Your Day of Birth

30th birthday ideas

Dirty thirty, flirty thirty: a fresh decade with a lot to celebrate. Traditions, party ideas, gifts, toasts and card messages for turning 30.

What turning 30 means

Turning 30 is one of the biggest birthdays of adult life because it starts a whole new decade. Many people feel more settled and sure of themselves than they did in their twenties, while others joke about feeling old for the first time. Either way, it's a natural moment to look back and celebrate what you have built. Friends often throw a playful dirty thirty or flirty thirty party, and families love to mark the new decade with a big gathering.

Traditions and customs

Dirty thirty party
A popular party theme with black and gold decor, cheeky signs and plenty of jokes about leaving the twenties behind.
Flirty thirty party
A softer, glam version of the theme with pink, sparkles and a dressy night out with friends.
Goodbye twenties celebration
Some hosts hold a mock farewell to the twenties, with a slideshow of the best moments from the past ten years.

Party ideas

Dirty thirty bash
Throw a black and gold party with music, finger food and a photo booth with props.
Goodbye twenties roast
Friends share funny, kind stories from the past decade over dinner and dessert.
Wine and cheese night
Set out a cheese board and a few bottles for a relaxed evening of good conversation.
Axe throwing outing
Book a lane for the group and crown the best thrower of the new decade.
Thirty things in thirty days
Plan thirty small treats or adventures leading up to the big day, one per day.
Cabin weekend
Rent a cabin with friends for hiking, board games and a big birthday breakfast.
Backyard taco party
Set up a taco bar, string lights and a playlist for a budget-friendly party at home.
Fancy tasting menu dinner
Splurge on a chef's tasting menu with a partner or a small group of close friends.

Color ideas

BlackRose goldIvory

A suggestion, not a rule. Their favorite colors always win.

Cake ideas

  • Dirty thirty cake. A black and gold cake with a cheeky topper that says dirty thirty.
  • Thirty and fabulous tiered cake. A two-tier cake in pastel shades with gold leaf and fresh flowers.
  • RIP twenties cake. A funny cake with a little gravestone topper saying goodbye to the twenties.

Planning timeline

  1. 6 weeks outPick a theme, like dirty thirty or flirty thirty, and book the venue, cabin or restaurant.
  2. 3 weeks outSend invites, order themed decor, and ask friends for photos from the last ten years.
  3. 1 week outOrder the cake, build the twenties slideshow, and line up anyone who wants to give a toast.
  4. The day ofSet up the photo booth and decor early, then let the birthday person relax and enjoy the night.

Gift ideas for a 30th

Under $25

StyleFunny thirty socksGood for: Friend, CoworkerFind one →KeepsakeThirty reasons jarGood for: Partner, FriendFind one →GamesCustom photo puzzleGood for: Friend, PartnerFind one →HobbyIndoor herb garden kitGood for: Coworker, FriendFind one →

$25 to $100

ExperienceWine tasting class voucherGood for: Partner, FriendFind one →WellnessWeighted blanketGood for: Mom, PartnerFind one →KitchenPersonalized cutting boardGood for: Mom, Dad, FriendFind one →Birth stoneBirthstone ringGood for: Partner, MomFind one →HobbyMulti-tool with leather sheathGood for: Dad, PartnerFind one →StyleLeather toiletry bagGood for: Dad, PartnerFind one →

Splurge

HobbyRecord player with speakersGood for: Partner, DadFind one →TravelCabin getaway voucherGood for: PartnerFind one →JewelryGold hoop earringsGood for: Partner, MomFind one →KitchenOutdoor pizza ovenGood for: Dad, PartnerFind one →
ADAffiliate links — we may earn a commission.

Toasts for a 30th

To thirty years of laughs, wrong turns and great comebacks. Here's to a new decade that's even better than the last!

We said goodbye to your twenties tonight, and they had a good run. Now let's raise a glass to the thirties.

To someone who gets better every year: may your thirties bring calm mornings, wild adventures and the people you love close by.

Card messages

Happy 30th! Your twenties were the warm-up. Now the real fun begins.

Thirty, flirty and thriving. Wishing you a decade full of joy, love and good surprises.

Welcome to your thirties, where a good night's sleep becomes the best party. Happy birthday.

So proud to have celebrated so many birthdays with you. Here's to thirty more years of friendship.

Happy dirty thirty. Don't worry, you don't look a day over twenty-nine.

May this new decade bring you peace, purpose and plenty of reasons to smile every day.

More birthday wishes →

30th birthday questions

What is a dirty thirty party?

It's a popular, playful 30th birthday party theme, often with black and gold decor and cheeky jokes. There's no formal tradition behind it, just fun.

What color is for a 30th birthday?

There's no official color for a 30th. Black and gold are popular for a dirty thirty theme, and pink or rose gold for flirty thirty.

What do you do for a 30th birthday?

Common ideas include a themed party, a weekend away with friends, a dinner with a roast of the twenties, or a fancy night out.

What is a good gift for a 30th birthday?

Good picks include keepsakes like a thirty reasons jar, experiences like a wine tasting class, or a splurge like jewelry or a cabin getaway.

Birthday wishes for the 30th →What happened in 1996 →
Birthday Planner

Planning a 30th?

Add their birthday and get a plan: what to do, trips nearby, a party kit and a countdown.

Plan it