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A 50th birthday is one of the biggest age milestones we pass in our lifetimes, and as such, it should be celebrated in style. When writing out invitations for a 50th birthday party, follow these dos and don'ts to ensure your birthday party invites cover everything you need them to.

Do be sensitive

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While some of us greet the big 50 with gusto, others feel a little nervous about hitting this milestone. If the party invites aren't for yourself, think carefully about whether the guest of honour will appreciate cracks about their age. If they'll see the funny side of them, then feel free to include an 'over the hill' or 'vintage wine' joke, but if not, they're best avoided. Guests who might be more sensitive about turning 50 may prefer wording more along the lines of 'Fabulous at 50' or simply 'Beth is turning 50'.

Do remember to keep it hush-hush

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50th birthday parties are often surprise parties - which means the birthday boy or girl isn't to know about the party. If you're filling out invites for a surprise 50th birthday party, be very clear on the invitations that it's a secret. If you're not clear, your guests are likely to mention the party to the guest of honour and ruin the surprise.

Don't forget the details

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Remember that as well as your 'old fart' jokes, you'll need to remember to include all the information your guests need for the party. As well as the usuals: the name of the special guest, the date, time and location of the party, and a number or email address to RSVP to, you might want to include extra information about dress code, if there is one, whether children are welcome at the party, and whether or not to bring a gift. Writing a 50th birthday invitation is much like writing other party invitations, with a few extra considerations. Remember that the tone of your invites will set the tone of the party to come, so get your party off to a good start with a set of great invitations.

Receiving a birthday invitation is a compliment, without a doubt - somebody wants you at their party. Whether you decide to attend or not, it's always polite to express thanks for your invitation and make sure the host knows you appreciate being thought of. Here's how to best say 'thank you' for a birthday invitation.

Include thanks with your RSVP

Whether you attend the party or not, the easiest way to thank the host of the party for inviting you is by including a small note of gratitude in your RSVP - whether this is by text or email. If you speak on the phone, be sure to convey your appreciation for the invitation during the call. If you can't attend, be apologetic and express your regrets. There really is no better way to say 'thank you' than to simply say it.

Return the favour

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If you've got a birthday coming up, perhaps think of those people who have invited you to their birthdays, too. It's by no means a requirement, particularly if you're having a smaller bash or you just don't feel you know that person very well, but nothing will say 'thank you for inviting me' quite like inviting them to yours later in the year. Who knows, it may even be the start of a new friendship. Of course, if the friend you want to thank is one of your best friends, it's probably a given that you're already inviting them - if you don't, it could be taken as a snub.

Bring a gift

If you are able to attend the party, be sure to bring a gift. Birthday gifts are not just to say 'happy birthday' to the recipient, but they're also a way that party attendees can compensate the hosts a little for the financial outlay of hosting a big party. That said, a small, inexpensive but thoughtful gift can be just as meaningful as something more costly. It really is the thought that counts.

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Hopefully, your friends and family know you're happy that they invited you to their birthday party. If you want to make sure they know it, you could always utilise birthday thank you cards - traditionally sent out by hosts to thank guests for attending a party - to write a quick note of thanks after the party's over.

Writing a 30th birthday invitation, much like any other party invites, takes a bit of thought. Our 30th birthday can be when some of us start to feel a little bit... old. Although anyone 50 or over will tell you it is anything but old! So here's how to beat those birthday blues with the most perfect 30th birthday invitations ever.

Keep it youthful

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This doesn't mean that your birthday invitations should necessarily feature the Poddington Peas - although nostalgia birthday parties which take favourite childhood TV shows and games as their theme are popular for 30th birthday parties. A 30th party is arguably the last chance to have a huge blow-out party for your 20s (almost). Many people are still single and don't yet have kids, so a 30th party should really be about letting your hair down. Don't make 'old fart' jokes - it's not quite time for that just yet.

Keep the birthday boy or girl in mind

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Whether it's your own birthday party or a special friend's, think about who the guest of honour is and what they love. 30th parties are a great excuse to embrace a 'theme' - whether it's a Harry Potter-themed costume party or a casino themed party with Blackjack tables and shot roulettes - it's up to you. A big birthday party like this is your chance to be creative, and if your party has a theme, don't forget to make it very clear on the invitation, so that your guests arrive prepared.

