What should you write in a birthday greetings card?

Tips on what to write in birthday cards
Birthday Cards

Birthdays are a big deal; we want to celebrate these milestone events with our friends and family, but often fall short of knowing what to actually say. We don’t realise the impact that well-thought out birthday wishes in a card can make, until the card recipient tells you what a lovely surprise it was, and how happy you made them. 

We have compiled a few birthday card messages from the heart below, to get you started. Our top tip is be sincere in your birthday card greetings and your friends and family will love it!

Happy Birthday Wishes by Theme

Sometimes, you have the perfect card in mind for your friend or loved one, but don’t know what to write inside. Here are some Happy Birthday sayings you can use to complement that perfect funny card, that inspiring card or just to say “Happy Birthday” from the heart.

Funny birthday greetings

  • Knowing someone as amazing as me should be the only present you need. Happy Birthday!
  • Happy birthday to the person who has turned 21 more times than anybody else!
  • A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the ride. Happy Birthday! 
  • Growing old is compulsory; growing up is optional. Happy Birthday!
  • So many candles… so little cake. Have a Happy Birthday!
  • If you think that you are getting old don’t worry next year you will be older… Happy Birthday!
  • As they say with age comes wisdom. You’re now the wisest person I know. Happy Birthday!
  • Happy Birthday! May your day be filled with joy… and wine. 
  • Birthdays are nature’s way of telling you to eat more cake. Have a fab one.
  • The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. Have a Happy Birthday. 
  • Happy Birthday, friend! Age is not a big deal… to me! I’m still young! Have a great one. 
  • Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
  • “I believe you forgot my birthday gift last year. I’m returning the favour this year. I’m sorry but a Happy Birthday is all you’re going to get.”
  • “As you get older, there are four important things that happen. First, you lose your mind. I can’t remember the other three. Happy Birthday!”
  • “Happy belated birthday! I didn’t forget your birthday – I just forgot yesterday’s date!”

Inspirational birthday quotes

  • On this special day, my wish for you is to take steps and believe the power is in you to move beyond boundaries and be what you want to be. Happy Birthday.
  • As you celebrate your birthday, may you continue to inspire and put laughter on the faces of those you encounter. I wish you experience pure happiness in life and that you never abandon your dreams.
  • May your birthday remind you of all you’ve achieved and the yet-to-be accomplished ones to come. May you never stop chasing the latter. Happy Birthday.
  • Age is opportunity no less than youth itself. Have a happy birthday. 
  • I am proud to have such a faithful person like you. Happy Birthday!
  • You are a light in everybody’s life. I hope all your wildest birthday dream come true. 
  • Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new. Follow your dreams, you deserve it! 
  • Birthdays are a new start, a fresh beginning and a time to set new goals. Move forward with confidence and courage. You are an amazing person. May today and your future days be special. 
  • Always smile and laugh, and never-never give up. You make us all happier, especially on this special day. 
  • Happy Birthday! May this day bring success and prosperity in your life.

Heartfelt birthday messages

  • May every moment of your life be as wonderful as our friendship. Happy Birthday!
  • A very happy and special birthday to one of the most special people in my life. You have been with me during the good and bad times. I know I can always count on you when I need someone to stand by me and I appreciate you so much. I hope you have an amazing birthday. 
  • Here’s wishing you all the special things in life that bring you happiness, love and joy. Have a lovely birthday.
  • Happy Birthday. Everything that matters in my life matters because of you. Have the best birthday. 
  • If I must choose just one friend in my lifetime, I would choose you, over and over again! I cannot put into words how important you are to me. Happy Birthday! 
  • Birthdays come once a year, but you deserve more than a day’s celebration; you are worth it. Happy birthday, my love!
  • My heart pours out the warmest birthday wishes for you to soak in. You mean the world to me. Have the best birthday ever! 
  • Seeing you grow, keeps my heart in motion. Have a wonderful day and an amazing year. 

Happy Birthday Messages by Recipient 

Sometimes, it helps to consider the recipient before you put pen to paper, so here is some Happy Birthday note inspiration you can use when writing cards to Mum, Dad, family and friends.

