how do you write a birthday speech

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Birthday speeches 

- 50th birthday speech example.

By:  Susan Dugdale  | Last modified: 04-17-2021

Birthday speeches.

They're fun to listen to and fantastic to be on the receiving end of.  However writing one for somebody you love can be a completely different story. And I'm picking that's why you here.

I understand the issues involved in preparing a speech, especially one for someone close to you! They can be daunting. 

What you'll find on this page

• an example 50th birthday speech for a close friend
• help to begin writing a speech of your own speech

What's the common problem with writing a birthday speech?

The problem is not because you don't want to publicly acknowledge the person whose birthday it is. You do.

It's generally more a case of agony caused by indecision through not knowing where to start.

Perhaps you've read my birthday speech tips page and are caught up wondering what to put in, what to leave out, how long will the speech take to say when it's finished, and what joke or special quotation to use, if any?

Now I know this struggle, because I've been there, done that and chewed the tops of pencils down too. A blank page has a tyranny all of its own! 

A birthday speech example

So to help preserve your pencil collection and your sanity here's an example speech which I hope lessens at least some of the anxiety you may feel about writing.

Speech context

Before you rush on to read it, you need context. That is you need to know who this speech is for, who wrote it, why the birthday is significant and the setting it is delivered in. This will help you make sense of it, giving you a complete picture.

Enter Alan West

Although I wrote this speech especially for you, we're pretending it was written for the 50th birthday of a man called Alan West. We're also pretending it was delivered at a party for his friends and family by his close friend of 30 years, Mark.

As you read it, imagine you are hearing it spoken aloud.

You'll see he's been "roasted" - teased, or made fun of, in a kindly way. 

The speech has a speaking time of approximately 5-6 minutes, depending on how fast, or slowly, you speak. That length is good for this type of occasion. 

 50th birthday speech for Alan West

"Good evening all. It's great to have you here.  Most of you know my feeling on birthdays.

Generally I say, what's the big deal?

By the  time you've had over thirty, there should be a cease and desist order against them.

They're not unusual. Everybody has them and at the same rate as everybody else - one a  year. They happen whether you want them to or not.

Believe me, I know. I've had quite a few  and looking around this room I can see it's the same for others as well.

So why are we here?

It's not to celebrate the inevitable passage of time but something much more. Everyone has  birthdays but not everyone is my friend, Alan West.

Alan, you are unique. And today I'm gladly putting aside my grumbles about birthday  speeches, balloons, presents and silly hats, to honor you.

You've reached the 50 milestone. 50 birthdays, that's a whole lot of living. Enough  to establish the character of a man, to know who he is. And I've known you through about 30  of them.

So what I want to know is, when are you going to give up the idea that you're a surfer? 

We all know your geriatric surfboard has gone to the beach with you every summer for at least the  last 15 years and never once got wet. Millie says you're waiting for the big one. I say it  happened in 1988 and you were too busy zinc coating your nose to notice.

Rumor has it that  your surfboard has been bolted to the top of whatever wagon you've had is ever since.

Likewise his growing collection of fancy running shoes. He says he can't seem to get a good  fit these days. I say his days of being good and fit have long since gone, up and over the  hill.

And then there's the annual season tickets to 10 nights of film festival screenings.

They  seem like a good idea. They were a good idea in the days when the ratio of  surplus energy to the number of hours in a day was higher.

Doesn't he know, he's at that age when his back is expected to go out more frequently  than himself?

But seriously folks, aside from his lamentable quirks of character Alan is a friend - a real  one. He's there when you need him - offering practical advice on just about everything, from  how to unblock the drains to how to meet personal tragedy with courage.

And Alan's not a  mere theorist who has read the books. He walks his talk and walks it tall.

I know he's shy about having his good deeds displayed in public.

A less kind person than myself  might say that's because if everybody knew just how helpful he could be, he'd be called upon  all the time. And that would mean no time for polishing the surfboard or adding another pair  of shoes to the collection. But I know better. He's modest.

However on this occasion I'm  going to ignore his finer feelings. 

I thought it would be great to publicly acknowledge all the personal and lovable qualities we admire about Alan. So I asked around.

