“Congratulations” is often the basic message people want to express when they sign a wedding card. It’s like a supportive pat on the back, and it’s easy to say even when you’ve never met one half of the marrying couple. Here are some ideas for warming up and personalizing your congratulations.

More casual

• “Congratulations to the wonderful two of you!”
• “This calls for congratulations! (And probably champagne!)”
• “Congrats, [Tanisha and Marcus]! It’s so great to see two awesome people like you getting married. Love and best wishes always!”
• “So happy for you!”
• “It makes us so happy to see the two of you so happy. Congratulations!”
• “Congratulations! Love you both!”
• “You guys are great together! So happy for you!”
• “You’ll always remember this day. Hope it’s even more beautiful and perfect than you’ve been dreaming, and hope it’s just the start of a lifetime that just gets better and better.”
• “Prayers and blessings on your wedding and on your marriage.”
• “‘Two become one’—what a beautiful thing. Congratulations!”
• “Such a beautiful day to jump the broom into happiness together.”
• “You two make this ‘love and marriage’ thing almost seem worth trying. Just kidding—you look so happy, and I’m so happy for you!”
• “Hope you’ll always find yourselves as much in love as you are today. (We suggest date nights and lots of them!)”
• “I hope through the years you become even better friends and share every possible kind of happiness life can bring.”

More formal

• “Heartfelt congratulations.”
• “Warmest congratulations and love.”
• “With warmest wishes and love today and always,”
• “Congratulations on your wedding day and best wishes for a happy life together!”
• “It means so much to witness the joy of your wedding day. Congratulations to you both on finding the perfect person to share all your days with.”
• “Feeling so much joy for the two of you as you join your lives in marriage!”
• “We hope you can feel all the happiness surrounding you on your wedding day!”
• “Seeing you two make promises and step forward into the future is so inspiring and wonderful.”
• “If ever two people deserved a sweet, meaningful, joyful wedding day, it’s the two of you.”
• “God bless you both as you begin this wonderful journey of marriage together.”
• “Be happy, be grateful, and love each other well!”
• “I just know life has even more wonderful things in store than the happiness you share today. May every day be beautiful and happy for you as a couple.”

It’s the biggest day of their lives, and they want you to be part of it? That deserves a callout. Expressing gratitude for the chance to share in the marriage celebration is a sweet message all on its own or in combination with a wish or a “congratulations.”

More casual

• “Congratulations, [Carlos and Delia]! It means so much to be a part of your big day!”
• “We’re thrilled to be celebrating with you! Let’s get this wedding party started!”

More formal

• “Thanks for inviting me to your wedding. It’s an honor to share in such a beautiful and important day. Best wishes for a future filled with happiness and love.”
• “It’s such an honor to witness your vows and be among those to wish you a beautiful beginning.”
• “You’ll always remember this day and so will those who were there when the whole beautiful happily-ever-after started. Best wishes forever.”
• “Watching you together is like catching a sunrise—I’m witnessing the start of something beautiful. Thanks for letting me be here with you.”

Even when you can’t make the destination wedding in Hawaii (bummer), you can still make your presence felt by letting the couple know you’re with them in spirit.

More casual

• “Congratulations on your big day, [Same and Blake]! Wish we could be there to see it.”
• “Wishing you happiness and prosperity as you begin your life together.”
• “So sorry I couldn’t be there to celebrate with you. But even though I’ll miss the dress, the bouquet and the first dance, I would never miss the chance to wish you all the very best in life as you begin this amazing journey together!”
• “I wish I could be at your wedding to give you both a hug and tell you how happy I am for you.”

More formal

• “With you in spirit as you join hands and hearts and lives for always.”
• “As you lift your glasses to each other tonight, I lift mine to you both from afar. Here’s to a truly amazing couple and to a marriage filled with every happiness.”
• “Thinking of you both with love on your wedding day.”
• “Our warmest thoughts and wishes are with you as you celebrate your marriage.”

When it’s a family member getting married—whether it’s your sibling, your child, your dad, your cousin or even your grandma—you might want to add a welcome (or maybe a warning?) for the new spouse marrying into your family.

