Best 40th Birthday Party ideas for Her

Posts on www.ratherrudecards.co.uk contain affiliate links. For full disclosure, click HERE

Tons of DIY fun and unique 40th birthday party ideas for women, perfect for your girlfriend, wife, partner or sister! Here you will find 40th birthday party themes, games and activities and decor ideas she will love, even if you're looking for ideas on how to celebrate a 40th birthday without a party, we hope these ideas will inspire you!

Revealed: our favourite EVER gift for ladies turning 40! 

  

1. Make some pretty ice cubes for drinks 

You could fill the moulds with juice, lemonade or even coloured water with a few drops of food colouring - or even with edible flower petals to make them extra pretty. 

Novelty diamond ice cubes for drinks 👈🏻

2. Serve some cupcakes with edible photo toppers 👈🏻

The best ever gift idea that fuses cake with special memories! Your recipients will be able to treasure the special photos and eat them afterwards - the perfect gift that means you can bond over special memories with your recipients and treat them at the same time. This is also super low cost to put together! 

3. Attach black and white photos of your recipient to balloon trails 

This looks so cool if you have floating/helium balloons! You could print copies of photos of your recipient when they were younger or use your favourite snaps that represent special memories together. 

4. Set up a cardboard cutout of their favourite celebrity

So much fun - whether it's her favourite celeb or fictional character, this is such a fun surprise idea that will be sure to make her laugh!

5. Make some shimmery cotton candy cocktails 👈🏻

Make some candyfloss cocktails, where candyfloss is placed in the cup, flute or glass, then drink poured over the top to dissolve the candyfloss within the drink. These look so glamorous and fabulous, the most magical drinks to try that are perfect for your special occasion! Adding edible shimmer will make them breathtaking.

 

6. Opt for an amazing jumbo birthday cake topper 👈🏻

These are amazing and are the perfect way to elevate the birthday cake for your recipient, something they will always remember!

Hello 40 golden jumbo birthday cake topper 👈🏻

7. Decorate with some personalised face party bunting 👈🏻

Why not theme your party decor after your recipient!

8. Make a custom cupcake pullapart shaped like them! 

A fun cupcake pullapart makes the best birthday surprise - or party table centerpiece - as it looks super impressive and creates the most standout display. You could opt to spell out their age using cupcakes and frosting, or even shape it to look exactly like your recipient - so much fun! Even if it goes wrong, it will sure to elicit a lot of laughs! 

Simply arrange your plain cupcakes in a desired shape or formation - then ice them all together as one, creating one whole shape, like joining the dots. Then use colourful frosting to decorate and add the finer details, to bring your creation to life!

9. Make an amazing '40 things we love about you' board 👈🏻

Such a special idea, this will also double as party decor and is a wonderful way to show your recipient how special they are to you! You could even fill it up with memories or plans you have made together.

10. A rustic blackboard setup/photo memory wall 

So all guests can write, draw and scribble their own messages on it! You could set up a giant rustic style chalkboard canvas that guests can decorate, with photos, drawings and messages! This would make an amazing photo backdrop for the party, for guests to take photos in front of. To create the canvas backdrop for guests to decorate, grab some black paper or cardstock and staple it to a base, such as a wall, fence or giant board made from cardboard. You could even frame it with balloons. Provide guests with some chalks and liquid chalk markers and let them decorate to their hearts content.  

11. Create a custom birthday news page for your recipient 👈🏻

This also makes for a standout party table display and is perfectly tailored to your recipient! You could DIY this yourself or order ready made if short on time. 

12. Play a game of 'guess her age'  

One of the cutest birthday party ideas to celebrate your recipient! To set this up, print off some copies of photos of your recipient at different ages and arrange on a big piece of cardstock, in grid formation. Then guests can write their guesses around each picture (including their initials to show who's is who's) - the guest who guesses closest wins! 

13. Try some personalised edible drinks toppers 👈🏻

These are totally edible and also work so well to decorate party treats and tailor them perfectly to the occasion, plus you can personalise them with a photo design and script of your choice to impress guests no end! 

Personalised photo edible drinks toppers 👈🏻

14. Tie pretty ribbons to the base of each glass 👈🏻

Of drinks for guests! 

15. Edible gold flakes for their birthday cake 👈🏻

16. Edible diamonds for their birthday cake 👈🏻

17. Display cupcakes in a '40' formation

To make a beautiful statement display! You could even make a cupcake '40' pull apart, cupcakes lined up in a '40' formation, with icing or frosting joining them together. This will make the perfect statement centerpiece for your party and be sure to be the main attraction!

18. A birthday pinata activity 

The most fun for your recipient's birthday! You could fill it with their favourite sweets or candy or even dad jokes or love notes for your recipient! Try a fun and funky pinata design they will love - or even DIY your own to perfectly match their tastes. 

Cherry topped birthday cake pinata 👈🏻

Gold custom personalised number pinata 👈🏻 

Personalised lookalike pinata (amazing!)👈🏻

19. Throw a sip and paint occasion  

That you can do together! This makes for a great birthday activity as you are also gifting time spent together - this is such a fun activity that is great for making cute memories together.

20. Try a 'tini bit older' party theme 

Personalised 'tini bit older' birthday invitation 👈🏻

Personalised 'tini bit older' dinner and drinks invitation 👈🏻

A tini bit older fun birthday sash 👈🏻

A tini bit older custom welcome party sign 👈🏻

A tini bit older customisable welcome sign 👈🏻

Super cute 'a tini bit older' party napkins 👈🏻

Tini bit older party banner sign 👈🏻

Funny personalised tini bit older face banner 👈🏻

21. A 'I am 20 today (twice)' party theme 

This is such a funny and delightful party theme to choose, especially if your recipient has a habit of pretending it's their 20 something birthday every year - you can reassure them that they are just turning 20 again for the second time!

