60th Birthday Invitation Wording

Turning 60 means different things to different people. Some of us greet it with grace and humor. Others greet it with dread. And some of us, if we’re lucky, greet it with friends and family in a celebration of one of life’s major milestones.

If you’re throwing a 60th birthday bash for someone, one of your first challenges is coming up with an invitation that sets the right tone for the big event. Because of the differing, often mixed, emotions involved, there’s more than one approach you can take to crafting a great invite. This guide will help you find the perfect words to use.

Wording ideas for 60th birthday invitations

General Tips

First and foremost, a 60th birthday party invitation should convey all the critical information that guests need to attend the event. Beyond that, there are a few special considerations for a 60th birthday party that you may want to mull over:

1. Use humor with care. A lot of birthday party supplies for the “big numbers” feature morbid humor (gravestones, etc). For many people, humor is an effective antidote to real fears about aging. However, others may take offense – and that includes both the guest of honor and any older people who might be on the invite list. A little mild teasing never hurt anyone, but when in doubt, avoid the really biting stuff that might cause hurt feelings.

2. Consider incorporating an old picture. One sure way to grab people’s attention is to include a photo of the guest of honor from his or her youth. Many of your invitees probably didn’t know the person from that far back, and will be delighted to see what they looked like back then. Of course, this is totally optional, especially if you’re already planning to decorate the party room with nostalgia.

3. Make sure there are no surprises (for your invitees). If you’re planning a surprise party, be sure to state it clearly and prominently on the invitation. This may seem obvious, but consider the case of the person who only glances at the invite (not planning to attend) or puts it away and then sees the birthday boy or girl weeks later. It’s all too easy for someone to inadvertently ruin the surprise.

Examples

Here are some wording samples you can use for inspiration. Keep in mind that some of these examples are abbreviated, and don’t contain all the information you would need for an actual invitation.

Simple/Sincere

You’re Invited To A
60th Birthday Celebration
Join Us As We Honor
Martha Willis
on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 6:30 pm
The Steakhouse
1234 60th Street Southwest
RSVP to Alex Smith (123-4567 / alex@emailhost.com) by Feb. 1

Look Who’s Turning 60!
Join Us As We Honor
Dave Moore

Join Us As We Celebrate
Angela Dinsmore’s 60th Birthday

Funny

John Davis is Officially an Old Fart!
Join Us For A
60th Birthday Party

It’s All Downhill From Here…
Join Us For A
60th Birthday Party
In Honor Of
Greg Phillips

60 is the New 40
Yeah, Right!
Join Us in Celebrating
April Allen’s 60th Birthday

Surprise Party

Join Us For A
60th Birthday
Surprise Party
In Honor Of
Alan Masterson

Don’t Spill the Beans!
We’re Having A
Surprise 60th Birthday Party
In Honor Of
Michelle Andrews

Shhh… It’s a Surprise!
Join Us For A
Surprise 60th Birthday Party
In Honor Of
Bill Davis

If you’re planning more big birthday parties in the near future, be sure to check out our other invitation tutorials. We have sample invite wording for 30th, 40th, and 50th birthdays.