I had a couple of contributions. One from Sam who mentioned his foot size was  similar to yours and that his runners were down at heel.

The other was from my son who said  he'd be willing to take the film passes off his hands.

Neither was the type of thing I had in mind. So I was forced to think for myself.

Alan, you're an important touchstone in my life.

For 30 years we've stood by each other through the good as well as difficult, challenging times.

I value your opinion (when it's not on the dubious merit of old surfboards). I value the way we can agree to disagree and still count each other as friends. I admire your humor and humility. Then there's your persistence which some might call stubbornness.

I could go on but because I want to preserve what's left of our friendship and  myself, I won't. They say, looks can't kill however the one you're giving me now seems  murderous.

So before I'm forcibly shut-up, I'll do it myself.

In conclusion, please raise your glasses to Alan, to friendship and to birthdays. May you  have many more."

Let's get your speech written

Now it's your turn to write a birthday speech, go back to the page on how to write a speech and begin. Once you've done that, you've got the hardest part over!

Or read another sample

Do you want to check over another speech before you begin? Here's a 40th celebration toast from a mother to her daughter. And there's this 18th birthday speech of thanks too. The speaking is thanking family and friends for coming along to help celebrate.

Or there's always this option ...

• Return to top of birthday speeches page
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How to Write a Wonderful Birthday Speech

If you've been asked to write a birthday speech for a friend, colleague or family member, you're probably suffering from mixed emotions! On the one hand, it's an honor to be asked. On the other, you might feel entirely panic-stricken! What on earth will you say? How will you do the birthday boy/girl justice?

The tips on this page are designed to help - and at the end of the page, there are a couple of links to sample speeches which you can adapt and use yourself if you need to!

Tips for crafting a knockout birthday speech

Do your research.

If you're being asked to speak at a birthday celebration, then you probably know the person who is having a birthday pretty well. But that doesn't mean you can skip this all-important step!

Find out a little MORE about the guest of honor that you didn't know. Ask their friends or family members to tell you a unique story about the person you are honoring.These kinds of memories can make great material to put into your speech. Memories from family members tend to be of a touching, sensitive nature, whereas the recollections of friends are often hilarious! Using both will give you a well-rounded speech that will appeal to everyone. Plus, you'll get to know some of the guests better, so you'll be more at ease speaking in front of them.

Be Sensitive

Some people treat a birthday speech as an opportunity to roast the guest of honor. While a little bit of joking around is acceptable - and can be fun - don't try to embarrass the individual.

This is their special day, one which they should be enjoying. Make an attempt to really honor who they are, by acknowledging their contribution to your life and the lives of all the people in attendance.

Know the Audience

Ask a professional speaker, and they will tell you that you have to know the audience to deliver a great speech.

This doesn't mean that you have to be acquainted with every guest, but you should know the general make-up of the crowd.

Are the guests all family and close friends? Are there co-workers present? How about kids?

You have to be sensitive to the audience before you deliver your speech. Being prepared means inquiring about the people in attendance.

Leave on a High Note

Remember, your speech is meant to honor and celebrate someone on a momentous occasion.

Don't ramble or get muddled with complex topics. Keep the general tone light and celebratory. Be sure to tell the person a happy birthday and thank the person who invited you to speak.

Birthday parties are meant to be fun occasions. Make sure that you keep these tips in mind when you are asked to speak for friends or family members at their party.

You'll probably bring a gift to the party, but a great birthday speech may be the gift that the guest of honor will remember the most.

Looking for an example of a written tribute? Check out this 50th Birthday Speech for an idea on what to say and how to structure your presentation.

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You might like these.

40th Birthday Speech Example

This free 40th birthday speech should give you some great ideas on what to include when you're asked to speak on this very special occasion.

50th Birthday Speech

Birthday speeches honor and celebrate the person who has reached this milestone in their life. Here is an example of a 50th birthday speech.

Free Birthday Speech

Use this free birthday speech as a model for one of your own. Choosing one quality of the birthday girl/boy and expanding on it is a great way to start!

