40th Birthday Invitations: Your Guide to Planning This Milestone Celebration

We think birthdays should be celebrated — especially milestones like a 40th birthday! You’re another year wiser, have another 365 days of memories, and made it one more trip around the sun. Whether you want to poke fun at being older or want to celebrate with a glamorous event, we have ideas for you. And one of the most exciting parts of the planning process is to pick out your 40th birthday invitations.

To help you celebrate the big 4-0, we’ve put together this list of funny phrases, sentimental sayings, and festive ways to ask guests to attend your celebration. Plus, we’ve included stunning designs to match your style along with tips for pulling off the perfect party.

Wording Ideas for Your 40th Birthday Invites

Consider the tone you want to set when choosing a design for your 40th birthday invitation. Aside from the essential party information, you may want to play with puns to make it funny or add a reflective message to emphasize the significance of this moment.

Whether you’re planning a party for yourself or a loved one, here are some 40th birthday invitation wording ideas for your online invitations:

• Let’s celebrate 40 years of being awesome! We’re throwing it back to our heyday with a high school decade party. Be sure to dress your best as we’ll have a prize for the winner!
• Shhhh! It’s a surprise party for Aram’s 40th! Drinks, food, and DJ included. Please show up promptly at 7 pm. 
• They say 40 is when you start forgetting more things than you know. Luckily, I remembered to plan a birthday party and invite you! 
• I’m over the hill! Come celebrate my 40th bday with a granny-themed costume party! Grab a white wig and your favorite handbag to celebrate getting old(er) in style! 
• Let’s celebrate Sydney’s 40th birthday! Cocktail hour begins at 7 pm followed by a formal sit-down dinner at 8 pm. Please wear cocktail or semi-formal attire.
• Four decades of love, inspiration, and success. Come honor this milestone for Xavier at the Crystal Bay Country Club with a black-tie birthday celebration.

Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on the invite. You can choose to laugh at your age with funny puns or take a more reflective approach to mark this milestone. 

Deciding what to say is just half of the equation when it comes to creating 40th birthday invitations. You also want to take a moment to let guests know what to expect on the big day.

Don’t forget to include these important details:

• Name of the birthday honoree
• Date, time, and location of the event
• RSVP information so guests can save the date and you can have an accurate headcount
• Dress code or theme information, if desired
• What guests need to bring if you’re hosting a potluck 

8 Fabulous 40th Birthday Invitations

Whether you’re planning an elegant evening or a casual gathering to celebrate a 40th birthday, choose an invite to match the mood of your event. Here are some of our top 40th birthday party invitation designs for a festive celebration that suits your style. 

1. Forty Flourish Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

You only turn 40 once! Celebrate with this gold invitation that would work for a glam red carpet-inspired soiree or a more intimate get-together with your closest friends. Choose from several artist-curated color schemes or create your own custom design by selecting a hue and playing with the typography.

2. Natural Leaves Invitation

Design: Owl and Toad

Put the birthday honoree front and center with this photo birthday card invite. Upload a photo and plug in the event details for a gorgeous invitation in just a few clicks. The design is also well-suited for 50th birthday invitations, bridal showers, and baby showers.

3. Stopped Counting Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

As with every Greenvelope design, you can easily customize the wording of this funny invite to suit your celebration. Swap the “forty something birthday” text to “40th birthday” or “40-is-the-new-30th birthday” to spark some laughter.

4. Modern Watercolor Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

This minimalist design is perfect as a surprise party invitation or to ask guests to join your splashy birthday celebration. The geometric frame adds a modern flair while five watercolor hues offer a color for every style.

5. Forty Years Young Invitation

Design: Ashley Ottinger

You may be turning 40, but you’re still young at heart. Celebrate the milestone with this 40th birthday invitation template that offers a glittery envelope liner. Choose from five vibrant color schemes and add your party details.

6. Floral Forty Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

This retro adult birthday party invite features artsy floral designs and a mix of modern fonts, making it perfect for elegant 40th birthday celebrations. 

7. Forty and Fab Invitation

Design: Luckybug Designs

This fabulous birthday invitation card is ideal for a glamorous and big celebration. Featuring festive firework accents and the number 40 in metallic foil, it’s a surefire way to get guests excited about your party. 

8. The Big Four Oh Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

This black and gold invite is perfect for a formal event celebrating 40 years on the planet. Add a wax seal for more glamor and don’t forget to include all the important event details.

How to Pull off the Perfect 40th Birthday Bash

Ready to start planning the perfect 40th celebration? Here, we’ve put together a quick party planning breakdown for a memorable birthday. You’ll find tips and tricks for everything from birthday party decor to games and more.

1. Pick a Date

Whether you’re planning your own 40th birthday party or hosting the shindig for a friend, the first thing you need to do is pick a date. If possible, choose a date that most invitees will be able to make (like a weekend) and doesn’t coincide with another big event like Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve. If you choose to celebrate near a holiday, send your invites out well in advance.

2. Choose a Theme

Next, decide if you want a theme. Take a look at our list of creative adult party themes for a little celebration inspiration — unicorn disco, anyone? A popular 40th birthday theme is a decade-focused celebration. You can choose the birthday honoree’s favorite decade or celebrate the decade they were born in. Some great options include an 80s theme party, a 90s theme celebration, a millennium party , or a Great Gatsby bash.

3. Select a Venue

Decide if you want to host the party at home or if you want to rent out a venue for the special occasion. You can host a dinner party at your favorite restaurant, plan a picnic at a local park, set up the ultimate backyard party, or host a formal gathering at a country club or historic estate.

4. Use 40th Birthday Decorations

Birthday decorations instantly dress up a space. Balloons, confetti, and streamers are always great options. Go with gold balloons or rose gold glitter accents for a hint of glamor or decorate the space using the birthday honoree’s favorite colors. Add a birthday banner and create a guest book for people to write down their messages and well wishes.

5. Decide on Food and Entertainment

Whether you’re planning a low-key celebration or something over the top, think about the type of food you want to serve. You can choose a casual spread like burgers and hot dogs for a BBQ party or opt for a fancy sit-down dinner catered by professionals. 

For entertainment, consider dinner party games for adults or outdoor party games if that makes the most sense. Create a playlist of the honoree’s favorite songs, set up a karaoke machine, or hire a DJ depending on your plans and budget.

6. Send Out the Invites

Send your 40th birthday invitations four to six weeks before the big day. With Greenvelope’s online invitations, you can track RSVPs easily.  If you’re hosting a fancy soiree, send invites out even earlier to give guests enough time to prepare and arrange their schedules.

Celebrate This Milestone Moment Your Way

From 40th birthday invitations to other milestone birthday invitations, Greenvelope offers countless ways to celebrate. For more party planning advice, continue browsing our Stationers blog. You’ll find everything from tips on how to send text invitations (yes, it’s a thing!) to birthday party ideas that’ll help you create memories to last a lifetime.