Ever wonder how you can best say happy 30th birthday to a friend, family member, or co-worker? Birthday wishes are often lost in the myriad of cutesy cards and other birthday clutter. Yes, you can purchase a card that says something nice, or sometimes something not so nice, but it may not embody exactly what you want to say. A heartfelt happy 30th birthday wish is much more significant and meaningful than a card written by strangers. In some cases you might not even get a card, but rather a simple wish, toast, or phrase on a combined card that everyone in say an office signs.
A 30th birthday is one of the more important birthdays. When deciding what kind of sentiment you want to convey, you should choose the card, gift, image, or birthday wish that best suits how you feel about the person and their relationship to you. Keep in mind that there are dozens of ways to say happy birthday including cards, cakes, images, projects, and party favors.
Significance of a 30th Birthday
A 30th birthday is significant because the person is now considered a fully grown adult rather than a young adult. A 20th birthday is only a slight transition from a teenager to a young adult, and the 40th birthday not very much a milestone because you have been an adult for at least 10 years. Of course the overall significance depends on the person whose birthday it is and how they wish to view themselves; but overall the most important significance is the transition into a more serious lifestyle.
Essentially people in their 20s get away with more than those in their 30ths. Some may consider this an end to their partying days, while others consider this a passage into starting families, settling into a career and pursuing more adult activities.
Many of the celebrations, gifts, and 30th birthday wishes reflect this transition from the “I can do anything” of the 20s to the seriousness and settling down of adulthood. This does not mean that the birthday celebration or wishes have to be serious. There are many ways to celebrate a 30th birthday. If you are giving a gift, a wish, or helping someone celebrate, be creative and have fun with it.
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Celebration & Gift Ideas
Saying happy 30th birthday with a celebration or a special gift often depends on how well you know someone. Sometimes it is better to give a personal gift or celebrations with only close family and friends and other times it is better to go all out with birthday wishes and surprises.
Some of the best ways to celebrate someones birthday are the simplest. Which celebration or gift that you choose depends on how well you know the person and how close they are to you. Remember that many companies now allow you to order cards, gifts, and party favors online so you can browse from the comfort of your home to find the truly perfect idea.
Celebrations
Surprise parties – a word of caution, you want to make sure the person turning 30 will appreciate the surprise. It is very hard to plan a surprise party for someone you are not very failure with.
Themed parties – again with themed parties, you have to know what the person enjoys and what type of theme they would appreciate. Some ideas for theme parties are:
- Zombies
- Starwars
- Star Trek
- Science fiction
- Horror
- Romance
- Western
- Clowns / Circus
- Animals
- Cartoons
- Sports
- Fishing
- Birthday scavenger hunts
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There are many more themed ideas. You can use any theme that the person having the 30th birthday enjoys.
Destination parties – destination parties are only practical when it is a smaller group and it is something that is planned in advance. Many people prefer celebrating in exotic locals.
Family gatherings – some people prefer only family and close friends at their 3th.
Public parties – a public party is one at a favorite restaurant or park. These work well for those that want to celebrate with co-workers and friends.
Gifts
Gifts can range from highly personal to necessities to things that almost anyone would like. Some thought has to go into gift giving. If you cannot find a gift or do not know the person well, it is better to give a gift certificate, thoughtful card, or ask the person what they want.
Some popular gifts for a very happy 30th birthday are:
- Personal photo albums and scrapbooks
- Journals
- Jewelry if you know what they prefer
- Jewelry if you know what they prefer
- Personal gifts for their home
- Gifts of donations to their favorite charities
- A personalized or handmade card or item
Gift giving can range widely depending on how well you know someone and what they would appreciate. Many people opt for a handmade card, special picture or graphic, or a beautiful wish for a happy 30th birthday.
There are some things you probably want to stay away from when giving birthday gifts. It all depends on how well you know the recipient. Some things that you might want to avoid are articles of clothing, gag gifts unless called for, and personal toiletry articles. These are fine if you know their individual style but you do not, you probably should seek the advice of someone who knows them better than you do.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to both celebrations and gifts. Remember it is important that each gift fits the recipient and when you are in doubt either ask or fall back to a birthday wish and a gift card.
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10 Happy 30th Birthday Wishes
One of the most important things about a 30th birthday is the actual wish and sentiment behind any card or gift. A birthday wish should be something that is personalized and comes from the heart. If you have difficulty putting your wish into words here are 10 suggestions that can help you wish your friend, family member or co-worker a happy birthday.
- Use an inspirational quote from someone that you admire or a quote from a book that you know the birthday man or woman enjoys
- A phrase such as “Best wishes for the upcoming year”
- Try a humorous birthday quote like “30 is the new 20, unless you’re 20; then it’s the new 40,” from Dane Peddigrew.
- A wish like, “Amazing people should have amazing birthdays. Happy 30th Birthday.”
- For a husband, wife or partner, try “I want to celebrate you on your birthday; you are the most important person in my life.”
- You can modify this for anyone, “You deserve the very best on this birthday and all of the birthdays that come after.”
- If it is for a son, daughter, or other family member, ” I am very proud of what you’ve accomplished. Happy 30th birthday.”
- As a more humorous birthday wish you can try, “At your age you are allowed to be crazy, Happy Birthday.”
- “At 30 a strange thing happens: you begin to act like your parents,” for someone who appreciates the humor.
- You can also go for the simple, “You don’t look a day over 29.”
Each one of these are useful depending on the situation. When you are wishing someone happy 30th birthday, you should use a wish, phrase, or quote that fits the person. If they appreciate humor, use a humorous quote; something to make them smile. If it is a loved one, husband, wife, or partner, make sure you tell them you love them. There are birthday wishes for all occasions and all relationships.
There are many different ways to wish someone a happy 30th birthday. You can use your imagination or just give a heartfelt message in a stock card. Do not feel stuck with one of the common and overused birthday greetings and wishes. Let the person know how you feel about them or try to make them smile on their special day.
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Conclusion
A birthday wish, celebration, or gift means more when you do or say something that fits the person. You can ask those that know the person best, if you are planning a celebration or even wishing them a happy 30th birthday. If all else fails, ask the birthday girl or boy directly what he or she wants. Many people are happy to tell you or if you feel uncomfortable asking them, you can always use a universal gift card with a nice heartfelt birthday card or birthday wish.
Birthday wishes can be short and sweet or poetic and lengthy. You are allowed to be as creative or as stoic as you wish. Sometimes a simple “wishing you the best” is enough to convey all of your thoughts and feelings.
In other cases you might want to use a poem or other composition to let the birthday girl or boy know exactly how you feel. In birthday gifts, celebrations, and wishes there are no hard and fast rules and birthday cards range from the happy and loving to the irreverent and raunchy. You just have to determine what a person would appreciate for their special day.
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