Planning a birthday party full#

The surprise party you plan should be inspired by the guest of honor and speak to their interests. If it’s a cocktail party, will there be a signature drink inspired by the honoree? If they love to dance, will you hire a DJ or create a playlist? Other ideas include a tasting at a vineyard to toast a wine connoisseur or a library-themed soiree to make a book lover’s day. This is their birthday party, too, so make sure the rest of the event is just as thoughtfully planned. Otherwise, as Hiller says, 'Chances are, the stories won't add up, and a slip might be made along the way.' Plan Beyond the 'Surprise!'Įven though pulling off a successful surprise-party entrance takes a lot of coordination, don’t let the moment when everyone yells 'Surprise!' be the only memorable part of the evening. You must coordinate your coverup story with the helper ahead of time. If they're a close friend of the honoree, they 'can help weave the tale and make it more believable,' Hiller explains. The key to making the coverup believable, Hiller says, is making sure that the helper is involved in planning where and when the event is. The helper can also text you when they're en route to the event, so you can let the guests know when to stand by for the big 'Surprise!' moment. This person should make plans with the honoree, pretending that their birthday celebration is just an outing for the two of them. If you're planning to greet the party guests at the venue, you may want to enlist a second helper to arrive with the guest of honor. If this happens, they can delay their arrival, Schumacher says. On the e-invitation, you’ll want to clearly state that the party will be a surprise, as well as when the guest of honor is expected to arrive, and explicit instructions regarding what guests should do if they won’t be able to make it in time for the big surprise moment. 'With these methods, RSVPs can be received and contained within the platform, eliminating any possible chance of a phone call or text spilling the beans.' 'You certainly don’t want a paper trail spoiling the surprise,' Schumacher says.

The easiest way to spread the word is through invitations, which Schumacher says should be done mostly, if not completely, online via services like Evite and Punchbowl. For others, a bit of snooping on social media might be necessary, depending on how well you know the honoree.įor a surprise birthday party to be successful, everyone but the honoree has to be in on the secret. involve someone from their family and each part of their life,' says Heidi Hiller, owner and creative director of Innovative Party Planners.įor some, reaching out to guests will be easy. 'Maybe they have a best friend at the office, or they are on a softball team or a reading group.

Your guest list might include friends, family, and even coworkers of the person whose birthday is being celebrated. This is because some attendees may be outside of your usual social circle.

Putting together a guest list might be the most challenging part of throwing a surprise birthday party (after, of course, surprising the guest of honor).

Planning a birthday party full#

'A crowded parking lot or a street full of cars won’t spoil the surprise in the final minutes of the ruse, since those situations are not uncommon at those types of venues,' Schumacher says. To prevent any headaches, Schumacher suggests booking a private club, restaurant, or event space if your budget allows. 'Location, location, location' is key, says Annemarie Schumacher, the event planner and lifestyle blogger behind Make Every Day an Event. If you happen to live with the honoree, this tip is especially important: To avoid them feeling any hassle to clean up after a party they weren’t expecting, you’ll want to consider holding this event away from home. 'So, account for total spending based on your vision for the party.' Decide Where to Host 'It all adds up,' says Tara Tonsetic, founder of event-planning company Give Grace to Gather. The venue, catering, decorations, invitations, and party supplies are all things to consider when nailing down a budget. The first step to planning any party is to determine how much you are willing to spend on the occasion.