How long should a birthday video message be?
Twenty to thirty seconds. In a video from a group, ten to fifteen seconds each keeps the whole thing watchable.
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What to say in a birthday video message
A three-part shape that works for anyone, then examples for parents, partners, friends, colleagues and the big birthdays. Borrow them, then make them yours.
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In a birthday video message, say their name and happy birthday, share one specific thing (a memory, a joke or something you admire), and finish with a wish for the year ahead. Twenty to thirty seconds is enough; a short, specific message beats a long general one every time.
Below are examples by relationship and tone to borrow from. When you have filmed it, the birthday video message maker wraps your clip in a card with their name and a caption, or collect messages from everyone into a birthday montage.
A three-part message that always works
Greeting, with their name
“Happy birthday, Jo.” Say the name: it makes the message theirs from the first second.
One specific thing
A memory (“that camping trip where it rained for four days”), something you admire, or a joke only they will get. One is better than three.
A wish, then stop
“Hope this year brings you that garden you keep talking about. See you Saturday.” Then smile and stop recording.
Examples for family
Mum or Dad
- “Happy birthday, Mum. I am only now realising how many lifts, packed lunches and late-night phone calls you gave me. Thank you. Have a lovely day; I’ll ring you tonight.”
- “Happy birthday, Dad. Still the only person who can fix anything with a bit of string. Enjoy the day, and don’t do any DIY.”
Brother or sister
- “Happy birthday, sis. You were the worst person to share a bedroom with and the best person to share everything else with.”
- “Happy birthday, Ollie. I let you win at Monopoly that one time. You’re welcome.”
Grandparents
- “Happy birthday, Grandma. Your Sunday roast is still the best meal of the week, and we love you to bits. See you soon.”
More ideas for each person, with templates, are on the pages for Mum, a sister and Grandma.
Examples for partners and friends
Partner
- “Happy birthday, love. Six years ago you laughed at my terrible joke on our first date, and you’ve been laughing at them ever since. Here’s to many more.”
- “Happy birthday to my favourite person. I’m so proud of everything you did this year.”
Best friend
- “Happy birthday, Meg. Twenty years of friendship and you still haven’t returned my jumper. Love you anyway.”
- “Happy birthday from the other side of the world. Drinks are on me when I’m back.”
Examples for work, milestones and laughs
A colleague or the boss
- “Happy birthday, Priya, from everyone in accounts. Thank you for keeping us all sane. There’s cake in the kitchen.”
Milestones
- “Happy eighteenth. Proud doesn’t begin to cover it. The world’s lucky to have you loose in it.”
- “Happy fiftieth, Steve. Half a century, and still the first on the dance floor.”
Funny
- “Happy birthday. I was going to get you something amazing, but then I remembered you already have me.”
- “Happy birthday. You don’t look a day over… well, let’s not get into numbers.”
Keep jokes kind: the test is whether they would happily show the video to their mum.
Birthday video messages: questions
What if I get nervous on camera?
Write the three parts on a note behind the phone, record three takes and keep the best. Nobody minds a laugh in the middle.
What should I avoid saying?
Inside jokes others won’t understand if it will be shown to a crowd, anything about age they are sensitive about, and long lists of thanks.
Should I write the message on screen as well?
A short line works well: type it in Message and it appears on the closing card, readable with the sound off.
Can I collect messages from several people?
Yes. Ask each person to film their message and send it to you, then add them all to one video. The birthday montage page explains how.