Make It Unforgettable: 40th Birthday Party Ideas for Women
Is a special woman in your life turning 40? That deserves an exceptional celebration! Toast the extraordinary person she is, the memories she’s made thus far, and everything that’s brought her to this moment.
One of the best ways to celebrate? Organize a gathering of the birthday girl’s best friends — or a larger get-together of close friends and family if that’s more her style.
In this guide, we’ll share 40th birthday party ideas for women to help inspire you. From a competitive game night or a chill movie marathon to a relaxing spa day or even a weekend getaway, there are plenty of great party themes and activities for the special day.
10 Fabulous 40th Birthday Party Ideas for Women
If you’re brainstorming an extra special gathering, think about the vibe that would best speak to the birthday girl’s interests and personality to get the party planning started. And be prepared to have the best birthday bash ever with these 40th birthday party ideas for women.
1. Retro Karaoke Night
Design: Claudia Owen | Karaoke Night Invitation
Throw it back with a retro karaoke night that celebrates her latest milestone but gives a nod to her early years.
For an at-home party, queue up a 40th birthday party playlist with some nostalgic ‘80s and ‘90s hits, have guests dress the part, and put up a photo booth for pictures. Or if you know of a local bar or club that hosts karaoke nights, go celebrate the special day with a bigger crowd. Either way, this celebration for the birthday girl is sure to hit the right note.
2. Dinner Party
Design: Claudia Owen | Forty Flourish Invitation
Turning 40 is the perfect reason to dress up and feel extra special. Book the newest five-star restaurant in town and feast on a drool-worthy meal with beautifully presented cocktails and perfectly ornate centerpieces. Jazz it up by picking a place with live music or a piano bar.
3. Wine Tasting
Design: Ashley DeMeyere Design | Rolling Hills Invitation
Be sure the birthday girl savors her 40th birthday — literally — by planning a wine tasting party. Book a wine tasting at a local venue or vineyard nearby your hometown. You don’t even need to be close to Napa Valley. Or, if wine isn’t really the honoree’s style, go beer tasting at a local brewery instead.
Indulge in a variety of flavors by seeking out flights instead of glasses, and in lieu of cupcakes, purchase the guest of honor a bottle of her favorite wine (or growler of her favorite beer) to take home for dessert.
You can also purchase elegant tablecloths to adorn tables at your own house, hire a sommelier, and ask guests to participate potluck style by each bringing a bottle of wine for tasting. Add some fancy cheeses and dark chocolates as a fun way to sweeten up the gathering.
4. Game Night
Design: Luckybug Designs | Forty and Fab Invitation
Go for the win with a game night theme party that gets everyone excited and involved. This is an especially fun way to celebrate if the birthday gal’s a big board game or card game enthusiast and prefers a more casual or intimate gathering.
Be sure to incorporate some of her favorite games and throw in a few that are specific to her turning 40, like trivia from the year she was born and the decades she’s lived through. Add some pizzazz to the evening by purchasing game-themed birthday decorations and party favors. Maybe even buy her some new board games as birthday gifts.
5. Spa Day
Design: Claudia Owen | Painted Hibiscus Invitation
There’s nothing like a spa day to recharge, rejuvenate, and fully relax. Pamper the guest of honor and her closest friends with a group spa package, or book mani/pedis and individual massages. Consider going the extra mile with personalized robes for the diva experience.
You can also host your own DIY spa day with fun activities at home. Grab some of the birthday girl’s favorite nail polish colors and facial supplies, tee up a soothing playlist, and burn some incense for a soothing and tranquil afternoon.
6. Brunch
Design: Bonjour Berry | Let’s Pop the Bubbly Invitation
Gather the girls and get toasty with a late morning brunch. If you don’t already have a go-to brunch place, hunt around for one that offers a unique setting, is exquisitely decorated, or just has the best reviews and menu. Pop some bubbly and celebrate over mimosas, or order up a round of Bloody Mary’s if that’s her style.
If a more intimate setting is preferred, or you don’t want to worry about being too rambunctious in a public establishment, set up a brunch in your backyard with fresh flowers as centerpieces and a garden landscape as your backdrop.
7. Getaway
Design: Llinella | Ray of Light Invitation
A major milestone like turning 40 can be a great excuse to book a trip, near or far. Has the honoree been dreaming of a beach vacation? Wanting to conquer her next big hike? Or is there a concert or Broadway performance she’s been talking about wanting to see? Make it their most epic birthday yet by booking a trip.
If the bday girl is laid back and up for anything, surprise her by booking all of the details and packing her bag. She’ll never expect a thing.
8. Shopping Trip
Design: Bonjour Berry | Oh Invitation
If the soon-to-be 40-year-old in your life isn’t big into the spotlight and birthday festivities, go to the mall or a favorite clothing store for a low-key shopping trip. It’s likely the birthday gal usually focuses on other people and doesn’t have much time for herself, so give her a shopping extravaganza that caters to her own wants and needs for the afternoon.
9. Casino
Design: 2birdstone | Destiny Invitation
Feeling lucky? Wager on a good time by planning a 40th birthday celebration at a casino in your area. (Though if Las Vegas is in the budget, it’s always a nice option too!) Pool some money with other loved ones and give the guest of honor “free” money to gamble with. Just remember — no strings attached! If they hit the jackpot, they keep the winnings.
10. Movie Marathon
Design: Signature Greenvelope | Starlight Cinema Invitation
Sometimes low-key nights are the most memorable. If there’s a series she’s been dying to binge or a new chick flick that recently came out, staying in and vegging out for the night could be the perfect way to celebrate the milestone birthday.
Have her favorite movie treats and popcorn on hand and a scrumptious birthday cake, along with a variety of comfy blankets and pillows. Enjoy a comfy evening on the couch or in the backyard under the stars with a projection screen.
Spread the Word with These 40th Bday Party Invitation Starters
Once you’ve selected the most fitting theme for the occasion as well as the key details, you can dive into creating the 40th birthday party invitations. If you’re looking for wording inspiration, we have you covered with a range of ideas you can infuse into our wide variety of online invitations:
- Help us make [Name]’s fortieth birthday fun, fabulous, and festive by joining us for a night to remember.
- Grab your dancing shoes, and get ready to throw it back to the decade where it all started — the [decade].
- Good lordy, she’s forty! Help us celebrate this new chapter at her milestone birthday extravaganza.
- Let’s cheers to 40 years with wine and beers!
- Aging like wine has never been so fine. Join us for some wine tasting festivities.
- Let’s party like she just turned 21! Forty has never looked so good.
- Join us for fine dining and to see the birthday girl shining.
- Can you keep a secret? We’re going to celebrate [Name]’s 40th birthday with a surprise party!
- Forty years young is worth celebrating! Help [Name] usher in this new chapter with a birthday bash.
- We’re initiating a new member to the 40+ club. Come wish [Name] a happy 40th!
- She can’t escape from 40, but she can escape from town. Let’s liven up the new chapter with a trip to [city]!
- She’s forty and fabulous. Join us to toast her latest milestone.
Sayonara, 30s!
Design: Signature Greenvelope | 40 Milestone Collage Invitation
Help your loved one or closest gal pal feel extra special and say goodbye to her 30s with one of these 40th birthday party ideas for women. The celebration doesn’t have to be over-the-top to be memorable. It just has to be something that speaks to them and is from the heart. Add some sentimental touches, and you’ll have built a lasting core memory for the birthday girl.
If you’re ready to get her crew together, check out our range of 40th birthday party invitations. Each can be customized with your desired text, fonts, colors, and more.