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Recommended pages:

Sample 40th Birthday Speech

Sample 50th Birthday Speech

Sample General Birthday Speech

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Sample Welcome Speech (plus tips)

Another Example of a Welcome Speech

Sample of Speeches on Youtube - President Barack Obama's Farewell Address | NBC News

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Birthday Speeches - Tips

Birthday speeches can be so nerve-wracking, especially when you're stuck for words. Don't know where to start your birthday speech? If you need professional speechwriting tips, you've come to the right place. I've written hundreds of speeches, so I have many insider tips for you.

By Kevin Nishmas   Updated: September 30, 2023

Tips to Make Birthday Speeches Memorable

To get started, take a look at my proven birthday speechwriting tips below and  check out some speech samples right here.

Because your loved one's birthday celebration is important enough to call for a speech from you, it's not enough to just get it right  — you need to make yours memorable.

Go the extra mile with these professional speechwriting tips.

8 things to consider before writing birthday speeches

1. Decide to write a formal or informal speech

• You'll need a formal speech (an average-length speech) for a formal reception
• Give an informal speech (a shorter version) for a casual house party

2. Consider your audience

• Find out who's invited to the birthday celebration.  Only family? Family and friends? Co-workers? The boss? 
• Tailor your speech to give your audience exactly what you think they want, need and/or expect to hear. For example, if your audience is mostly made up of family and friends, get a little personal with your birthday speech.
• Use a presentation style and project a personality that fits your audience.

3. Find out if you're the only speaker

• As the only speaker, you'll need to cover many topics.
• If you're one of many speakers, you may only have to cover one subject.

4. Pick the right tone of voice

• Generally, your tone should be light-hearted, funny, sincere, congratulatory and upbeat.

5. Avoid anything hurtful or embarrassing

• You can be humorous (i.e. tease the birthday boy or girl) but, as I mentioned above, be playful, not mean-spirited.
• Don't use any obscene language, unless the audience calls for it (again, know your room).
• Don't be off-color or pornographic in any way (most people don't enjoy anything too X-rated in mixed company).
• Never delve into any sensitive subject areas, like alcoholism (this will just turn the birthday celebration into a nightmare).

6. Determine how long you should speak

• If you're making an informal speech, make your birthday speech at least three minutes in length (the gold standard).
• Make your birthday speech longer than three minutes (but no longer than six or seven minutes) when it's for a major milestone birthday (40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th or 100th birthday).
• Generally, use the KISS (Keep it Short and Simple) rule. The shorter the speech, the more memorable it will be.

7. Prepare and practice to stay calm 

• Preparation and practice will help you overcome a chunk of your public speaking fears. 
• Practice your speech until you can deliver it easily (until you have all the phrasing, pauses and timing exactly right).
• How long should you practice? That depends on you. But the rule of thumb is as follows: for every four minutes,you should practice four hours.
• Practice delivering the speech in front of a friend or family member you trust (this is one of the best ways to overcome stage fright).
• For more tips on calming your nerves before making a speech, take a moment to read this great article:  Crushing the Fear of Public Speaking . It's worth your time.   

8. Deliver your speech like a pro

• Scan the audience slowly (not too slow) and look at the birthday boy or girl as you speak. Basically, maintain eye contact with the birthday girl or boy and look just over the heads of the audience.
• Use your normal voice to deliver your speech (let the mic or the room's acoustics do the rest). 
• Write your speech on numbered index cards, which are so much easier to handle as you speak.

To round out your speechwriting knowledge,  check out 10 tips from Forbes magazine . 

To see my speechwriting tips in action, take a moment to  look at my custom-written speech samples.

Use a Time-Tested Outline to Write Birthday Speeches

1. Introduction

• Greeting: Start by welcoming everyone and expressing your pleasure to be speaking on such a special occasion.
• Relationship: Briefly describe your relationship with the birthday person.
• Purpose: Explain the reason for your speech, which is to celebrate the life and achievements of the birthday boy or girl.

2. Background

• Overview: Give a brief summary of the birthday person's life, focusing on the key events and achievements.
• Personal story: Share a personal story about the birthday person. This could be something fun, memorable or inspiring, which can showcase their character.

3. Achievements & Contributions

• Highlight their accomplishments in their personal or professional life or their contributions to the community.
• Describe how they've made a difference or had an impact on the lives of others.