More casual

• “[Maria], welcome to our big, crazy family! [Rob], what a lucky guy you are. Congratulations and lots of love to you both,”
• “[Eric], you’ve been like family for a long time, but now it’s official. [Jenny Bean], it means so much to see you marrying the love of your life. I’m so overjoyed for both of you!”
• “Today you officially become your very own family of [2]. So glad to have you both as part of our bigger family, too!”

More formal

• “Together, you’re going to be such a blessing to our family. All our love to you both as you join your lives in marriage.”
• “Your wedding is such a wonderful day for the two of you and for our family.”
• “Today, our family grows by one new member and by so much love and happiness.”

Sometimes the “family” includes a community or congregation. These message ideas are great for when a large or diverse group of people is doing the welcoming!

More casual

• “Can you feel the love? Our whole community is celebrating with you today!”
• “Your marriage blesses our community. What a joy to celebrate with you today.”
• “Your marriage makes our world a brighter, happier one with even more reasons to celebrate.”
• “Celebrating you two and all the love you add to our community.”
• “So happy to celebrate you two today!”
• “Here’s to love that lasts forever, but never grows old!”
• “May each year be sweeter than the one before it.”
• “Let the celebration begin!”
• “You deserve to be celebrated!”
• “Here’s to the love you share and to the joy you bring us all!”

More formal

• “When two good people fall in love and marry, the whole community has so much to celebrate.”
• “At the heart of a joyful community, there is love. Your marriage is a happy event for us all.”
• “You two are living proof of just how beautiful love [is/can be].”
• “Your marriage honors God and brings so much joy to the friends and family celebrating with you!”
• “Your [marriage/joy/love] inspires and uplifts those around you.”
• “When God brings two people together in marriage, the world becomes a more beautiful place for everyone.”

These sweet and simple wishes are great go-to messages—perfect for when you’re signing your card in the car on the way there (ideally, not while driving).

Examples

• “Couldn’t be happier for you!”
• “Wishing you every happiness together!”
• “Congratulations on your marriage and best wishes always!”
• “Here’s to the love that brought you together!”
• “I knew the love you had was something special. I love being right.”
• “I love to see two people who deserve happiness so much find it with each other. Best wishes to you both.”

A warm closing is like the bow on top! Choose one of ours, or create your own.

• Warmly,
• Love,
• With love,
• Lots of love,
• Love always,
• Much love to you both,
• Best wishes!
• Best wishes for your life together,
• All life’s best to the two of you,
• Congratulations!
• Congratulations and best wishes,
• Warmest congratulations,
• Gratefully,
• Blessings,
• God bless,
• God bless you both,
• God bless you now and always,

It’s not the number of words that counts, but the caring behind them. If the card has already said it all or you’re just not in a gushy mood, it’s fine to keep your personal message short and sweet.

Examples

• “Wishing a perfect pair a perfectly happy day.”
• “Here’s to another year of being great together!”
• “Anniversary cheers!”
• “Happy [21st] anniversary, you old lovebirds!”
• “Hope you find time to look back on all your sweet memories together.”
• “Always knew you two had something special.”
• “Still vibin’ and still thrivin’ right on up to your forever. Happy Anniversary, you two!”
• “Hope the next [10] years are even happier than your [first decade] together!”
• “Can’t believe it’s been [three] years already. Here’s to many more!”
• “Love and much happiness to one of our all-time favorite couples!”
• “Warmest wishes to the wonderful two of you on your [sixth] anniversary.”
• “Wishing you a happy ‘you two’ day!”
• “Another year, another great reason to celebrate!”
• “Congratulations all over again!”

When it’s your own anniversary, there can be a lot of pressure to get things exactly right. But what matters most is being authentic and saying how you feel. Your message is a great place to thank your spouse or partner, to say I love you, to reaffirm your commitment and to express confidence in your future together.

