Reaching the big 4-0 is cause for celebration! Whether youâre thrilled for your best friend, another loved one, or a colleague, sharing celebratory sentiments is a great way to kick off this milestone moment.Â
Here, youâll find heartfelt and thoughtful 40th birthday wishes â as well as some funny greetings for your favorite 40-year-old. If youâre planning a party, youâll also discover fabulous birthday cards and invitation designs that you can customize and send in minutes!
What to Say in a 40th Birthday Card
If you want to send 40th birthday wishes to someone, but arenât sure what to say, youâre not alone. Finding the right words to say in a birthday card can be tricky. You want to express something meaningful yet you want to steer clear of cliche phrases. Here are a few helpful tips to craft a special birthday message.
Make It Personal
To make your card stand out, reference personal stories you share with the birthday honoree. You can use inside jokes or reference memories of time spent together. By simply sharing these memories in your own words, your card will mean more than a grocery store card with a generic message.
Pay Attention to Tone
Itâs not just the words you use â itâs also about the tone of your message. For instance, if youâre writing to a close loved one with a great sense of humor, you might poke fun or use a playful tone. Use puns, jokes, and funny language to make them smile when they read your 40th birthday wishes.Â
For colleagues, acquaintances, or those who arenât your closest friends or family members, you may want to choose a more straightforward approach. Look for quotes that offer words of encouragement about their next chapter or warm wishes for a lovely birthday .
40th Birthday Wishes to Share with Loved Ones
Turning 40 is certainly a special milestone birthday. To mark the moment, consider using these ideas to craft your own message. From funny 40th birthday wishes to reflective sentiments, hereâs how to share your thoughts with the ones you love.
- Weâve celebrated so many of lifeâs milestones together. From graduating preschool to getting married and having kids, weâve been right by each otherâs sides. Iâm so happy to celebrate another big moment with you. Wishing you the most wonderful day for your 40th birthday.
- Oh lordy, youâre forty! Itâs a good thing you know how to live life to the fullest. (Otherwise, we’d all be bored.) Here’s to another year of shenanigans, fun, and living vicariously through you!
- Dear friend, 40 years of life sure is something to celebrate! Thinking of you on this milestone birthday. Youâre an amazing person and I wish only wonderful things for you.
- Happy birthday! Reaching middle age means you have 40 years of experience. Whatâs your secret to success?
- Youâre more fun than two 20-year-olds â and a heck of a lot smarter! I hope this next year is full of awesomeness and is as wonderful as you are.
- Maturing doesnât have to be boring, and you certainly arenât. Thanks for filling my life with 40 years of fun. I hope you have a blast celebrating your big day.
- Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday. I hope youâre surrounded by good friends, wonderful family members, and terrific colleagues.Â
- They say life begins at 40, but I think youâve been living it up since you were born. Canât wait to see how 40 and fabulous looks on you. Cheers to your special day and canât wait to celebrate on our international adventure later this month!
- As you enter this new decade, just know you are aged to perfection. In fact, youâre the coolest 40-year-old I know. Canât wait to celebrate!
- Cheers to 40 years! I hope your special day is filled with fine wine, a sweet birthday cake, and top-notch friends.
- Congrats on the big 4-0! Wishing you the best years ahead and a wonderful celebration.
- I canât believe youâre 40! Sending you happy birthday wishes for this new chapter in your life.
- Wishing the best birthday celebration for the most wonderful person I know. I hope today and every day in the year ahead is as special as you are.
40th Birthday Quotes to Express Your Sentiments
Even with inspiration from these 40th birthday wishes, you may find yourself feeling like you have writerâs block. Thatâs OK! Use birthday sayings or birthday quotes to fill your card with sweet words or funny phrases instead.
Here are some ideas for a timeless message:
- âAs you get older, three things happen: The first is your memory goes, and I canât remember the other two.â â Norman Wisdom
- At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment. â Benjamin Franklin
- âLife begins at forty.â â Walter Pitkin
- âEvery birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.â â Aretha Franklin
- âEvery year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new.â â Sammy Hagar
- âThe first forty years of life give us the text: the next thirty supply the commentary on itâ- Arthur Schopenhauer
- âForty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old ageâ- Victor Hugo
40th Birthday Invitations for Your Festivities
Planning a birthday celebration for someone whoâs reaching their 40th milestone? Send stunning invitations with Greenvelopeâs digital designs. Here are some of our favorite 40th birthday invitations and cards to celebrate this special occasion.
1. 40th Circlet Invitation
Design: Jessica Williams
Host a memorable 40th birthday party with this modern invitation. Featuring five artist-curated color palettes, this shimmery design matches any birthday theme.
2. Forty and Fab Invitation
Design: Luckybug Designs
Celebrating a friend whoâs 40 and fabulous? This eye-catching invite is the perfect way to get guests geared up for the special event. Featuring a bold gold-foil banner, itâs a real stunner â just like your sweet friend.
3. Geo 40 Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Invite guests to a big birthday bash, birthday happy hour, or birthday brunch with this geometric invitation. The bold 40 typography and retro color palette are sure to make a memorable impression.
4. Happy Bday Frame Card
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Send best wishes with this photo birthday card thatâs perfect for any milestone moment. Upload your favorite snap of the birthday honoree and include a short birthday message on the front.
5. 40th Milestone Collage Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Send birthday greetings with this photo-forward invitation that also doubles as a birthday card. With 19 photo slots, there’s tons of room for all your fave photos of the birthday honoree. The supported backside offers plenty of space to write the event details or to share sweet sentiments if youâre using it as a birthday greeting card.
Celebrate 40 Fabulous Years
With these happy 40th birthday wishes, your loved one is sure to feel special and celebrated as they kick off the next decade. Whether youâre sending aÂbirthday card or party invitation, Greenvelope has you covered.
Browse our selection of birthday stationery to choose stunning designs for any theme. From sweet and sentimental to colorful and silly, youâll find a style you love. Each design is entirely customizable so you can update the typography, change the color palette, and add elements like music for a unique touch.
Continue browsing our Stationers blog for more birthday party ideas. From food and games to birthday themes and 40th birthday ideas, youâll have just what you need to celebrate the moment.