40th Birthday Invitations for Every Style and Celebration
Every birthday is special, but some birthdays are more significant than others. Turning 40 is one of those milestones that feels like a big deal. It is a new decade, a changing time of life, and an exciting milestone to mark with friends and family across the UK. You want the big forty birthday party to reflect the significance of this occasion, as well as your personality and tastes. This all starts with your 40th birthday invitations. Your 40th birthday invites should be something you love and want to keep framed, on your fridge, or in a scrapbook for years to come. You have come to the right place for that: whether you are looking for mens 40th birthday invitations for him or 40th birthday invites for her, we have 40th party invitations you will love. Browse our online invites for birthday parties of all kinds, from formal dinners to casual garden parties.
Popular Print Types and Styles for 40th Birthday Invitations
The best way to find 40th birthday invitation ideas is to look at what sort of invitation styles and print types are popular, and consider whether any of them strike your fancy.
The print type options for your 40th birthday invitations include:
- Digital print (standard ink on paper)
- White ink
- Metallic print
- Letterpress
- Flat foil
- Foil stamp
- Print on wood
- Photo card
There are pros and cons to each of these print types: if you are looking for cheap birthday invitations for adults, opt for standard digital ink rather than the more premium print types, but if you want to really make a statement, one of the more unique options will be your best choice.
Some of the design styles for 40th birthday invites that are popular across all of these print types include:
- Geometric 40th birthday invitations
- Beach 40th birthday invitations
- Elegant 40th birthday invitations
- Funny 40th birthday invitations
- Typographic 40th birthday invitations
- Botanical 40th birthday invitations
There are no rules that you have to stick to any of these styles, but this is a great starting point for 40th birthday invitation ideas.
What to Consider When Choosing Your 40th Birthday Invitation Design
Even once you have had a look at what is popular and decided what you like, there are a lot of things to think about when it comes to choosing the best 40th birthday invitation design for you. These include:
- Style of your party - formal or casual?
- Theme of your party - nautical? Retro? Casino?
- Chosen colour palette - neutrals? Shades of green?
- Who is attending - kids? Just family? Work colleagues?
- Size of the event - twenty people, or two hundred?
- Your budget - can you afford letterpress and four different cards per guest?
You might not need to let all these things influence your choice, but it is worth at least giving them some thought. To make things easier, all our 40th birthday invitation templates are customisable using our unique on-site design tool, so you can make sure your choice is perfect for your needs.
If you are looking for 40th birthday invitation ideas, it is as simple as browsing our collection of 40th birthday party invites on site. We have a huge range: 40th birthday invites for him and 40th birthday invitations for her. We have general 40th invitations that work for any sort of celebration, as well as more specific invitation styles - surprise 40th birthday invitations, 40th birthday photo invitations, 40 and fabulous invitations (or go all out - forty and fabulous invitations). Of course, you could always edit one of our existing designs to make it appropriate for a surprise 40th party or whatever type of celebration you are having. If you are stuck and cannot find the exact 40th birthday invitations you need, chat with our friendly customer service team and let us help you find something that works.
40th Birthday Ideas
If you are looking for male or female 40th birthday party ideas, or 40th birthday party invitation ideas, check out our article on celebrating your milestone birthdays. Whether you are thinking about an intimate family dinner or a big party with all your friends, there is a 40th birthday theme for everyone across the UK. You might host your party in a gallery, at a vineyard, in a restaurant or gastropub, or somewhere else entirely. Top it all off with a theme that will set your party apart. Venue, activity and theme are the best place to start for 40th birthday celebration ideas. Along with party ideas, start looking for some fabulous 40th birthday decorations. You can decorate based on a theme, or keep it simple with a colour scheme that ties everything together.
His and Hers
Whether you are looking for 40th birthday party invitations for her or 40th birthday party invitations for him, there are always ways to make it personal. Paperlust offers a comprehensive selection of both feminine and masculine invites for a 40th birthday party.
Mens 40th birthday invitations can be a bit tricky if he is not a big hobby man, and sometimes male 40th birthday party ideas can seem few and far between. But do not despair! A 40th birthday theme for a man can be as simple as sporting heroes (featuring his favourite team's colours), a hiking or gaming theme. When you are looking for 40th birthday invitations for him, try to think of his interests - what does he talk about a lot, or get really excited about? 40th birthday invitations for men are often best left simple, like a minimalist black and white theme, which can sometimes make the male invites easiest.
There are so many options for women that it can be a harder job choosing! We recommend narrowing down your search by using the filters on the left side of our page in the birthday invitations section. You can tick the boxes of what you are interested in and apply the 40th birthday invitations filter. Surprise 40th birthday invitations for him are potentially straightforward, but it is absolutely possible to surprise a lady too, so do not give up if a surprise party is your goal.
40th Birthday Invitation Wording
Whether it is a 40th birthday evite or luxury 40th birthday party invitations in gold foil, the wording is one thing you want to nail on your invite. We can help you with your 40th birthday party invitation wording and make your forty birthday an occasion to remember.
If you are planning a surprise 40th birthday, be sure to make the wording very clear so that no one lets the cat out of the bag to the birthday person. If you want to make your 40th birthday invitation wording funny, consider a limerick or some kind of humorous rhyming verse. Your 40th birthday invitation should reflect your personality but not be so abstract that it confuses people.
You can jazz up your 40th birthday invite with witty wording or keep it simple - event, time, place, RSVP date. Guests need to know what is going on, when it is going on, where to be, what to wear and bring, and who to reply to with an RSVP. Everything else for your 40th birthday party is optional.
40th Birthday Cards
If you are looking for 40th birthday card ideas, you may want to consider using 40th birthday ecards. A 40th birthday ecard is perfect for overseas friends and loved ones, or if you are sending to someone in a country where post is either expensive or unreliable. You could pair a 40th birthday ecard with an online voucher to one of their favourite stores. That way they still know you are thinking of them and end up with a present they like, without the worry of sky-high postage prices or the risk of it getting lost in post.
A birthday photo card can be really meaningful if you have family or friends living far from you. You could either send them an ecard with a picture of the two of you together, or if it is your birthday, use your photos to send out (digitally or via post) as thank you notes. You can also find affordable photo birthday invitations if you are searching for birthday party invitations for adults.
There are so many options - just make sure that whatever you choose feels like you. Unless you are looking for free 40th birthday invitation templates to download, our range above should satisfy that special occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Posting invitations four to six weeks ahead gives guests time to plan, and a little longer if you are organising a surprise party or asking people to travel across the UK. For a milestone celebration with a venue or catering, sending six to eight weeks ahead helps you confirm numbers in good time.
The full range is available: digital print, white ink on dark stocks, metallic print, letterpress (debossed into 300gsm or 600gsm Wild Cotton), flat foil (minimum 10 cards), foil stamp (a debossed metallic impression from a custom die, minimum 50 cards), print on wood, and photo cards. Digital is the most affordable starting point, while letterpress and foil add a premium, tactile finish.
Your invitations are printed in our Melbourne studio and delivered across the UK via DHL Express, typically arriving within 3 to 5 business days of dispatch. Production time depends on the print method you choose, and your designer will confirm an expected dispatch date when they send your proof.
Yes. A sample pack of seven designs across different print methods is available, as is a full swatch kit covering every paper stock. A custom sample of your own design is available for most print methods, letterpress being the exception. Sample pricing is shown at checkout in pounds.
Absolutely. Every order is assigned a professional designer who prepares a personalised proof within 1 to 2 business days, and two rounds of edits are included so you can adjust the wording, colours, and layout until the invitation feels right.
Read More >>