Examples

• “Happy [11th], [Babe]. I love you more every year!”
• “[Fourteen] years of marriage and mayhem! You’ve made me so happy through every single one.”
• “Happy Anniversary, with all my love, to the strongest, kindest, funniest, best guy I know.”
• “[Eight] years ago today, you made me the happiest man on earth. And I still feel like I’m the luckiest.”
• “Every day I’m still discovering new things about you to love.”
• “It’s been a tough year, but our love is tougher. Thanks for staying so strong through it all. Here’s to us…and to a brighter year ahead.”
• “I’m so lucky to have you and your love. Thanks for putting up with me for another year!”
• “So grateful that God gave me you to love.”
• “It’s our [fourth] wedding anniversary and our first as parents. I’m so grateful to be sharing this adventure with someone so wonderful, and I look forward to all the love, laughter and wonder ahead for us.”
• “I still remember the way my heart leaped when you got down on your knee and asked me to be your wife. Of course I said yes, and I’d say it all over again. Yes to you. Yes to this life we’ve made. A thousand times YES to our love!”
• “Yours is still my favorite face.”
• “Our anniversary marks 365 more days you’ve made me laugh, appreciate you, learn, grow and be oh so glad we’re together!”
• “I never dreamed love could be this good.”
• “Still in this together. Love that.”
• “You won my heart then, and Baby, you still own it.”
• “Love you even though I sometimes have a funny way of showing it.”
• “Happy Anniversary to My Better-in-Every-Way Half. Seriously, you’re amazing.”
• “Marrying you was the smartest thing I ever did.”
• “Happy first-date anniversary to us! You bowled me over then and you still do!”
• “We’re out here making our dreams together just like we promised. Love being beside you, Bae.”
• “Celebrating both when you first promised forever and when you got to make it official.”

Love and appreciation are big themes for anniversary cards to family members. You might thank parents or other older relatives for the example they’ve set with their marriage. And an anniversary card is a great place to remind siblings, cousins and their significant others how good it is to call them family.

Examples

• “Mom and Dad, the home you’ve made and your loving commitment to each other have blessed our family in more ways than we can count.”
• “So blessed to have grandparents like you. Thanks for showing us, year after year, what a marriage centered on faith looks like.”
• “Thanks for being wonderful parents and for your lasting commitment to each other. In all my years, I’ve never once wondered whether you loved each other, or me. It was always so clear.”
• “[Scott], you’re one lucky guy. [Max], thanks for making my big brother so happy. Love to you both on your anniversary!”
• “Happy [ninth] anniversary to my favorite cousin and cousin-in-law!”
• “It’s so good to call you family, to share good times with you both and to see how happy you make each other.”
• “Happy Anniversary, Uncle Max and Uncle charles. Each of you is so special in your own way, and together you’re just the best!”
• “Family is so much more fun with both of you in it! Happy [fourth] anniversary! Love you guys!”
• “You don’t get this far without a whole lotta love, and that’s what you’ve given—to each other and to the family around you. Hope you know how much we love you, too.”
• “I couldn’t ask for a better sister and brother-in-law (or for cuter nieces!).”
• “Just thinking how good it is to have a couple like you in our family. God bless you both on your anniversary.”
• “Celebrating this special day in your lives and the happiness you have together.”

Whether you’re friends with one half or both halves of the couple, you can make your anniversary wishes warm and meaningful by showing them you know them. Share the kind of warm compliment, oddball humor or specific memory that only a friend could.

Examples

• “Sending love and good wishes to some of our very favorite people.”
• “Warm anniversary wishes to two dear friends who mean so much.”
• “The two of you have your own reasons to celebrate on your anniversary, and as your friend, I have so many reasons to celebrate you both.”
• “It’s so cool that two of my favorite people are married to each other. Here’s to [two] great years…and many more!”
• “This is what happens when marathon runners get married. You’ve built a love made to go the distance!”
• “You two are so great to know and be around. Can you adopt me?”
• “Thinking of you and all the good times we’ve shared. So glad you’re in our lives.”
• “Wow! I can’t believe it’s been [three] whole years since I saw you take the floor for your first dance together as man and wife. Not even your adorable dancing-machine flower girl could steal the spotlight from the two of you.”
• “There are lots of quotes about lasting love but few couples who seem to do it as well as you.”
• “Happy anniversary to the greatest people…with the garden we’re most jealous of!”
• “So…going out to a great restaurant? Huh? Can I come?”
• “No marriage is perfect, but if ever a couple came close, it’s you two.”
• “Your faith in the Father and faith in each other is a beautiful thing to see.”

