Feeling a bit nervous when it comes to writing a birthday card is quite usual. You start to approach the conclusion, and the tension begins. How familiar am I with this individual? Could they misread my meaning? Is it overly intimate? Or perhaps too dull and official? 

The most frequent way to sign a card is with love, yet it doesn’t fit every scenario. While you’d certainly tell Grandma that you adore her in her birthday e card, expressing the same to the CEO of your enterprise is unlikely (though surprises do happen). The situation is always pivotal. 

Whether dispatching a tangible card or an electronic birthday card, choosing the proper phrase to conclude your birthday greeting can be puzzling. Worry not! If you’re curious about how to conclude a birthday card without using “love,” we’re here to assist.

Scenarios Where Avoiding “Love” is Advisable

Individual working on laptop at desk

Is it suitable to conclude every birthday card with “love”? Not really. Just as in real life, you should consider your connection with the recipient and the purpose of the card.

As an illustration, if you’re sending a birthday card to your dental practitioner, “love” might not be ideal (unless you have a zeal for dental care). Additionally, for someone in the realm of your work circle, like sending a card from the workplace to a business associate or concluding a Linkedin note, a distinct ending would be more fitting.

If you sense it’s perhaps not the appropriate moment to use love, heed your intuition. It’s generally wise to err on the side of formality than to blur a relationship.

Frequent instances to shy away from saying love on a birthday card include:

  • Associates and colleagues
  • Business clients
  • Casual acquaintances
  • New friendships
  • Distant relatives
  • Common salutations

Alternatives to Signing a Birthday Card without Saying Love

At Inkspired Gifts, we simplify it and default every contributor’s signature to “from” (although better personalization options are available). However, if you want to stir up creativity, here are alternative choices instead of saying “love” on a birthday card:

Formal birthday options

  • Warm regards – is a professional and respectful closing suitable for colleagues and acquaintances.
  • Best birthday wishes – alludes to the occasion in a traditional and versatile manner for ending a message.
  • Warm wishes – imparts a heartfelt and amiable tone poetical of birthday greetings. More heartfelt than “best.”
  • Best regards – delivers a professional and courteous conclusion. Extremely formal.
  • With gratitude – conveys thankfulness and appreciation, perfect for expressing gratitude for someone’s friendship or benevolence.
  • Kind regards – is a professional yet not entirely birthday-specific sign-off. Slightly more uplifting.
  • Continued Success – bestows warm wishes and acknowledges the professional rapport.
  • To your success – closes with a positive, optimistic sentiment at the end of the birthday note.

Brief birthday signatures

  • Fondly – provides a friendly yet concise closure to the card.
  • Cheers – references drinks and positive messages, reminiscent of a toast.
  • Yours – offers a straightforward, clean, and dedicated ending.
  • Best – leans toward formal, but remains mostly simple and plain.
  • Hugs – offers a heartwarming and affirmative way to conclude.
  • Joyfully – closes in an energetic and lively manner
  • Enjoy – extends your best wishes, especially if you’re missing the celebration
  • Warmly – still positive, but slightly polished and grown-up.

General birthday signatures

  • Yours sincerely – is a very common and somewhat formal manner to conclude any card, not just for a birthday. 
  • Yours always – indicates dedication and loyalty.
  • Thinking of you – is fairly conventional yet expresses care. A fitting message if you’re unable to join in celebration personally.
  • To a special day – highlights the birthday festivity, while maintaining a light emotional tone.
  • Take care – inspires feelings of care and friendliness.
  • In good company – delivers a warm and collective essence to the end of a birthday card.
  • In good spirits – aims to end with a positive, slightly celebratory disposition.

Playful birthday signatures

  • Peace and blessings – reflects your appreciation in a way that champions happiness.
  • Dearest wishes – borders on formal yet holds genuine sincerity.
  • Wishing you joy – feels very pleasing and rejuvenating.
  • Many happy returns – refers to the advent of a new journey and recurrence.
  • To good health and happiness – offers both support and affection.
  • May your day be bright and beautiful – serves as a potent and illustrative way to complete a birthday card.

Lively birthday alternatives 

Office team celebrating a birthday party
  • Celebrate on – is an enjoyable and empowering method to close a birthday note. A nod to Wayne’s World perhaps?
  • Pop, fizz, clink! – illustrates your hope that the birthday individual enjoys a celebratory drink on their special occasion.
  • Hip Hip Hooray – imparts celebrations and delight in an exuberant and personal way. 
  • Get to the festivities! – creates a bold statement encouraging them to relish their day.
  • Dig into the cake! – is an informal way prompting them to savor as much birthday cake as they wish. 
  • Extinguish the candles – extends a birthday wish that makes them feel your presence.
  • Release the confetti – is a lively and illustrative method to conclude the birthday card.
  • Dispatchingyou grins – offers a visual illustration almost as effective as your presence.
  • Embraces and joy – radiates a warm and effervescent personality.
  • Remain amazing – adds a humorous, playful end to any amusing birthday greeting.
  • Your supporter – provides a nurturing and distinct finish to any note.

