity, and care.
Need help getting started with Father’s Day emails? Let’s talk!
Susmit Panda - Content writer