Milestone anniversaries are kind of a big deal, and you might consider making your personal message a little bigger than usual, too. You might even write a mini-tribute to the milestone couple.

Examples

• “Happy [40th] anniversary to one of the greatest couples we know! It’s a joy to have you in our lives and to celebrate with you today!”
• “You two are truly an inspiration.”
• “A big anniversary to celebrate a big, big love.”
• “Wow. Look what love can do! Congratulations.”
• “Remember, the first [30] years are the hardest.”
• “A lasting love like yours is the world’s most beautiful thing.”
• “Enjoy all your new [silver] stuff and have a wonderful [25th] anniversary.”
• “Love, commitment and a whole lot of fun. Happy [50th]!”
• “[Twenty] isn’t just a number. It’s good times and tough stuff and forever memories. It’s you and you. It’s love.”
• “You have so much to show for your [30] years together…a beautiful family, a thriving business, all you’ve learned together…and a lasting legacy of great memories.”
• “For better, for worse, for the long haul—congrats, you two!”
• “[Forty-five] years of marriage! It couldn’t have been easy every day, but you two make it look that way.”
• “[Fifty]—now there’s a number you can be proud of.”
• “Nobody does it better than you two. Happy [Silver] Anniversary.”
• “Love that grows through time is such an inspiring thing. Congratulations on your [45] years together.”
• “Sharing in your happiness as you celebrate [40] years of marriage. Today is your day to be in the spotlight…to celebrate all you’ve accomplished together…and to bask in all the admiration.”
• “[25] Years: Now THIS is how you do love. Y’all are amazing.”
• “Having each other’s backs and taking care of one another’s souls for [10] years, that’s a beautiful faith walk.”
• If you share a sense of humor with the couple, make up your own milestone. “This is the [whiskey] anniversary, right?”

An anniversary is a happy occasion that sometimes falls during a tough time, due to serious illness, job loss, marital problems or other challenging circumstances. Whatever the situation, it’s still appropriate to acknowledge the anniversary and send good vibes the couple’s way.

Examples

• “The two of you have seen challenges this year, and you’ve met each one together. Celebrating that today!”
• “Time out from real life to celebrate you and your love.”
• “You two mean so much to us. Thinking of you with love.”
• “Whatever life brings, love can handle it. Have a wonderful anniversary.”
• “With all that’s going on, here’s hoping you find some time for each other on your anniversary.”
• “You two clearly took that ‘for better or worse’ thing to heart. Wishing you lots of ‘better’ in the year ahead.”
• “Wishing you a moment or two to celebrate you.”
• “I still have a good feeling about you two.”
• “Happy Anniversary to a couple who’s wished nothing but the best, always.”
• “When you’ve got a strong love like yours, you can make it through anything. So many who admire you are honoring you today.”
• “Life can come at you strong. But your love is even stronger. Happy Anniversary.”
• “Real life might challenge real love. But it can’t beat it. Your love has gotten you through so much together. Wishing you a happy anniversary.”

A warm closing before your signature is a perfect way to wrap up any anniversary message. Choose one of ours, or come up with one of your own.

• Warmly,
• Warmest congratulations,
• Love,
• With love to you both,
• Lots of love,
• Love always,
• Much love to you,
• Cheers!
• Here’s to you two!
• Best wishes on your anniversary and always,
• All life’s best to you,
• Happy Anniversary!
• Happy [20th]!
• Still so happy for you,
• Wishing you continued happiness,
• Warmest wishes,
• Gratefully,
• Blessings,
• God bless you both,
• Peace, love, out,
• Keep it up, kids.
• Nobody quite like you two,
• Here’s to many more!
• To all the life and love ahead,

What you write in your mom’s birthday card depends on your relationship, but love, appreciation and upbeat wishes are usually a good bet. If she’s got a healthy sense of humor, feel free to make her laugh. 