Birthday messages for Mum 

  • You deserve all the happiness in the world. Happy birthday to the best mum ever!
  • Happy birthday to my biggest influence, my number one supporter and the best mum ever!
  • Thanks for all the honest advice, love, and unconditional support over the years. Mum I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I hope that your year is full of unlimited blessings and love.
  • Happy Birthday MUM from your favourite child!
  • It is proven that people who have more birthdays live longer. Congratulations on your success!
  • If things really do get better with age, then you’re close to perfection! I bet it feels as good as it looks. Happy birthday Mum!
  • I’m so lucky to have a mum like you. You are my best friend, the best mum, and the kindest person I know. Have the best birthday!

Birthday greetings for Dad 

  • Every birthday you have means another year you made our lives even more special! Thank you, Dad.
  • Happy Birthday to the hardest working man I know. I’m so proud that you are my dad. Happy Birthday! 
  • I know I don’t say it often enough, but I am so grateful and appreciate you for all you’ve done and all you do. You truly deserve to be celebrated, Dad!
  • Happy Birthday to my favourite Dad!
  • So happy I got you for a dad…you’ve passed on some amazing genes! 
  • Happy Birthday to the man who has taught me everything I know. I am so privileged call you my Dad. Have the best birthday!
  • Happy birthday, my superman! Thanks a lot for all the moments of love. I hope, not only today but all your day be perfect and beautiful. Let’s celebrate your day in a grand way to make it more memorable.
  • Congratulations, Dad for another year of life! It’s great to be here with you on your special day. Hope that you can conquer all your dreams. I wish you continued success and happiness.  

How to say “Happy Birthday, Son

  • Since the day you were born you have brought nothing joy into my life. You are a fantastic son, and I feel so fortunate to be your parent. Happy birthday!
  • Happy birthday to a son that is handsome, smart, funny and reminds me a lot of myself. 
  • As you get older, you can look forward to looking as good as your parents. Happy Birthday!
  • I love you to the moon and back, I will always love you no matter what! Best wishes on your birthday!
  • It doesn’t matter how many birthdays we celebrate, because you will always be our beautiful and brilliant baby boy. Have the best birthday son!
  • It’s another year for you. I hope that you will continue to treasure your life, live it happily, and find ways to gain more success. All the best!
  • On the day that you were born, our family was made complete! You are the best son we could ask for.  May you have the best birthday and many happy returns.

How to wish your Daughter “Happy Birthday”

  • So proud of the wonderful daughter you are and the incredible person you’re growing up to be. Hope you have the best birthday! 
  • You’ve always had it in you to do great things and look at you now! We couldn’t be prouder. Happy Birthday!
  • I am so lucky to have such a funny, sweet, and caring daughter. You enhance my life in too many ways to count, and I hope your birthday is just as special as you are.
  • I’m proud of you because you never give up on your dreams, and that takes an extraordinary amount of determination and perseverance.
  • Happy Birthday to my amazing daughter, wishing you a day of non-stop celebration. Have a blast! 
  • Happy birthday, my dear girl! You have made me the parent of my dreams and I could have never asked for a better daughter! I wish you nothing but success and happiness!
  • As you get older, you can look forward to looking as good as me. Happy Birthday!

Sending special birthday wishes to your Sister 

  • All throughout childhood we always had each other’s back, and it’s so great to know that even as we grow older nothing has changed in the least. Have the best birthday!
  • No one understands me better than you. I hope you have a fantastic day and a fantastic year to come!
  • I love you more than cake, and that is saying a lot! Happy birthday to the best slice around!
  • Happy Birthday to someone totally amazing, beautiful, funny, and sort of reminds me of myself! You are a wonderful sister and you know you owe it all to me!
  • Happy birthday to mum’s second favourite! 
  • On this special day, I wish you all the very best and all the joy you can ever have. May you be blessed today, tomorrow and the days to come! Happy birthday my lovely sister.
  • You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. Still, if you were not my sister, I would want you to be my friend. Happy Birthday!

What are the best birthday wishes to write in a card to your Brother

  • To my amazing brother, Happy Birthday to you! I hope this year brings everything you wish for and more!
  • Happy Birthday, my dear brother! Your future couldn’t be brighter, you deserve it. 
  • A great brother deserves nothing but the best, today and always. Have the best birthday brother. 
  • I cannot imagine this world without you.  Happy birthday to the best brother in the Galaxy!
  • Happy birthday to my big brother. You may be older than me but that doesn’t mean you’re wiser!
  • Not many people are lucky enough to find their best friend in their brother, but I am. Have the best birthday bro! 
  • I’m so proud to be your sibling! You are such an amazing person and the most loyal friend. The smile you put on my face means so much to me. Thank you for your kindness and continuous support. I love you, happy birthday.
  • Work hard. Play hard. Eat loads of cake. That’s a good motto for your birthday and for life. Have a blast bro! 

