Ideas for a 50th Birthday Card
- 50th birthdays represent an important milestone and typically involve special celebrations.it 's a birthday! image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
So, you have to buy, create or email a 50th birthday card and need some ideas. Fifty represents an important milestone and your celebration should live up to the day. As with any thoughtful gift, one-size card does not fit all. First, you need to consider your relationship to the person turning 50. A parent or spouse naturally deserves, and probably expects, something more than what you'd give a friend of a friend. Next, decide whether you want to go with a do-it-yourself ("DIY") approach, buy your card at a store, or send an eCard. All of these options have their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, you need to strike the right tone. - We've all seen humorous birthday cards and know that some hit and others miss. The most successful funny cards incorporate humor with something personal, such as an inside joke or gentle mockery (for 50, being "over the hill" would be an obvious theme). Sometimes, humorous cards don't even need explicit punch lines. Subtlety through images and irony can do the trick. One of the great risks of humorous birthday cards involves overstepping boundaries or striking a sensitive nerve. Remember the recipient and how she feels about turning 50. If you think that your joke may not go over well, then you might want to avoid it in favor of something less risqué.
- Turning 50 can inspire reflection on one's achievements and memories. Some people use birthday cards to communicate special, deeply emotional thoughts that otherwise go unsaid. Typically, sentimental cards convey their tone with serious imagery and fonts. For obvious reasons, people only send sentimental birthday cards to those very close to them, such as spouses, parents and siblings. The decision to send a heartfelt birthday card hinges on the nature of your relationship with the recipient. Just because you have a close relationship with the one celebrating a birthday does not mean that you have to say something serious and sentimental. Sometimes, thoughtful use of humor conveys an emotional message more effectively than emotional language.
- For a fun alternative to humorous and emotional birthday cards, consider the element of surprise. Birthday cards traditionally accompany gifts, but they can also contain gifts. A 50th birthday warrants something a little extra. Perhaps, you can present tickets to a play or event or a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant within the card. Of course, including a gift does not preclude writing a thoughtful message. If the gift delights, then the card's message will act as icing on the cake. Size presents the main challenge for birthday cards with gifts. Choose something that can fit in the envelope.