• Happy birthday, with heartfelt thanks my wise, wonderful, one-and-only mom.
• You’re the best, Mom. Love you.
• Wishing a beautiful day for my beautiful mama.
• The more time goes by, the more grateful I am to have you for my mother.
• Hope your birthday brings some time to relax and remember how much you’re loved.
• I don’t say it enough, but it’s always true: I love you, and I’m so lucky you’re my mom.
• For all the days you’ve made happy for our family and all the ways you make us smile—happy birthday with lots of love.
• Mama, on your birthday, celebrating your strength, your passion for life and the loving way you bring change into the world.
• Wish I could be there to celebrate with you, Mom. Have fun! Miss you!
• Happy birthday from your favorite child. Love you!
• Mama, happy birthday to you, the angel of all our hearts.
• With love from the reason for most of your gray hairs.

Love and thanks make good birthday messages for Dad, too. Again, let your relationship be your guide, and write from the heart.

• To my hero…my strong and loving dad.
• Birthday and every day, it means so much to have a great dad like you.
• I really got lucky when I got you for my dad.
• You’ve always been a great father, and you’ve become a real friend, too. I love that…and I love you, Baba.
• For lessons you’ve taught. For days you’ve saved. For everything. Thanks, Dad.
• I’ve always been proud of the good man you are—and so very proud to be your [son].
• You just keep getting stronger, wiser, funnier and more amazing every year!
• Daddy, today the cookout is in your honor. And yes—you can still season the meat.
• You’re more than a dad. You’re the greatest man I know.
• Happy birthday, Dad! Hope the sun is shining and the fish are biting!
• Papa, you are GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLS! Celebrating you and your love of life today.
• Happy birthday to the man who taught me everything I know, from the kid who paid attention to roughly half of everything you tried to teach.
• Dad, I hope you find a fun way to waste some time on your birthday. You have my permission!
• Daddy, celebrating you as my rock and as a loving pillar of our community.
• You deserve a margarita with the good tequila today. Happy birthday to a top-shelf Dad!

A birthday quote for your adult child is a great opportunity to let them know how you feel about the amazing human they’ve grown into.

• When you came into our lives [30] years ago, we were amazed. We still are. 
• Happy Birthday to a strong and brilliant [daughter] who will turn the world around!
• [James], you’ve been the kind of [son] parents dream of having. We’re so proud—on your birthday and every day.
• We still remember the first time we laid eyes on you [23] years ago. Hope you know how much we love you and how grateful we are to call you our [daughter].
• Watching you grow up has been one of the biggest, most rewarding blessings of my life. Yes, even that first year after you got your license.  
• [Mehak], you’ve worked so hard to build the life you’ve dreamed. And it’s an honor to watch you shine.
• I know being raised by a single parent was hard. I’m so grateful for the strong kid you were then, and the wonderful friend you are now.
• Through the years you’ve made us laugh, cry, cheer, worry, smile and—maybe a few times—yell. But more than anything, you’ve made us proud.
• We could never have imagined your tiny hands would grow to be so helpful, or that your little feet would travel the world. So in awe of the amazing person you’ve become!

If you’re married to or dating the birthday boy or girl, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationship or have a little flirtatious fun.

• Happy birthday, Beautiful.
• I’m so grateful you came into the world because you make my world better every day. Happy birthday, Baby.
• Hope your birthday cake is the second sweetest thing I get to taste today. Those lips, tho!
• Happy birthday, babe. Thanks for you being you and being mine.
• It’s your day, and I can’t wait to celebrate it with you.
• Baby, I’m celebrating the special sweetness and deep goodness of you today. Happy birthday.
• I hope your birthday is the happiest, my love.
• Wish you were here for me to spoil today.
• Beautiful. Sweet. Tasty. And I ain’t talking about the cake. Happy Birthday, Bae.

