Funny belated birthday wish for a friend
Breaking news: local friend finally remembers your birthday, three days late. More at eleven. Happy birthday!
Funny · for a friend
Belated birthday · Short · 16 words · email, SMS, WhatsApp, Slack
Written by the Peoplewisher team
Original and free to use, personal or business
Fills in their name
{firstname} becomes their first name when Peoplewisher sends it.
Works on every channel
Short enough for a text, warm enough for a card.
Can repeat every year
Save their date and it goes out on the day, automatically.
The message
Breaking news: local friend finally remembers your birthday, three days late. More at eleven. Happy birthday!
Make it personal
- 1
Own it in one sentence. A short, honest “I missed your birthday and I am sorry” beats a paragraph of excuses every time.
- 2
Make it about them. Spend the rest of the message on your friend. Name a memory, a quality you love or something they did for you this year.
- 3
Offer a make-up plan. Coffee, lunch or a night out on you turns a late message into a second celebration.
More funny wishes
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S Sam
My calendar and I are no longer on speaking terms. Happy belated birthday, Sam! 🙈
9:00 ✓✓
Funny · Friends
My calendar and I are no longer on speaking terms. Happy belated birthday, Sam! 🙈
Belated birthday · Short · 15 words
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S Sam
I did not forget your birthday. I simply decided it deserved a sequel. Happy birthday, part two!
Funny · Friends
I did not forget your birthday. I simply decided it deserved a sequel. Happy birthday, part two!
Belated birthday · Short · 17 words
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# celebrations
Peoplewisher APP 9:00 AM
🎉 In my defense, last week went by in what felt like forty-five minutes, and I only realized today that your birthday was in the middle of it. That is a me problem. You are still wonderful, and I am still bringing cake.
Funny · Friends
In my defense, last week went by in what felt like forty-five minutes, and I only realized today that your birthday was in the middle of it. That is a me problem. You are still wonderful, and I am still bringing cake.
Belated birthday · Medium · 42 words
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I would blame the post office, but I did not send anything. I would blame my phone, but it reminded me twice. So I will just own it: I am late, I am sorry, and I hope your birthday was as great as you are.
Funny · Friends
I would blame the post office, but I did not send anything. I would blame my phone, but it reminded me twice. So I will just own it: I am late, I am sorry, and I hope your birthday was as great as you are.
Belated birthday · Medium · 45 words
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S Sam
Good news: you get to celebrate twice this year, once on the day and once now, when your slightly disorganized friend finally shows up. Happy belated birthday, Sam. Consider this the encore.
9:00 ✓✓
Funny · Friends
Good news: you get to celebrate twice this year, once on the day and once now, when your slightly disorganized friend finally shows up. Happy belated birthday, Sam. Consider this the encore.
Belated birthday · Medium · 32 words
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Let the record show that I had a birthday mess
to Sam
Let the record show that I had a birthday message for you all planned out. It was clever, it was heartfelt, it had one excellent pun, and it lived entirely in my head, where it did you no good at all. So here is the real-world version, a few days late and minus the pun: happy birthday, Sam. You are one of the funniest, kindest people I know, and you deserved a friend who could read a calendar. Next round is on me.
Funny · Friends
Let the record show that I had a birthday message for you all planned out. It was clever, it was heartfelt, it had one excellent pun, and it lived entirely in my head, where it did you no good at all. So here is the real-world version, a few days late and minus the pun: happy birthday, Sam. You are one of the funniest, kindest people I know, and you deserved a friend who could read a calendar. Next round is on me.
Belated birthday · Long · 83 words
More from belated birthday wishes for friends
Show all 40-
S Sam
I missed your birthday, Sam, and I am genuinely sorry. You matter far more than my calendar skills suggest.
9:00 ✓✓
Apologetic · Friends
I missed your birthday, Sam, and I am genuinely sorry. You matter far more than my calendar skills suggest.
Belated birthday · Short · 19 words
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No excuse, just an apology and a lot of love
to Sam
No excuse, just an apology and a lot of love. Happy belated birthday, my friend.
Apologetic · Friends
No excuse, just an apology and a lot of love. Happy belated birthday, my friend.
Belated birthday · Short · 15 words
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S Sam
Your birthday came and went and I said nothing, which is the opposite of how I feel about you. I am sorry I was late. Let me fix it with a proper celebration and a toast to the year ahead of you.
Apologetic · Friends
Your birthday came and went and I said nothing, which is the opposite of how I feel about you. I am sorry I was late. Let me fix it with a proper celebration and a toast to the year ahead of you.
Belated birthday · Medium · 42 words
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# celebrations
Peoplewisher APP 9:00 AM
🎉 Sorry comes first here because you deserve it first. Then the important part: I am so glad you were born, I am lucky to know you, and I hope this year is full of good surprises. Happy belated birthday.
Apologetic · Friends
Sorry comes first here because you deserve it first. Then the important part: I am so glad you were born, I am lucky to know you, and I hope this year is full of good surprises. Happy belated birthday.
Belated birthday · Medium · 39 words
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I have rewritten this message four times trying to explain why it is late, and every version sounded like an excuse. So here is the honest one: I lost track of the days, and I missed your birthday. That is on me, and it says nothing about how much you mean to me. You are one of the people I am most grateful for, the friend who checks in, remembers the small stuff and makes every plan more fun. Happy belated birthday, Sam. Dinner is on me.
Apologetic · Friends
I have rewritten this message four times trying to explain why it is late, and every version sounded like an excuse. So here is the honest one: I lost track of the days, and I missed your birthday. That is on me, and it says nothing about how much you mean to me. You are one of the people I am most grateful for, the friend who checks in, remembers the small stuff and makes every plan more fun. Happy belated birthday, Sam. Dinner is on me.
Belated birthday · Long · 87 words
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S Sam
Belated wishes can sound small, so let me make this one count. I am sorry I missed your day. You have shown up for me so many times, for moving days, bad weeks and one very dramatic haircut, and I should have been first in line on yours. What I can do is say it clearly now: you are a wonderful friend, you make my life lighter, and I hope this new year of yours is the best one yet. Happy birthday, a little late and completely sincere.
9:00 ✓✓
Apologetic · Friends
Belated wishes can sound small, so let me make this one count. I am sorry I missed your day. You have shown up for me so many times, for moving days, bad weeks and one very dramatic haircut, and I should have been first in line on yours. What I can do is say it clearly now: you are a wonderful friend, you make my life lighter, and I hope this new year of yours is the best one yet. Happy birthday, a little late and completely sincere.
Belated birthday · Long · 88 words
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Who says a birthday only lasts a day
to Sam
Who says a birthday only lasts a day? Yours is officially running all week. Happy birthday, Sam!
Playful · Friends
Who says a birthday only lasts a day? Yours is officially running all week. Happy birthday, Sam!
Belated birthday · Short · 17 words
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S Sam
Late to the party, but bringing extra cake to make up for it. Happy belated birthday! 🎂
Playful · Friends
Late to the party, but bringing extra cake to make up for it. Happy belated birthday! 🎂
Belated birthday · Short · 17 words
Free to send
Email, SMS, WhatsApp or Slack