Celebrating half a century: 50 ideas for a 50th birthday.

Turning 50 is a major lifetime milestone. It marks half a century of experiences, achievements, and memories – and is a significant event that deserves to be celebrated in style.

A friend, family member, colleague or relative is turning 50 soon? You want to show the birthday celebrant some love on this special day, you’re still looking for a gift, or you’re even planning a big 50th birthday party? We’ve got you covered – with 50 ideas for a 50th birthday. Let’s jump right in!

Golden jubilee: 10 great 50th birthday gift ideas.

Celebrating 50 years of life deserves a gift that is especially meaningful. Whether it’s traditional or creative, a well-thought-out gift expresses love, gratitude, and admiration, making the recipient feel special and cherished on their milestone birthday. But it’s not the easiest task for the gift-giver – which is why we gathered 10 creative gift ideas for a 50th birthday.

5 meaningful 50th birthday gift ideas for him:

50th Birthday Gift Idea #1: A cool tech gadget.

Technology gadgets like the latest smartphone, a tablet, or a smart home device such as a high-end smart speaker can be both practical and exciting 50th birthday gift ideas for tech-lovers.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #2: A self-made memory book.

Create a personalised memory book filled with photographs, anecdotes, and heartfelt messages from friends and family. Include important moments and milestones from their life, along with well-wishes and reflections on the past 50 years. This is a thoughtful gift that will hopefully be a cherished keepsake of memories from half a century.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #3: A special, customised leather goods.

High-quality leather items like a personalised wallet, briefcase, or travel bag can be a stylish and practical gift.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #4: A unique collector’s item.

If the birthday boy is a fan of a particular sport or has a special interest, a rare or limited-edition collector’s item such as a vintage vinyl record, signed sports memorabilia, or a first-edition book can make a unique and meaningful 50th birthday gift idea.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #5: A customised travel experience.

Plan a personalised travel experience tailored to the celebrant’s interests and preferences. Whether it's a relaxing beach getaway, an adventurous hiking trip, or a cultural tour of a new city, arrange the details to create a memorable journey. You can use Adobe Express to design a personalised gift certificate.

Creative 50th birthday gift ideas for her:

50th Birthday Gift Idea #6: A relaxing spa day.

A luxurious spa day or weekend retreat at a high-end spa resort can provide her with the ultimate relaxation and pampering experience.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #7: A special piece of jewellery.

A piece of fine jewellery, such as a diamond necklace, a bracelet, or a pair of elegant earrings, can be a timeless and special gift for a 50th birthday.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #8: A personalised keepsake.

A custom piece such as a photo album, a framed self-designed photo collage, or a piece of art that holds sentimental value can be a touching and meaningful 50th birthday gift idea.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #9: An adventure experience.

Purchase a gift card for an adventure experience company that offers a range of activities such as hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours, zip-lining, or outdoor excursions. This allows the birthday person to choose an adventure and provides an unforgettable experience to mark this milestone birthday.

50th Birthday Gift Idea #10: A workshop or class (to do together).

Enrol the jubilee in an artistic workshop or class such as painting, pottery, or photography. This creative and inspiring gift provides an opportunity for self-expression, learning new skills, and discovering hidden talents, fostering personal growth and artistic fulfilment. This gift becomes even better when you do it together!

Please note that even though we have to an extent ‘gendered’ these ideas, any of them could fit your 50-year-old celebrant. You know them and their preferences best – so just choose the idea you think the birthday person would love the most!

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A toast to fifty: 20 ideas for your 50th birthday wishes.

Whether accompanied by a gift or not – a 50th birthday calls for birthday wishes. Send or give the jubilee a card for their special day, and don’t forget to add personal birthday wishes. This shows the birthday person that you care and it will certainly be appreciated. You don’t know what to write? No worries – here are 20 ideas for birthday wishes for a 50th birthday.

10 ideas for creative 50th birthday wishes for him.

1. Happy 50th Birthday! Here's to reaching this incredible milestone. May your next 50 years be even more extraordinary and filled with joy. Cheers!
2. Wishing you a fabulous 50th birthday! May your day be filled with laughter, great company, and wonderful memories. Enjoy every moment!
3. Happy 50th! May this special day bring you endless happiness, and may the year ahead be your best one yet.
4. Congratulations on turning 50! You've achieved so much and there's still so much to look forward to. Have a fantastic celebration!
5. Happy 50th Birthday! May your day be as amazing as you are, and may you continue to inspire everyone around you.
6. Wishing you a spectacular 50th birthday! May this year bring you good health, success, and all the happiness in the world.
7. Happy 50th! Here's to half a century of wonderful experiences and many more to come. Celebrate big!
8. On your 50th birthday, may you be surrounded by those who love and appreciate you. Enjoy your special day to the fullest!
9. Happy 50th birthday! May this milestone year be filled with everything that makes you smile and brings you happiness.
10. Congratulations on turning 50! May this special day mark the beginning of a new chapter filled with adventure, joy, and laughter.

