How to Plan a Golden Birthday, Plus Invites and Cards That Dazzle
We’re always looking for new ways to celebrate life’s special moments, and a golden birthday is certainly one of them! Also known as a champagne birthday, a golden birthday is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
The term refers to the birthday when your age matches the day you were born. For example, if your birthdate is the 28th of the month, your golden birthday would be your 28th birthday. Now that you’re in the know, here are some of our all-time favorite golden birthday ideas to help you celebrate this milestone moment.
How to Throw an Unforgettable Golden Birthday Celebration
A golden birthday party is a fun way to celebrate an extra special birthday. The event dates back to the 1950s when Joan Bramsch celebrated all of her five children’s golden birthdays. But if you already missed your or your kids’ golden birthdays, you can celebrate a double golden birthday — or triple! To do this, just multiply your birthday by two (when you turn 30 on the 15th, for example).
Ready to throw a memorable golden birthday party? Here’s everything to think about.
Type of Party
You can go all-out and rent a venue, hire caterers, and throw a huge party. Or you can keep things simpler and more affordable but still extra special by doing some of the work yourself.
Decide which type of party is best, keeping in mind the guest of honor’s personality and your budget. While you’re figuring out how big the event should be, you can also consider birthday party themes — do you want to stick with a gold or metallic theme, or something more unique?
Party Decorations
When it comes to golden birthday decor, gold reigns supreme. Look for gold balloons, gold stars, shiny streamers, and shimmering confetti.
Don’t forget to include metallic accents in your tableware when selecting party supplies. A black tablecloth serves as the perfect backdrop for the glittering gold decor while gold polka dot napkins add a glamorous touch.
In addition to classic golden decorations, large centerpieces and entryway backdrops can make the event feel bigger and better. Greet guests with a red carpet and a large balloon arch made with golden balloons. Hire a photographer to snap photos as guests arrive — or set up a photo booth with matching props.
A gold disco ball makes a stunning centerpiece for the dance floor. Gold mylar balloons featuring the birthday numbers also fit the bill. For table centerpieces, combine luxe white feathers with gold-dusted greenery, and flowers in the birthday girl or boy’s favorite colors.
Food and Refreshments
Treat your guests to delicious bites that match the party theme. Some fun golden birthday party snacks include Goldfish crackers, Golden Oreos, and Rold Gold pretzels. Look for foods that have gold packaging — like Ferrero Rocher chocolates.
For a fancier approach, serve pastries infused with real edible gold. Guests can take home mini baskets filled with these treats as party favors as well. You’ll also want to serve champagne to toast the honoree (or at least some sparkling cider) for this special champagne birthday.
Your golden birthday cake topper can also double as party food and event decor. Set a gold crown atop a decadent chocolate cake or opt for a cupcake tower with several flavors and gold circle toppers featuring a photo of the birthday honoree. Serve food on gold paper plates and drinks in gold plastic cups to match your theme.
Golden Birthday Gift Ideas
A piece of solid gold or vermeil jewelry is a lovely birthday gift that’s on theme. Or for a fun spin on the “18-karat” or “24-karat” idea, wrap up 18 or 24 mini presents to honor the moment. These can include things like hair accessories, makeup and stationery items, socks, self-care products, or other thoughtful tokens.
A basket of treats featuring the same number of items to match a golden birthday works well. You can also order T-shirts featuring the golden birthday year or a favorite sports athlete’s jersey number to match the year.
18 Golden Birthday Invitations and Cards
Looking for ways to wish someone a happy golden birthday or invite friends and family to a special celebration? Look to Greenvelope for stunning digital invitations and birthday cards to match any themed party.
You’ll find hundreds of options from glitzy gold designs to photo cards where you can feature your favorite snapshot. Each design is completely customizable — you can even change the typography and color palette to suit your party. Here are some of our favorite golden birthday invitations and cards you can use to send birthday wishes or invite guests to your scintillating bash.