Heartfelt birthday messages your Wife will love

  • Happy Birthday to my wife. Wishing a lovely birthday to the one that still makes my heart skip a beat!
  • There is nothing that I want more than to spend the next one hundred birthdays of yours by my side. I love you so much, happy birthday!
  • Thank you for everything you do. Let’s make this next year great together. Happy Birthday!
  • Like fine wine we get better with age… or rather, we feel better about our age with lots of wine. Happy Birthday!
  • Here’s to another year of questionable life decisions. I’m glad I get to make all of them with you. Happy Birthday!
  • The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams. I wish you have an amazing year and all your dreams come true. 
  • I am glad about everything that happened in my life because it led me to you. Happy Birthday, you deserve the world.

What birthday greetings to write in the Girlfriend’s card

  • Thank you for all the good moments that you brought into my life. Happy Birthday, love and I wish you all the best. Love you!
  • Don’t worry about your age. You are still younger than your next birthday. Have a special celebration, my girl. 
  • When it comes to the love of my life, you are number one.
  • I love spending time with you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Happy birthday girlfriend!
  • Every day with you is a celebration. So today on your birthday we will have that 10x. That’s how special you are babe.
  • What do you get when you mix brains, beauty and a winning personality-YOU. Happy Birthday! 
  • Happy birthday to someone who is as kind and beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!

Best birthday messages for the Husband

  • Without you I am nothing, let’s celebrate this amazing moment together. Happy Birthday!
  • Putting a smile on your face is my number one goal today. You mean the world to me. Happy Birthday to you. 
  • You make me feel like I’m falling in love with you for the first time, over and over again. I love you, have a happy birthday!
  • I would like to wish the man of my dreams Happy Birthday… but I will settle for you! Happy Birthday to the best husband. 
  • Happy birthday to the best husband ever…from the amazing partner of your dreams!
  • Marriage is all about collaboration: We chat, we discuss the options…then we both agree to do it my way! Have the best birthday. 
  • My marriage still seems like a dream to me. We have gone through a lot and we always come out better and stronger. I want you to know that I love you. Happy birthday to the top man in my life.
  • I am so lucky to have you as my husband and best friend. I am so happy to have you in my life. Have the best birthday. 

Special birthday greetings for the Boyfriend

  • On your birthday, I wish you all the health, success and happiness. Have a very Happy Birthday!
  • I can’t find the cake underneath all these candles! Happy Birthday, [name].
  • You are my moon, my stars and my universe. Happy Birthday to the best partner ever.
  • To the most handsome birthday boy. I love, appreciate and cherish all the good times we have together. I hope you have the most special day. 
  • Every day is special when I am with you. But today is an extra special day because it’s your birthday, and I’m glad to share the day with you. Happy Birthday.
  • Every day we spend together is a wonderful adventure. Let’s celebrate the amazing person you are today; I love you so much.
  • Happy birthday to the most handsome and thoughtful guy in this world! May your day be filled with fun, happiness and joy.
  • I would like to wish the man of my dreams Happy Birthday… but I will settle for you! Happy Birthday to the best boyfriend. 
  • I am so lucky to have learnt, laughed and grown so much with you. Thank you for being the best boyfriend a girl could ask for. I love you and have a happy birthday.

You can never go wrong by simply writing a line or two about how you love the person or telling them you hope they enjoy their day. It’s so much more meaningful to someone than just seeing a name scrawled at the bottom. Now you have some inspirational birthday card message ideas, your birthday card is going to make them feel amazing!

Brighten Up Your Home & Walls With Fresh Canvas Print Designs

Snapfish + Macmillan are working in partnership to raise vital funds. For every greeting card or flat card set sold, Macmillan receive up to 15p.

What did you say in the birthday card to your special someone? What was their reaction? Please tag us with #snapfishuk or @snapfishUK on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter with your top birthday messages.

Buy with confidence