Don't forget the details

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Themes aside, the most crucial details to include on your birthday party invites will always be those all-important facts: the name of the birthday boy or girl, the date and time of the party, and the party venue's address. Don't forget to include up-to-date RSVP details that you'll actually receive - there's no point including an email address if you only check it once a year. However you choose to throw a birthday party, you can make any 30th birthday party special with beautiful invites and a message that's from the heart.

Show your gratitude

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You will know the best way to address a particular friend or family member, whether you are writing or speaking to them. Whichever words you choose to express your gratitude, thanking the sender of the invitation should be your first priority. As a starting point, this shows that you do appreciate being invited. Don't underestimate how much this means when declining an invitation.

Apologise for not being able to make it

After the thanks, comes the apology. Not only are you thankful for being invited, but you also regret that you can't be there. "Really sorry but", "regret that I won't be able to attend" or "complete bummer, I'm so sorry but" - there is no right or wrong way of saying sorry; that will come down to your individual relationship with the sender of the invitation.

Explain why

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Be honest, frank, and if you need to, detailed, in your explanation of why you can't attend. You might feel like you are waffling, but being open and honest can go down well with the person whose birthday it is. Not only does this show you aren't making an excuse, but it also demonstrates that you are anxious that they know you have a good reason for not being there.

Express your desire to see them soon

It can be hard to plan ahead sometimes, but as the sender has requested your company, you should reciprocate and suggest catching up another time when it is convenient for both of you. Those are some essentials to tick off when declining a birthday invitation. Don't forget - a great way to make up for your absence is to send a present or a card!

It is a common query we come across here at Dotty About Paper - just how far in advance should you send out an invitation for a birthday party? So, let's get to the bottom of the issue. In this blog, we take a look at how you should judge when to send your birthday bash invites.

Kids parties

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Convention dictates that the send out times are a little different for a child's birthday party, as opposed to an adult's - and with good reason. In the case of a kids birthday party, it seems likely that your child will be inviting school friends to the occasion. That means it would typically be held on a weekday evening, at the weekend, or during the day in the school holidays. These standard times mean that children are likely to be free at the same time, and that organisation becomes easier. So for kids parties, aim to send invitations a fortnight to a month in advance.

Adult parties

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True to form, things tend to become a little more complicated when adults are involved! In these cases, it comes down to the location, and nature of the event. A small get together with friends at home or a local pub might only need invitations sent out a couple of weeks in advance. For larger birthday parties at a restaurant or rented venue, where it helps to know the headcount before booking, a little more leeway can be needed - aim to send four to six weeks before.

Foreign fiestas

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If you are having a destination birthday party - then the goalposts move again. A long weekend or a week to celebrate a milestone birthday, you have more factors to take into account. Your invitees may need to book transportation or arrange for some time off work. For these kinds of parties, send out invitations four months in advance.

So there are a few pointers on when to send out your birthday invitations. Remember to include an RSVP and clear information on the timings and venue.

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We hope you enjoyed our blog and find our advice and tips useful. For more visit our blog "Paper Press" for more articles on all things paper!

Strike a joyful note

Get them excited

Include the essentials

Make it personal?

A physical birthday invitation with an RSVP card is a lovely thing to receive. It shows how much care and attention the organiser is putting into the event and makes it simple to accept. An RSVP is a stylish way of gauging attendance figures and it only takes a few seconds to reply. Here's how to respond to a birthday invitation RSVP.

What does RSVP mean?

RSVP stands for répondez s’il vous plaît, French for please respond. This polite way of reminding guests to let their host know whether they're planning to attend an event comes from the court of King Louis XIV, who reigned over France in the 17th century. By RSVPing, you'll give your host the opportunity to plan their party better!

How quickly should I RSVP?

It's always best to respond to an invitation as quickly as possible. Otherwise, your RSVP can end up slipping your mind until it's too late. A quick response says you're excited about being invited and looking forward to celebrating.

How do I RSVP?

If an RSVP card was sent with the birthday invite then you'll need to fill it in and send it back as quickly as possible. You can also send a text or email to let the organiser know the RSVP is on its way, but it's so much nicer to send and receive a formal RSVP by post.

What should I write?