Sometimes you just want to tell someone, “Thanks for being a good friend.” A birthday card is a great way to do just that.  

• Happy birthday to a friend I couldn’t live without!
• In case I don’t tell you often enough, I’m so grateful for all you bring to my life!
• Gettin’ old ain’t for babies. They can’t handle this much fun!
• Girl, age can’t handle your hotness! Happy birthday, friend.
• It just occurred to me that we really are becoming OLD friends. So glad we are.
• Love you, sweet friend. Happy birthday.
• In my soul, I call you sister. Happy birthday to a phenomenal woman.
• [Elana], thanks for being there—basically, for being you.
• Hope every little piece of this day is good, man.

Love, compliments and warm wishes all work nicely for family. So do “proud of you” and “I’m glad we’re family” messages or quotes. 

• Every year, I’m even more grateful to have a [brother] like you.
• Celebrating today what a joy you are to be around, [Sis]!
• Nothing feels safer than coming home to love, tradition, heritage and you, Dado.
• So proud of the person you are! So happy we’re family.
• I am just so in awe of you…and so proud to call you my [sister].
• Well, [Grandpa], another year has gone by, and I still haven’t come across anyone wiser, kinder, more generous or better at [checkers] than you. You’re the best!
• [Amil], you do life big and love bigger. Love having you as a brother and celebrating your goodness.

Let your relationship guide birthday messages for co-workers. If it’s someone you’re close to, you can be casual in your message. If it’s your supervisor or someone with whom you have a relationship that’s more about work, keep your message more formal.

• Happy birthday and all the best to you in the year to come!
• It’s a pleasure to work with you…and to wish you a happy birthday!
• [Lucas], all work and no play makes us dull girls. So don’t work too hard on your birthday. Hope it’s happy!
• Your birthday lunch is on me! (Unless we can expense it—then I’ll let someone else pay.)
• Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for baking you the cake in the break room. Fortunately, I can totally have a slice in your honor.
• The best thing about your cubicle is that it’s next to mine. Happy birthday, friend!
• You’re my favorite person to ping. Hope you have a happy birthday!
• Thanks for being such a great person to look up to. Hope your birthday is the best.
• Here’s to zero [fire drills/urgent emails/angry customers] on your birthday.
• You make work a lot less like work. Thanks for all you do!
• Let’s wait to circle back to the serious stuff until AFTER we celebrate your birthday.
• Happy birthday to the funniest member of my work fam!
• You really GLOWED UP in that cubicle! Get it, Girl! Happy birthday.

When the card has already said it all or you just feel like keeping things short and sweet, a few simple words might be the way to go.  

• Happy, happy birthday, [Sana]!
• I hope you get to do something fun to celebrate!
• You deserve everything happy. Wishing you that all year long!
• [Aaron], hope you have a happy [27th]! Love ya!
• Warmest wishes for a happy birthday.
• Hope today’s filled with all your favorite guilty pleasures!
• [Sophia], hope you make your [25th] a birthday to remember!
• [Carolina], you are living your best life! And this year, it really shows.
• [Aliyah], happy birthday to one of my favorite people in the history of ever.
• Warmest wishes and love on your birthday and always!
• I see you out here looking like time is standing still! Happy birthday.
• Have fun, post pictures and enjoy every minute of your day!
• Let’s get you good and celebrated, girl!
• So grateful God put you on this earth and in my life.
• Wishing you a happy birthday and a year that’s blessed.
• Keep vibin’ and thrivin’, Queen! Here’s to another blessed birthday.

Sharing a laugh in a with a funny birthday quote is a great way to personalize a card for someone you know well. 

• From one of your favorite bad influences. (Added after the card’s printed “Happy Birthday”)
• Hope it’s happier than me at a [shoe sale]! (Or: spa, bar, coffee shop, beach.)
• You get to be the center of attention today! Tomorrow, it’s back to me.
• Have a [martini] for me! Or two! (Or: Substitute recipient’s favorite drink.)
• I think this is the year you get a pony! JK. That’s never.
• Happy birthday to you and your cat! (I know how the cat hates to be left out.)
• How does it feel to be living proof that Black don’t crack?
• Dibs on the presents you don’t like!
• I hope all your wishes come true, even the weird ones.
• Sorry, there’s no money in here.
• Please stop aging so gracefully. It’s getting kind of boring and predictable.
• We all know you’re just showing up to show out on your birthday! And we all co-sign.
• Father Time texted. He just CANNOT with you.