Friendly Birthday Choices 

  • To many more adventures – expresses well wishes for many years to come.
  • Most joyous wishes – conveys optimistic feelings and hopes for the future.
  • Wish you a delightful birthday – acknowledges the special nature of the day, with a slightly reserved tone.
  • You’re on a roll – injects vigor and impetuousness into your birthday note.
  • Honoring you – shifts the focus precisely onto the celebrated person.
  • To your joy – clearly expresses the positivity you wish to bring into a dear friend’s life.
  • Indulge yourself – aspires for a memorable occasion both day and evening.
  • Your comrade – Emphasizes your connection and articulates how you feel.

Informal Birthday Closures

  • Have an awesome one – is a very laid-back method to conclude a message. Perhaps overly informal for this occasion.
  • See you soon – offers a straightforward way to wrap up your birthday greetings, especially when frequent interaction is likely.
  • Grins – offers a representation of the emotions you wish to express.
  • Later alligator – is a typical playground departure that exudes fun. Bonus if you retort with “in a while, crocodile.”
  • Your chum – reflects your amicable bond within the message.
  • Your mate – provides a straightforward closure, emphasizing caring about your relationship.
  • Embraces and high fives – highlights the exact gestures you would share if present for the celebration.
  • Revel – is simple, straightforward, and effective as a final note.
  • To great moments – reminisces about shared memories and those yet to be created.
  • Tranquility and dessert – emanates a lighthearted and lively aura that might align with the recipient’s laid-back energy.
  • Here’s to you – is akin to cheers, yet more like a toast.

Suitable Instances to Conclude a Birthday Card with Love

Individual donning a birthday hat blowing out candles

Indeed, many situations exist where concluding a birthday card with “love” is entirely suitable. For close companions and family, signing off with “love” feels appropriate and affectionate. 

For instance, when sending a card to your spouse, partner, or significant other, “love” is a cozy and appropriate way to convey your feelings. If you’re sending a birthday card to a cherished long-term friend, “love” can demonstrate your profound gratitude for their influence in your life.

Using “love” is a genuine and fond ending to your birthday message, especially when involving relatives or individuals who are essentially family. However, always contemplate how the recipient perceives your relationship when signing.

Casual Approaches to Conclude a Birthday Card with “Love”

For less formal relationships, “love” doesn’t always feel over-sentimental. Depending on your relationship with the birthday celebrant, it can feel playful, amusing, or merely offhand.

Many individuals utilize expressions like “sending you love” or “much love” to convey fondness and concern without excessive formality. Other phrases such as “lots of love” or “with love and laughter” capture the essence of camaraderie and good tidings in a more relaxed manner.

In jovial contexts, employing “love” as a sign-off can introduce a light-hearted and friendly flavor. It’s a way to express care and fond thoughts towards the recipient without unnecessary formality.

Other Card Types That Might Inspire Use of “Love”

There are abundant occasions when finishing a card with “love” is completely adequate and appreciated. Due to their significance, including “love” during these times shows an extra degree of consideration and thoughtfulness for the recipient.

Typically, these are events with heightened emotions and feelings in contexts where it might be more suitable if the relationship is friendly. Some common occasions for signing off with love are:

  • Key birthdays, like 50th or 60th observances
  • Anniversary
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Holiday celebration
  • Baby shower
  • Bridal shower
  • New Year greetings

Ensure to always assess your connection with the recipient when including love for any of these occasions.

Signing Your Birthday Card, Either Tangibly or Digitally

Signing a birthday card should always feel authentic and resonant with your relationship with the receiver. It’s about discovering the right words to express your warm wishes and heartfelt sentiments. Whether choosing the timeless “best wishes” or opting to infuse extra love, what truly matters is sharing your kind thoughts and honoring the special day with the perfect card—either paper or digital.

If your signature is destined for an online birthday card, we simplify it by offering only the “from” option for all contributors. Instead, the personality emerges from the message you deliver and the gifs, photos, or videos you append to your post. Using our media collections or your own creative flair, you can tailor the post to cater directly to the recipient’s preferences.

Craft the perfect online birthday card for your honoree

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