Writing and sending birthday cards is a timeless tradition that can strengthen relationships, show appreciation, and create lasting memories. Birthdays are milestones that remind people of their importance and value in your life. A birthday card is a way to highlight their uniqueness and celebrate their presence.
In a fast-paced, digital world, it might be tempting just to send a quick text or email, but a handwritten card creates a personal touch that digital messages often lack and demonstrates genuine effort and thoughtfulness that stands out. It shows the recipient that you took time and effort to express your feelings in a meaningful way. A birthday card provides an opportunity to say "thank you" for their impact on your life, whether it’s their friendship, support, or love. And unlike texts or emails, a physical birthday card can be cherished and kept as a memento. It’s something tangible they can look back on for encouragement and happy memories.
There are no hard and fast rules of what to write in a birthday card, but here at Penny Black, we've put together some tips to help you select and write your birthday card.
Pick a birthday card, it doesn’t necessarily have to be one with a birthday message on the front, there are loads of fantastic funny and art cards that work well too. Ideally, the card will be blank inside so you can write your own personalised birthday message.
Have some scrap paper ready to write a few short drafts so that when you come to writing in the card, you're happy with your choice of words. This will also give you a chance to check your spelling, particularly of any names, and will also ensure that you say everything you want to.
Give yourself plenty of time to consider and write your message, this is an important step to bringing together a meaningful card and sharing joy.
Don't fret too much when writing a personal birthday message, a birthday is to be celebrated, so focus on joy and the meaningful impact of your relationship. We certainly don’t have all the answers, however we have put together some suggestions that might help you gather your thoughts and find something to write.
Keeping your personal birthday message short and to the point is fine - you can certainly be brief and still send thoughtful and heartfelt messages that come across as warm and caring.
If you are close to the person celebrating their birthday, mentioning how they positively impact your life is a lovely personal way to send your celebrations. Anecdotes, funny or sentimental, if kept brief, illustrate how important this person is to you.
Birthday celebrations are mostly all joy. So, consider a light hearted, funny message. One personal to your relationship is destined to draw a smile.
Where you and the recipient have discussed or share a faith or belief then it may be appropriate to include a religious message or verse. If you are unsure or where only you or they have a belief system then this should be avoided as it may upset or offend the recipient.
There are many ways you may want to sign your birthday card, and these will depend on the tone and content of the message you have written. Consider avoiding “Regards” or “Sincerely” as these are too formal and a little cold. A few suggested closings:
There are no strict rules on what you can or cannot say in a birthday card and using your own judgement of what is appropriate will stand you in good stead. However, there are some things that we think should be avoided because the last thing you want to do is ruin someone's birthday or belittle their feelings.
Have a look at our range of birthday cards for inspiration.
If you are going to post the birthday card, then address the envelope using titles and full names, making sure you have the correct address and the correct postage paid (most cards will tell you on the back Letter or Large Letter which denotes the stamp required to post in the UK). If you are unsure about the postcode or how much postage is required then visit your local Post Office who can assist you. Write your return address on the rear of the envelope so that the recipient can reply if they want to. In our blog you can also find a brief guide on how to address mail.