The wording can be anything from formal to fun. Use your best penmanship and literary skills to craft a personal message that lets your hosts know just how much you're looking forward to the event. You could try something simple like "thanks so much for the invite, can't wait to celebrate with you!" or the more formal "honoured to have been invited to your birthday and will be pleased to attend." If you have to decline, respond positively with wording like "I'm so sorry I can't be there but I know you'll have a wonderful time." Taking time to write a card that lets your host know how much you appreciate the effort they're putting in to make the birthday celebrations a success. So why not RSVP in style next time you receive a special birthday invite? Take a look at all our beautiful Party Invitations and getting your party started with a BANG!

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You'd assume that filling out birthday invitations would be an easy thing to do, but anyone who's had to write out 30 identical invitations before knows it's an easy thing to get wrong. Party invitations must be written out carefully and precisely, to ensure that all of the information on the card is present, correct, and legible! If it's not, you may find yourself hosting a party with no guests - because nobody could figure out where to turn up. Follow these essential tips on writing out birthday invitations to make sure that step one of your birthday party is completed without issue.

Be neat

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The first rule is to write in your very best handwriting. Writing by hand is becoming a forgotten skill, but at times like these, it's important to write slowly, carefully, and above all legible. Unless you're a seasoned calligrapher, don't attempt any fancy handwriting flourishes at the risk of making your invites less clear. The most important thing is that your writing is neat and tidy.

Be consistent

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It's a good idea to take a blank sheet of paper and write down, exactly, all of the details you want to include in the invitations before you start. Usually, this will include the name of the person whose birthday you're celebrating, the location and address of the party, the time and day of the party, and contact details for guests to RSVP to. Decide in advance how it's best for guests to contact you - via text or email? - and whether you want to include extra information about the duration of the party, food, or dress code.

Be meticulous

Remember that while some of the details of the party date and venue might be obvious to you, they might not be to your guests. Always include extra details like the postcode of the venue if it's possible that some of your guests won't know where you mean. If you know how long the party will last, or there's a set time that guests need to leave by, include this information too. Whatever you do, just take your time. As long as you are neat, consistent and meticulous, your birthday party invitations are as good as done.

For a big birthday

Organisation

When someone special is involved

For a bespoke design

Want to Create Birthday Invitation on WhatsApp? You may only think of WhatsApp as a basic chat tool, but you can do more on it than simply have conversations. Today, you can send broadcasts, track locations in real-time and even send money. One useful way to use the app is to send save the dates or even invitations to an event like a birthday. These kinds of things are one element of life where paper copies still reign supreme and proper, however dropping a message to ask people to save the date before you send out any formal invites can be fun! Then when you are ready to send out your invites and order some birthday stationery, we have plenty to choose from!

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Ok, first things first, lets get creative and send that birthday save the date on WhatsApp to invite your guests with style and ease.

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Formal cards are not a native feature of WhatsApp, but that doesn't mean you have to resort to sending boring texts to all your friends. You can create personalised save the date cards in a number of ways, which you can then send as images to everyone you want to invite.

Use your WhatsApp status

The status feature of WhatsApp is there for the creative user to harness for making e-invites. Simply open the status screen in the app and use all the tools available to design your own invitation. There are options for stickers, doodles and text, as well as background colours, to make an attractive image.

When you are finished, don't upload the invite to your status; simply take a screenshot, crop it and send it to your friends as an image.

Use invitation card maker apps

Modern smartphones can do all sorts of amazing things. The app stores on iOS and Android devices are full of feature-rich invitation card maker apps. They come with hundreds of templates where you can change the text and the pictures. Choose your own colour scheme and modify any other elements that appear. Once you have customised it, an invitation image will be generated and you can send it to all your WhatsApp friends.

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Enjoy yourself!

For those with their own software and skills, popular options include making an invitation card on design software or even filming invitation videos. So many types of media can be sent through WhatsApp that it really offers a huge range of options for you.

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So there it is, your guests know the future date for your party! Now why not make it formal and start a your wonderful party theme and atmosphere with a beautiful birthday invite! No matter the occasion we have an invite that will be perfect. Printed invites can also be a beautiful keepsake for those milestone birthday - something a text or digital message just can't be! Browse our collections and lets get the real party started!