Let them know what a big deal it is to have a nice, round-number birthday!

• [50] never looked so great!
• Happy Birthday, [Mario]! Now that you’ve arrived here, [40] will never be the same again!
• Turning [60] is big! Especially when you’ve made the most of each year and made such a positive difference for the people in your life, like you have. ❤️
• [Haleema], you are [50] years of fun, laughter and love. 
• [30] is the perfect age. You’re old enough to afford the good stuff and still young enough to enjoy it!
• Happy [90th] Birthday, [Nana Betty]! You’re an amazing [woman] and we love you so much!
• Happy birthday, Bae! Look who’s making [40] look fly!

Late really is better than never! You can include a sincere or humorous apology…or just frame it as your way of extending the birthday fun!

• So sorry these birthday wishes are late reaching you. I hope it was happy!
• Happy birthday…a little late!
• This birthday wish is late, but my love is right on time.
• You’re receiving this NOW and not on your ACTUAL birthday, because I wanted to be sure your celebration wasn’t limited to just one day. It’s so nice of me!
• At least my happy birthday text was on time. That counts for something, right? 😁
• I don’t know where my mind was, but I forgot your birthday…until now. At least this way I’ll stand out from the crowd when I tell you you’re amazing and awesome. 
• This birthday wish is not late. It’s just well-aged.
• We all have to wait for some of the best things in life—like a birthday wish from a [sister] who picked the perfect card for you and then left it sitting in a drawer, where she totally forgot about it.

Sometimes we want to send a birthday message but the timing or the relationship is complicated. Those are the times when a simple, sincere message that says just enough is ideal.

• I hope your day is full of all the things that make you happy.
• On your birthday, know I’m thinking about you and wishing you good things.
• You matter to me. I hope you have a good day.
• Wishing you a birthday that is everything you need.
• We’ll have time to figure stuff out later—for now, I just want you to have the day you deserve.
• Even when things are weird between us, I still care about you and wish you all the best on your birthday.
• I hope someday things are better between us. Today, I just want to wish you a happy birthday and tell you I love you.
• Just two words: “Happy Birthday.” OK, three more: “I love you.”
• Our history together means I’ll always think of you on your birthday. I hope it’s a good one.

Birthdays sometimes fall during times of illness, job loss, bereavement or other challenging circumstances. A birthday card with a thoughtful quote is a great way to let them know you’re still thinking of them, even during a difficult time.

• I know you’ve had some real challenges this year. It’s been amazing to see how well you’ve met them.
• What a year. You made it! Let’s celebrate THAT!
• Life owes you some really good times. Hope they start right now.
• You’ve had more than your share of challenges this year—hope this next one is full of better days.
• I hope your [38th] year is gentle and sweet to you and gives you lots of reasons to smile.
• No matter what we’ve been through, there’s one good thing we can still celebrate: you.
• Celebrating how we came through together and how you rose above each occasion to get your glory. So proud of you.
• You came through this year striving, strong and resilient—and we couldn’t be prouder. Happy birthday.

Here are some short ideas for when you’re the umpteenth person to sign the birthday card and all the obvious messages (and most of the spaces) have already been taken.

• Celebrating you!
• Happy day!
• Birthday cheers!
• Big birthday hugs!
• Let us eat cake!
• Have a sweet one!
• Huzzah to you on your birthday!
• Happy birthday & happy year!
• Another year more wonderful!
• You’re the best!
• Here’s to a great birthday!
• Wish for something good!
• Honored to wish you a happy birthday!
• ¡Salud! ¡Dinero! ¡Amor! 
• Party like it’s your birthday! 
• Co-signing your happy!