10 ideas for birthday wishes for a 50th birthday for her.

1. Happy 50th Birthday! May your special day be as wonderful as you are. Wishing you all the best on this milestone birthday!
2. Wishing you a fabulous 50th birthday! May your day be filled with love, laughter, and joy. Enjoy every moment of your celebration!
3. Happy 50th! You've reached an incredible milestone, and I hope your day is filled with all the things that make you smile.
4. Congratulations on turning 50! May your birthday be the start of a new and exciting chapter in your life. Have a fantastic day!
5. Happy 50th Birthday! Wishing you a day that's as special and amazing as you are. Cheers to many more wonderful years!
6. Wishing you a very happy 50th birthday! May your day be filled with love, joy, and wonderful memories. Celebrate big!
7. Happy 50th! May your day be surrounded by loved ones and filled with all the things you treasure. Enjoy your special day to the fullest!
8. On your 50th birthday, may you be showered with love and blessings. Wishing you a year ahead full of happiness and success.
9. Happy 50th Birthday! May this milestone year bring you everything your heart desires and more. Have an incredible celebration!
10. Congratulations on turning 50! Here's to celebrating you and all your amazing accomplishments. Wishing you a fantastic birthday!

Again, please note that although we have structured these wishes into ones for ‘him’ and ‘her’, birthday wishes obviously have no gender. So if you are writing to a non-binary person, one of the "birthday wishes for him" is best for your mom’s 50th birthday card, then tweak these wishes to make them fit your special person. In the end, the only thing that matters is making someone happy with your 50th birthday wishes.

10 fun, elegant and thoughtful 50th birthday card ideas.

Now that you have selected your 50th birthday wishes, it is time to talk about the birthday card. You can use Adobe Express to design a 50th birthday card online – easy, for free, and however you want to design it. You can also add personal photos or custom illustrations to make your birthday card even more unique. Just use a template or design a 50th birthday card from scratch, using one of these 50th birthday card ideas:

1. Funny 50th birthday card ideas.

1. "Over the Hill": Design a card featuring an illustration of a person climbing a hill, with a humorous text, such as: "You're not over the hill yet, but you can see the top from here! Happy 50th!"
2. "Vintage Collection": Create a retro-themed card with vintage elements and the caption, "Aged to perfection. Cheers to 50 years of greatness!"

2. Loving and sentimental 50th birthday card ideas.

1. "Memory Lane": A card that opens to reveal a timeline of significant life events, accompanied by heartfelt messages and nostalgic photos.
2. "Golden Moments": A gold-themed card with shimmering accents, featuring a heartfelt poem or message about the cherished moments shared over the years.

3. Inspirational and motivational 50th birthday card ideas.

1. "Adventure Awaits": An adventurous card with illustrations of travel destinations and an inspiring message like, "The best is yet to come. Here's to new adventures at 50!"
2. "Dream Big": A card with a sky in the background and motivational quotes, encouraging the recipient to continue pursuing their passions and dreams.

4. Elegant and classy 50th birthday card ideas.

1. "Timeless Elegance": A sophisticated, minimalistically designed card with and elegant typography, wishing the recipient a stylish and graceful 50th birthday.
2. "Golden Jubilee": An elegant card adorned with gold foil accents and a regal design, celebrating the milestone of a golden jubilee.

5. Humorous and light-hearted 50th birthday card ideas.

1. "Still Young": A light-hearted card featuring a cartoon character defying age stereotype, with a caption like, "50 is just a number. Stay young at heart!"
2. "Half a Century of Awesome": A fun and colourful card with playful graphics, celebrating the recipient's 50 years of awesomeness and accomplishments.

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10 festive 50th birthday décor ideas.