4. Personal Appreciation

• Express your personal appreciation and feelings for the birthday person. What do they mean to you? How have they influenced or affected your life?
• Include any specific qualities or characteristics that you admire about them.

5. Birthday Wishes

• Present your personal birthday wishes to the birthday person. This could include your hopes for their happiness, health and continued success.
• Encourage others to express their wishes as well.
• Propose a toast to the birthday person, celebrating their past, acknowledging their present and looking forward to their future.
• Keep it heartfelt and positive, focusing on their qualities and the joy they bring to people's lives.

7. Closing Remarks

• Conclude with a final birthday wish or sentiment. This could be a quote, a proverb, or a simple expression of goodwill.
• Thank everyone for their attention and participation in the celebration.

Stuck for words?

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Use these 40 questions to write memorable birthday speeches.

Use the 40 questions below to write your speech. Try to answer each one. The more you answer, the better your speech will be.

• Can you please describe your relationship with the birthday person?
• What memorable experiences have you shared with the birthday person?
• What qualities do you admire most about the birthday person?
• How has the birthday person impacted or influenced your life?
• What personal birthday wishes or sentiments would you like to convey to the birthday person?
• Are there any specific anecdotes, stories or jokes you'd like to share?

About the Birthday Person

• Can you provide a brief summary of the birthday person's background (like where they were born and/or their upbringing)?
• What are some significant milestones or achievements in the birthday person's life? This could be educational, professional or personal.
• Are there any notable contributions the birthday person has made to their community or any significant influences on the lives of others?
• Are there any charities, causes or organizations that the birthday person is passionate about?
• Does the birthday person have any interesting or unusual hobbies, talents, or skills?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles the birthday person has overcome that you'd like to mention?
• What are some of the birthday person's most admirable qualities or characteristics?
• Are there any fun, amusing or interesting quirks about the birthday person that could be mentioned for a lighthearted moment in the speech?
• What are the birthday person's hopes, dreams, or aspirations for the future?
• Are there any significant life experiences or turning points in the birthday person's life that we haven't discussed?
• What are some of the birthday person's favorite things (e.g., music, movies, books, foods, places or activities)?
• How would the birthday person describe their own personality, values or life philosophy?
• Are there any specific cultural, historical or personal events that have had a significant impact on the birthday person's life?
• Can you share any lesser-known or surprising facts about the birthday person?
• Has the birthday person had any mentors, role models or heroes who have influenced their life?
• How would the birthday person like to be remembered, or what legacy would they like to leave?

About the Birthday Person’s Family

• Can you tell me about the birthday person's family? This includes parents, siblings, spouse, and children, if applicable.
• How would you describe the birthday person's relationship with their family?
• Are there any special family traditions or customs that the birthday person particularly cherishes?
• Has the family had any significant influence on the birthday person's life and choices? If so, how?
• Are there any memorable, touching or funny family moments, experiences or anecdotes that should be included in the speech or that the audience might appreciate?
• How have the birthday person's family relationships shaped them as a person?
• What role does the birthday person play in their family (e.g., peacekeeper, organizer, mentor, etc.)?
• Would any family members like to contribute personal messages, wishes, or stories to be included in the speech?
• How has the birthday person influenced their family members, and vice versa?

About the Birthday Person’s Friends

• Can you share some details about the birthday person's close friends?
• How would you describe the birthday person as a friend? What qualities make them a good friend?
• Are there any memorable, humorous, heartwarming anecdotes, experiences or adventures about the birthday person and their friends that would add a personal touch to the speech?
• Have the birthday person's friendships had a significant influence on their life? If so, how?
• What role does the birthday person play in their friend group (e.g., the planner, the listener, the comic, etc.)?
• Are there any humorous or heartwarming anecdotes about the birthday person and their friends that would add a personal touch to the speech?
• How have the birthday person's friendships evolved over the years?
• Do any friends wish to contribute personal messages, stories, or birthday wishes to be included in the speech?
• How have the birthday person's friends influenced them, and vice versa?

I've used these questions over and over again to write speeches for milestone birthdays, for both birthday boys and girls turning 30 to 100 years old. See my speech samples right now.

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