How To Say More for Someone's Milestone Birthday
For most of us, milestone birthdays—those big, round numbers like 30, 40, and 50—are a lot more than just another year around the sun. They’re a time for reflection, celebration, and a moment to take stock of the people who have shaped our lives. For the person having the big birthday, these milestones can often bring up a cocktail of emotions, from excitement and anticipation to nostalgia and sometimes even a hint of apprehension.
However someone feels about their new round number, one thing is clear: these birthdays are a big deal. And when someone we care about is about to celebrate one, they’re an opportunity for us to say more than just happy birthday. They’re the chance for us to show how much someone means to us, how much we appreciate the memories we’ve made together, how excited we are to have more adventures in the future. But how do you say all of that on the day? Well, you’ll be glad to hear that this is something we’ve given a lot of thought to.
This article is designed to give you inspiration on how you can show that special someone just how much they mean to you – whatever your budget, schedule or creativity allows. The real secret lies in making it personal.
Milestone birthday gifts, ideas and inspiration.
Big displays of affection - ideas for a partner, best friend or close family member
Okay, so you have someone who means everything to you and a fancy new candle or comfy pair of slippers just isn’t gonna cut it. You want to put your heart and soul into showing them just how loved they really are.
Here’s an idea for a gift: Create a book of 30 special things from 30 important people.
The possibilities here are endless and you can make this gift as creative as you like. For example, you could ask each contributor to send their favourite photo and a memory of the two of them. Another idea we’ve seen (and loved) involves asking each contributor to draw an object. It could be a ticket stub from a life-changing concert (Swifties, we see you), a sunflower, even a cup of coffee because that’s when they’ve had their most meaningful conversations together. They can also add an explanation as to why they chose said item. Another touching example - which is perfect for the bigger birthdays like 50 or 60 - is to ask that number of people to send a handwritten birthday letter. Imagine opening 50 letters from people across your five decades of life.
You could compile all these special somethings into a book or a box and on the big day you’ll have a gift that money really can’t buy.
Here’s an idea for an activity: Organise a personalised themed party or dinner
Big birthdays are a fantastic opportunity to make a big fuss and gather the troops to shower that person with love. And what better way to do it than with a themed party? They might love being the star of the show and would gladly walk into a surprise party of 50 of their favourite humans. Or, they may prefer things a little more intimate and would cherish an evening dinner party with their five nearest and dearest. If you’re after some dress-up theme inspiration, we think the best ideas are the ones that feel fun and surprising.
Dress up themes that are personal to the birthday person:
- The birthday person through the ages. This is a fun one that involves some social media sleuthing - find a photo of them from the archives and dress as that photo.
- The decade they were born. Who doesn’t love dressing up as a 90s pop star?
- The letter of their first name. For example, an F party where people dress up as flowers, frogs, fairies or whatever they can think of.
Dress-up themes for 30th birthdays:
- RIP 20s/Death to 20s. Ready to put the FUN in funeral? All black, goth-vibes, it’s gonna be extra chic.
- 13 Going on 30. Because we’ve finally thirty, flirty and thriving! And we’ve all been waiting for most of our lives to wear THAT dress.
- Dirty Thirty Martini. We’re thinking cocktail dress chic, themed drinks, and olive greens on greens (brat or demure? It’s your choice)
Dress-up themes for 40th birthdays:
- Kissing Your 30s goodbye. Pucker up and put on your fave flirty lippy - this theme is all about giving the last 3 decades a big farewell smooch.
- 40 & Fabulous. Turning 40 is iconic, so what better way to celebrate than getting all dolled up in your fanciest frocks and feathers?
- Tying Up My 30s. Ribbons and bows, this theme is oh-so-cute and perfect for an aesthetic birthday celebration.
Showing someone they’re important on the day
Ideas for long-distance besties, good friends and family members
They have a big birthday coming up and you want them to know you’re thinking about them. Maybe you’re on the other side of the country or the world. Or maybe you’re seeing them sometime soon but want them to feel the love on their special day.
Here’s an idea for a thoughtful gesture: send them bespoke flowers
Flowers are a secret weapon when it comes to sending joy. In fact, it’s been proven they cause people to have a genuine, eye-creasing smile (known scientifically as a Duchenne smile) when gifted. And when it comes to a big birthday, sending a beautiful bespoke bouquet that’s been hand-crafted by a local florist is a sure winner. We should know. And when you send fresh flowers with us you can even tell the florist who they’re for, what the occasion is and if you have any special requests like certain colour palettes or types of flowers you’d like in your arrangement. Beautiful - CHECK. Personal - CHECK. Can be there even if you’re not - CHECK.
Here’s an idea for something cost-effective and quick: send them a text, email or WhatsApp with a collection of your favourite photos and memories
This one really is that simple. Scroll through the photos you have on your phone or on social media and pick out your favourite ten. Send those along with a message that includes a few special memories and what that person means to you. Want to make it feel even more personal? You could even record yourself with a birthday message to them. These are super budget-friendly ways to make that person feel seen, appreciated and to help them reminisce on the wonderful times they’ve had with you.
So there we have it, our favourite ideas for saying more than just happy birthday. Are you planning to do something personal for someone’s big milestone birthday? We’d love to hear about it on our social media pages.