Décor for a 50th birthday celebration can be tailored to reflect the significance of this milestone and the personality of the guest of honour. Are you throwing a 50th birthday party for yourself or a loved one? Here are some 50th birthday décor ideas to create a festive and memorable ambiance:

1. The golden theme: Use a mix of gold and white balloons to create a festive atmosphere. Include some number "50" balloons to highlight the milestone. Set the tables with gold tablecloths, napkins, and cutlery. Add gold-rimmed plates and glasses for an elegant touch.
2. The nostalgic theme: Create a photo wall displaying pictures from different decades of the jubilee’s life. Use vintage frames or a string of fairy lights to hang the photos.
3. The elegant theme: Decorate with crystal chandeliers and lots of candles to create a sophisticated and classy ambiance. Use elegant floral arrangements for this 50th birthday décor idea.
4. The travel theme: Create a backdrop with a large world map. Guests can pin their favourite travel destinations or places they think the guest of honour should visit next. You can also showcase the birthday person’s past travel photos.
5. The humorous theme: Display humorous signs and posters with funny messages about turning 50 for this 50th birthday décor idea. Use puns and jokes that fit the guest of honour’s sense of humour.
6. The glamorous theme: Decorate with lots of fairy lights, glittery tablecloths, and shimmering decorations to create a sparkling, glamorous atmosphere. Set up a photo booth where guests can take pictures.
7. The garden party: If the party takes place outdoors and is suited for a summer birthday, set up a tent with fairy lights and lanterns to create a magical garden party setting. Use fresh flowers, potted plants, and greenery to decorate the space.
8. The sophisticated theme: Combine black and gold balloons for a sophisticated and dramatic look. Use black tablecloths with gold runners or place mats. Add gold centrepieces and candleholders to complete the look.
9. The personalized theme: Create custom banners and signs with the guest of honour’s name and age. Use monogrammed items like napkins, coasters, and balloons with the guest of honour’s initials for a personalized touch.
10. The 50^th theme: Incorporate the number "50" into all the décor, using balloons, banners, candles or floral arrangements. This serves as a visual reminder of the milestone being celebrated and adds a festive element to the party.

Celebrate a 50th birthday with Adobe Express.

Make the most of your 50th birthday party by putting extra care and creativity into the details. Whether you're the birthday celebrant or a party guest: customised invitations, name tags, personalised decorations and printouts add a special touch to your 50th birthday party. This is what Adobe Express can help you with:

1. Birthday invitations: With Adobe Express, you can design a birthday invitation in any shape and size and edit it to your liking. Save your design and share your invitation by email. Or print it for sending to your guests.
2. Birthday gift certificate: Whatever gift you give the jubilee, Adobe Express has the right template for your gift certificate. Create your own certificate for a personalised gift, or use our templates to spice up a boring corporate gift certificate.
3. Birthday photo collages: Our layout tool allows you to combine multiple images into an exceptional photo collage. You can make a single photo the centrepiece, or use multiple images to tell a story.
4. Birthday slideshows and videos: Are you ready to take your birthday collage to the next level? There are several ways to present your photos in a stunning video slideshow. You can even create a birthday video to show at the 50th birthday party!
5. Birthday gift tag: Add a personal touch to any gift with a customised gift tag. Adobe Express gives you all the tools you need to quickly design a personalized gift tag. Choose a theme or design a tag from scratch to match your gift.
6. Birthday card: Create unique and creative birthday card designs. Customise your card with free images, fonts, and more.

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Good to know.

What do you write in a 50th birthday card?

When writing in a 50th birthday card, consider expressing heartfelt congratulations and warm wishes for the milestone occasion. Share memories, reflect on the jubilees journey so far, and offer words of optimism for the future. A bit of humour or a nod to shared experiences is always welcome.

What is the best message for 50th birthday card?

The best message for a 50th birthday is one that combines sincerity, celebration, and reflection. Consider acknowledging the accomplishments and experiences of the birthday person, while expressing excitement for the adventures that lie ahead. You can also involve some gentle teasing about being "over the hill" or embracing the joys of being "halfway to 100." See our list in this article for 20 ideas for creative 50th birthday wishes.

How do you arrange a 50th birthday party?

To throw a memorable 50th birthday celebration, start by selecting a venue that reflects the guest of honour’s personality and preferences. Consider incorporating elements such as themed decorations, personalised touches, and entertainment that pays tribute to their interests and achievements. Ensure that the guest list includes close friends, family members, and colleagues and send out personalised birthday invitations in plenty of time.

How do you say "Happy 50th Birthday" in a funny way?

Injecting humour into a "Happy 50th Birthday" message can be done with light-hearted jokes and playful banter. Consider phrases like "You're not over the hill yet, just halfway up!" or "Welcome to the fabulous 50s club – where the fun really begins!"

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, you can get started with Adobe Express for free. The basic version includes a wide range of professionally designed image templates, videos, design elements, royalty-free photos, videos, and music titles. You'll also have access to quick actions for image processing and a variety of other helpful features. Adobe Express offers useful tools, tutorials, and tips to help you make the most of its capabilities.