Need to know how to plan a birthday party for adults? Planning a birthday party can seem like a daunting task. From the location to the guest list, it can all just feel so overwhelming. Stop! And take a deep breath. Now grab a notebook. With a bit of planning, you can organise a fantastic birthday party you, and they, will love.
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1. Set a Budget
Decide in advance how much you want to spend on your party. And stick to it. Write down all the costs so that the party is well organised and doesn’t go over budget.
2. Decide On a Theme
The theme keeps the party cohesive and is evident in all aspects, from the invites to the décor.
Birthday Party Themes
- Retro like 60s, 70s, 80s
- Movie based like Star Wars, James Bond and Jurassic Park
- Music
- Fancy dress
- Books
- Parisian
- Food theme (e.g., BBQ, tea party, French food)
3. How Long Will Your Party Be?
This will be influenced by the activities, theme, and venue. Think about whether you want a day or night party. Of course, you could have a whole day affair. Do an activity in the day and have a gathering at your house later.
4. Pick The Venue
Choose somewhere that fits your budget and the number of guests you want to invite. You could have the party at your home, organise an Airbnb, or book a hotel conference room. Or you could party in a park or back garden. If you go for the garden or park option, make sure you have a backup plan if it rains. Hiring a gazebo will ensure you have all eventualities covered. No one wants damp cake.
5. Decorate
Match your decorations to your theme for a cohesive and well-planned look. Jazz up plain walls with party posters, add bunting to bannisters, and pop personalised place settings on tables.
6. Guestlist
Depending on your budget you will have a good idea of how many people you can invite. But also consider the location and type of party you want to throw. Will 50 people fit in your backyard?
7. Send Invitations
Give people plenty of time to decide to attend your party. If you spring it on them last minute, there’s a chance that only a few people will be able to make it. Provide a clear timeline (more on that later) of the event so people can plan around their other responsibilities. If it’s an extravagant affair or includes lots of people, send a save the date prior to the invitations. And don’t forget to include the RSVP card with a clear date when they need to send it back.
What To Do If People Don’t Respond To Your Rsvp
Quite frankly, it’s a bit rude if you’ve gone to the effort to send an invite and they can’t be bothered to respond. But put your feelings aside and deal with the matter in a courteous way. Just because they are rude doesn’t mean you need to be. Once the RSVP date has passed send them a text/email and ask them if they got the invite/want to attend. Give them the benefit of the doubt as we all know what the postal system can be like! Again, ask them to respond by a specific date. If you still don’t hear anything, remove them from the list. For any last-minute requests, you will have to make a judgement call on whether you can accommodate them. By this point, you’ll have given them enough warning, so you’re not obliged.
8. Food
Don’t forget to ask your guests about any allergies so you can cater for everyone. If there are any allergies or preferences such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan, make sure to separate out the food to avoid cross-contamination. You can add little labels to let people know what’s what. If there are a lot of guests attending, consider asking everyone to pitch in with something. Buffets are an easy option for any party as there are lots of choices and it can be prepared in advance. There are always professional caterers if want to go hands-off with the food.
9. Get The Drinks In
If the party will be boozy, make sure that everyone’s tastes are catered for. But how to plan a birthday party for adults when they don’t drink? Easy! Get plenty of non-alcoholic options. Alcoholic-free beers and wines, mocktails, and soft drinks are good ideas for non-drinkers. If there will be quite a few folks coming, it may be wise to ask each guest to bring a bottle. That way they know they’ll be getting a drink they like.
10. Prepare a Cake
Make sure you leave enough time to either make a cake or get a shop-bought one. Alternatively, create a cupcake stand and have a few different flavours available for different tastes. Send guests off with a cupcake in a cute cupcake box. Want a personalised cake but on a budget? Buy a basic cake and get a personalised icing sheet or topper.
11. Decide On The Activities
Avoid throwing a boring party by adding some activities to make it more fun. Obviously, this will depend on who the guests are, and what they enjoy. Have some other options if some people don’t want to take part.
Birthday Activities
- Party games and quizzes
- Movie screenings
- Wine tasting/cocktail making
- Ceramic painting
- Jewellery making
- Cooking class
- Painting each other portraits
- Scavenger hunt
- Murder mystery
- Board game night
12. Party Favours
Party favours don’t have to be expensive or tacky. And they’re not just for kids. I love a good party bag! Send guests off with a little homemade gift like some cookies. Or stay on theme with a DIY cassette tape and Spotify playlist. Create a talking point with a sweetie stand and a selection of treats. Add a sign, cute paper bags and old-fashioned scoops.
RELATED: HOW TO MAKE GIFTS FOR BIRTHDAYS
13. Have a Guest Book
When researching how to plan a birthday party for adults people often forget the guest book. But don’t! It’s not only a great memento, but it can also be a lot of fun on the day. Add the book and a sign, along with a jar of prompts for what guests should write. You could even include very random words or phrases to mix things up. This will make for an interesting read the next day!
14. Decide On Gift Etiquette
Not bothered about gifts? Prefer them to bring a bottle or a dish instead? Take out the guesswork for guests and let them know. Even if you don’t have any food and drink requirements you may just want to reduce the spending burden on your guests. Especially if they have travelled to celebrate with you. Add a little note on the invite that says something along the lines of ‘Your presence is present enough’.
RELATED: WEDDING GIFT ETIQUETTE
Is Opening Gifts In Front Of Guests Expected?
Decide beforehand how you will deal with any gifts. It’s up to you if you want to open them then and there. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t. It will be something to look forward to the next day. Just a simple ‘thank you so much for the gift, I’m going to open my gifts tomorrow so I’ll just pop it away’ will suffice. You can drop them a text the next day to say thank you again when you’ve opened it.
15. Have a Clear Timeline (and Let Guests Know)
Whether you include an insert with the invite or a board at the venue, a timeline keeps things organised. People like to know when they’re going to eat! And it helps prevent late stragglers at the end of the party! Include the timing of things like arrival, party games/activities and when the food will be served. This is also helpful to anxious guests who like to know what to expect.
How To Get Guests To Leave
A timeline will help guests know when it is an appropriate time to leave. Another way is simply telling your guests that the party is over and giving some warning. Something like ‘Hey guys just to let you know that the party is going to finish in 30 minutes/an hour. We’ve had such a lovely time, thank you for coming. Please book your transport home now if you haven’t already. Don’t forget to grab a slice of cake/cupcake and write in our guest book.’
If you’ve been wondering how to plan a birthday party for adults, hopefully, this has given you plenty of ideas and food for thought. You can throw a party on all budgets, and you don’t need loads of people to have a fun time. If you just want to party with a few pals, then do that. It’s your party so make it match your own expectations about what is fun.
