I have never hosted a surprise party and believe I’ve only been to one many years ago and now I’m hosting one this Saturday and would love to hear suggestions.
We’re in a group of 10 couples who’ve been friends for many years. We’ve traveled together, celebrate occasions together and see one another often. One couple needs to sell their home and leave the area. My friend’s dh asked if we could throw her a surprise party as this will be her last birthday locally. We are a very casual group, don’t tend to spend lots of money on things and, as I say, we gather often.
We’ll have about 25 people (a few couples outside our group) and, other than knowing to have people park around the corner, I’m trying to figure out what else to do to make it special. I think we’ll make one or two mixed drinks and have wine and beer and her dh wants to cater from a local restaurant.
I guess I’m wondering about decorations, appetizers…any tips about the “surprise” moment? She, her dh and their two visiting adult kids are “stopping by for a drink” on their way to dinner so the ruse is in place.
Someone told me about a huge birthday surprise party given for her.
It was being held in a big tent in her own backyard. Her husband took her out for errands all morning. When she returned, her adult kids & grandkids from out of town poured out of the house to wish her a happy birthday.
Then, they took her by the arm and led her to the backyard to see the set-up, and explained that in X hours, a slew of friends and more family were coming to celebrate.
She said it was perfect for her. It was a complete surprise, but the surprise was held early. She had enough time to spend alone with family. She had time to get in the party mindset. She had time to pick out just the right outfit and be ready. She said it was perfect for her.
This is an idea that would never occur to me, but I thought it was brilliant and it has stuck with me!
I like the ‘we are getting together, then more people make the surprise’ approach.
We had a ‘family dinner’ recently for Dad’s 90th birthday.
He knew immediate family was dining out to celebrate.
What he didn’t know was that we invited additional extended family and had a secluded space for our group to mingle and dine (rather than just a table in the dining room).
My husband surprised me for a milestone birthday. He told me he was taking me out to dinner, which would be a normal way to celebrate my birthday. But when we got to the restaurant, the hostess took us to a separate room, and when I walked in, everyone yelled surprise. I was speechless. I love surprises, and it’s very hard to surprise me, so it was great.
No decorations. Just food and drinks. The surprise is all you need.
Agree with many of those above; “victim” is mild. Please, please, PLEASE, ask your friend’s DH if he knows for sure your friend would be OK with a surprise party. A very close friend of mine threw me a surprise party and within less than one second of “SURPRISE!” I was out in the door, in my car, and left DH to suffer through the party stag. I drove back home, took a shower, and went to straight to bed and no one ever mentioned the fiasco again. Not everyone considers a surprise to be a good thing.
My very good friend gave me a surprise party for my 60th birthday. She told everyone to park on the side street.
The ruse was that the party was for someone else…not me. When I got there, I parked on the side street…but I recognized cars of folks who didn’t know the “ruse” person.
It didn’t matter. It was such a nice treat to have a bunch of my friends in one place at the same time.
They did give me a neat gift. They made a “gift card tree”. Guests were asked to bring a gift card if they wanted to. No obligation to do so. They put the cards on this wooden twig thing that looked like a tree in multi colored envelopes. It was really fun!
Maybe have each couple bring a memory or photo and make a board or album.
When my H was turning 50 his Mom planned a surprise party for him. She booked a restaurant and invited people. She knew that he has always said he would not want a surprise party. I knew it and told her I wasn’t comfortable keeping the secret. I told him and he was so angry with his Mom and made her cancel. Seven years later she is still annoyed he wouldn’t let her give him a party.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. My friend’s husband asked their daughter (both their kids will be in for the weekend to celebrate their mom’s birthday and say goodbye to their home) and she thought it was a great idea. Hopefully my friend will be happily surprised.
My friend’s husband told me today that he’s taken responsibility for dinner and the cake…and he added people to the guest list. Guests were invited to contribute a nominal amount towards a spa experience. Everyone seems to be on board and I think I’m set now.
If I was moving away from a close knit group, I would appreciate photos of each couple in the group, and depending on how close, a photo of each couple’s family.
Even if it is just candid photos taken at the party, it will mean so much as the years go by to capture these important friendships.
An easy thing to do is say No Cards, but have 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 blank cards at the party for people to write a personal note on. Easier to compile and save in a slip in photo album later, along with photos of the party food, cake and guests.
To take it further, if you have time, take some photos of their current house, neighborhood pool or other local spots, and other places your group has hung out over the years.
You can digitize the album to make it less bulky, if digital is more your style, and then make a copy for yourself as well.
^^lovely ideas. I’m sure we’ll have a going away party for them in a few months when the move is actually occurring and I’ll definitely use some of these suggestions!
I would recommend to the husband that he tell the birthday girl they’re going someplace nice so she’ll dress up. Not fun dressing in jeans and a t-shirt for a taco dinner and arriving to find a houseful of beautifully dressed and made up people who all want to take pictures with you.