22. Gift her the 40th Birthday Game!  👈🏻

The perfect party game for the occasion, this will be sure to bring everyone together in celebration!

23. Put together a freakshake making stall

With all the toppings available! You could even make a freakshakes stall with oreos, donuts, cakes and squirty cream that guests can add to their creation - freakshakes being the perfect combination of milkshake and cake!

24. Set up a blindfolded food buffet 

And include lots of different foods you both have never tried before, try different foods from different cultures, an assortment of spicy, sweet foods - and some food combination dares to try! This is a brilliant party game that will be perfect to try - it's sure to result in a lot of laughter and fun times.

25. Throw a girls night 

There is no cuter activity and way to spend time together! 

   

26. Set up a boozy brunch 

Or even a boozy birthday lunch - the best ever meaning of 'BBL'! 

27. Create an indoor 'drive thru' set up to show home movies 

Watching home movies and videos together is a wonderful way to celebrate her birthday and will be bound to result in hilarity and smiles all round! The drive thru element brings a retro feel, ten points if you also have popcorn, milkshakes and delicious snacks on hand!

28. 40th birthday party napkins 👈🏻

To deck out the party table perfectly!

29. A star sign cake topper 👈🏻

The perfect way to top their cake in style!  

Star sign jumbo birthday cake topper 👈🏻

30. Throw a macarons and rose tasting occasion 

You could give each guest a scorecard and get them to rate different macaron flavours. This is so much fun for guests of all ages and an elegant activity for your special occasion! 

31. Theme the whole party after her pet 

There is no cuter theme! Why not theme it after their furry best friend and even dress up their pup for the occasion, so they can take part and share their birthday! 

32. Try a 'for-tea-th' party theme 

You could set up a tea party style situation, enjoy an afternoon tea or even implement a chic Bridgerton-esque theme with a fancy 'high tea' occasion! 

33. Temporary tattoos for guests as party favours 👈🏻

These are personalised and tailored to the occasion, they would make perfect funny party favours for guests! 

34. Make cupcake toppers of their face 

Find a funny picture (or lots), print them out and back them on to sturdy paper or card, then stick them to mini skewers or cocktail sticks to make hilarious cupcake toppers! This is an amazing DIY 30th birthday party decor idea that your recipient will be sure to love and will result in a lot of hilarity at the same time!

Personalised photo 'tini bit older' cupcake toppers 👈🏻

35. Theme it purely after her favourite food 

This could be so funny and cool! You could create an entire party spread themed around a certain food or drink - plus even create some fun themed decor. 

36. Personalised party table confetti 👈🏻

This is such a funny and delightful party touch that your recipient will love! 

She's a tini bit older olive party confetti 👈🏻

Tini bit older personalised birthday confetti 👈🏻

37. Throw a pink ladies theme birthday party  

The perfect party theme for the occasion, this will be sure to bring everyone together in celebration!

38. Make sugar cookies of her face with this personalised photo cookie cutter 👈🏻 

 This is possibly the coolest thing ever! A cookie cutter that you can personalise with your recipient's face, based on a photo of them! You can now make sugar cookies of your recipient, perfect for their birthday and sure to amaze them and make them laugh in equal parts, so perfect! 

39. '40' balloon garland decor sign 👈🏻

It's not every day you turn 40! A beautiful balloon display will make your recipient feel like a starlet.

40. Try a special message plate surprise

This is such a good trick! Get your hands on a plain white plate or dish and some plate decorating pens or paint - even the kinds kids often use to decorate a plate for Grandma. You can create a really cute design - and then be sure to follow the instructions to let the paint or ink set - it is often recommended to pop in the oven for a certain time. Once it is completely dry, you can set about preparing a meal or party spread and dish it out on to the newly decorated plate. You could even cleverly cover each section of the plate with a different food - just make sure every bit is covered with food so that it looks like an every day white dinner plate. Wait til your recipient starts eating to reveal the cute surprise! They get to keep the memory and relive it every time they use the plate for a meal! It's such a cute surprise idea and you can get really creative with the design and message you choose to give. 

41. Make a 3D '40' photo collage 👈🏻

Why not make an amazing 3D '40' photo collage, by creating the base out of cardboard, then covering with some paper mache layers and finally decorating it with all kinds of special photos representing special memories! This also makes for a beautiful party table centrepiece that your recipient will really love and will get guests talking too, the perfect ice breaker and decor in one. If you are short on time you can also order one ready made!

42. Make her a birthday doughnut tower 

The perfect cute twist on the traditional birthday cake! This will look so striking - you could even theme it after something she loves or deck it out in her favourite colours - or even decorate with personalised edible photo wafer toppers! 

43. Present her with a sash and a surprise snack bouquet 

Why not put together a selection of their favourite sweets or snacks, arranged in bouquet formation! You could alternatively arrange them in a letter or number shaped gift box, for a standout display and gorgeous looking gift! You could even present it with a special birthday sash for your recipient to wear. 

Letter or number gift box (the most affordable!) 👈🏻

Rose gold glitter Happy Birthday sash 👈🏻

Glitter champagne gold birthday girl sash 👈🏻

44. Play a themed bowling game

Bowling - with a twist! Your squad could dress up, go bowling and role play as different characters - so much fun and the best way to make funny memories! 

45. Gift her some adorable 40th birthday crystals 👈🏻

The cutest and most thoughtful gift for her special day!

46. Gift her a five senses gift

These gifts are extra special and make for the most memorable gifts!

If you liked these ideas definitely also check out these Best 40th Birthday Party ideas for Men and Best Creative Leaving Party ideas!