1. Bokeh Masquerade Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Celebrate the lucky birthday boy or girl with this festive invite. It features fancy gold foil confetti and a dramatically dark background, making it ideal for more formal affairs.
2. Toast Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
This glittering invite is perfect for celebrating a milestone event. It’s available in several colorways including rose gold, gold, and silver palettes. Use it for a golden birthday, a 30th birthday, or a 60th birthday celebration.
3. Foil Marble Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
This realistic invite features a marble background with gold foil accents. Elegant and classic, it’s well-suited for weddings, milestone birthdays, and formal galas.
4. Shimmery Surprise Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Invite friends and family for a happy birthday celebration with this shimmery invitation. The modern text and glittering stripes add glamor and sophistication to any event.
5. Minimal Martini Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Have some fun with this golden martini invite. It’s excellent for 21+ golden birthdays and perfect for cocktail parties, bridal showers, and more.
6. Golden Age Invitation
Design: Stellax Creative
Celebrate your golden age with this colorful invitation. Use it to celebrate the double golden birthday of someone who was born on the 20th — a 40th birthday party event — or a regular golden birthday.
7. Birthday Festoons Invitation
Design: Carmia Jordaan
This glamorous invite is ideal for celebrating a milestone birthday like a golden birthday, 21st birthday, or 50th birthday. The gold foil invite features bold font and lots of text space so you can include all the important event details.
8. Golden Anchor Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Hosting a nautical-themed golden birthday party? This anchor invite is the perfect pairing. It features a gold anchor and curved border along with a blue-striped envelope to match.
9. Balloon Arch Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Reimagine the classic balloon arch in digital form with this fun metallic party invitation. It’s perfect for a glitzy, glamorous get-together for a golden birthday.
10. It’s a Surprise! Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Hosting a surprise party for someone special? Use this classy surprise party invite to break the news to everyone. We love that there’s a big space for a photo of the smiling guest of honor!
11. Iridescent Confetti Balloon Invitation
Design: Laura Bolter Design
Drench the entire invite in gold with this balloon-themed party invitation. This design is perfect for a spectacular celebration in honor of a truly special individual.
12. Steam Invitation
Design: Kate Ross Design
This warm minimalist birthday invitation adds a subtle touch of shimmer to the occasion — ideal for an elegant or understated golden birthday celebration.
13. She’s a Gem Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Remind your guests that she’s not just golden but she’s also a gem with this invite inspired by precious stones. The elegant outlines and metallic colors make this a wonderful invite for a special friend or family member.
14. Confetti Celebration Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Say it with balloons with this adorable confetti-filled invitation. The big “yay” sets the tone for the event, and there’s plenty of room for all your party details.
15. Happy Paint Speckles Card
Design: Signature Greenvelope
This paint-splatter birthday card makes the perfect digital keepsake. The front is fun and colorful while the supported backside offers plenty of room to write sweet birthday wishes.
16. Birthday Bestie Card
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Wish your bestie a happy birthday with this delightful photo card. Upload a snap of one of your favorite moments together and send sweet wishes for a fabulous year and birthday celebration underneath.
17. Simple Birthday Banner Card
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Say it with a digital birthday banner in this cute minimalist birthday card. Put the focus on your loved one with a big photo of them or the two of you together, alongside a heartfelt message.
18. Cheery Cocktails Card
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Mix some of that classic gold with beautiful shades of pink in this cocktail-inspired birthday card. With a gorgeous illustration on the front, and a color-matched reverse, it’s perfect for even the longest of birthday messages.
Celebrate a Golden Birthday in Style
With these golden birthday party ideas and invitations, you’re sure to have a dazzling fete. From DIY decor to fully catered events, there are many ways to celebrate a golden birthday. Plus, with Greenvelope, there’s no shortage of dazzling birthday cards and invitations to match the gold theme.
Whether you’re throwing a big get-together and need gold birthday invitations, or you want to send a gold birthday card for a loved one’s special day, Greenvelope has everything you need.
