Since H was about 12, he's always gone hunting during his birthday. As such, it's been about 20 years since he had a party. He's not one to take initiative on his own, and he never knows what to do when I ask. I know it bothers him that he never really gets to celebrate his birthday.
So, this year, I want to take charge. He will still be gone, but I want to pick a random day and surprise him when he wakes up.
The challenge is trying to make up for 20 years of lost parties. So, MM, I turn to you for ideas. What would you plan?
I was going to plan a party for MH's 30th birthday, but this was during the Great Foundation Disaster of 2013 so I never got around to it. I actually had a Pinterest board full of ideas, and now I add to it whenever I see something online that he might like as a birthday/Christmas gift so I don't forget.
I thought about holding it at our house and putting burgers/etc. on the grill, or ordering food from a great local barbecue joint. I was also looking into food trucks (tacos, burgers, etc.) I could hire to come to the house. He's a craft beer guy so I was going to buy a bunch of beers he likes, and maybe special order some stuff that we can't buy in NJ.
But August in our house can get really uncomfortable since we only have AC in our bedroom, so my other idea was to host it at a small bar a few towns over that allows you to bring in your own food ... I was going to give the owner a set amount of cash for the tab (enough for everyone to have a couple drinks), then after that people could buy more if they wanted, and I was going to order pizzas and bring in other food like White Castle burgers and other snacks. I also thought about doing an ice cream buffet with those little plastic Yankees helmets you get at the ballpark. I browsed on Etsy and found sellers who could print party invitations on coasters. I found a few small things themed around his interests to make goodie bags for the guests, like beer soap and Darwin Fish keychains and his favorite little snacks.
But like I said, the foundation repair ruined it. The contractors took their sweet time, so I had no way of knowing if they'd be finished by his birthday and I couldn't make advance plans (they were ). And it ate up a lot of our savings, so he would've been pissed if I'd spent money on a party.
We wound up going to a really nice restaurant in Philadelphia (Zahav) plus a few bars he likes, and we stayed at a hotel overnight. Some friends drove down to join us for dinner, which was really nice of them, and they got him a nice bottle of liquor.
The only part of my original plan that I was able to do: he thought that Kelly's birthday banner from The Office was hilarious, so I printed it out and hung it up at home before I left for work on the morning of his birthday. He's got the summer off of work, so he didn't see it until he walked into the kitchen about an hour after I left, lol:
We wound up going to a really nice restaurant in Philadelphia (Zahav) plus a few bars he likes, and we stayed at a hotel overnight. Some friends drove down to join us for dinner, which was really nice of them, and they got him a nice bottle of liquor.
This sounds like a fantastic and special birthday to me!
I would plan a daytime activity, schedule some downtime in the late afternoon (for sex and a nap, lol) then plan a big dinner out with friends. You could also get him several smaller birthday gifts and periodically give them over the course of a day, not hinting that there are more gifts to come.
I planned a surprise party for H four years ago. I rented lanes at a bowling alley and ordered pizza and pitchers of soda and beer and my baker friend made a big cake. Everyone I invited knew it was a surprise and everyone kept the secret perfectly. I had his brother come up to our house and we all went to dinner. He knew that we were going bowling afterwards but had no idea that anyone else was going to be there. We walked in and it was great to see his face as he saw one friend after another. We ended up with almost 50 people (including kids) and it was so much fun.
Any wineries or breweries in your area? - you could do a day of touring with your friends and then have everyone back to your house for food/drinks / party. (include a pinata with mini liquor bottles)
Any wineries or breweries in your area? - you could do a day of touring with your friends and then have everyone back to your house for food/drinks / party. (include a pinata with mini liquor bottles)
Any wineries or breweries in your area? - you could do a day of touring with your friends and then have everyone back to your house for food/drinks / party. (include a pinata with mini liquor bottles)
This is the best idea I've ever heard of!
My SIL included it at one of her parties. Bought a ton of the cheap $1/$2 mini bottles. It was great.
Ooh, you could also plan some sort of scavenger hunt for the day and end up with him at whatever location you are having the party. (maybe a friend would let you use their house). Kind of like what Steve & Janet did when they got married on 90210
I planned a 40th party for Mr. Pom. Not a surprise. We went to a casino resort he loves. I got comp rooms for our close family and arranged for great rates for friends if they wanted to stay over. I reserved a cabana next to the resort's lazy river, we all spent the day floating and drinking at the swim up bar. We also had service in our cabana. I hosted a mid-afternoon luncheon, complete with an amazing cake and more booze. People were free to do their own thing that evening, gamble, enjoy any of the bars, music/dancing other restaurants. I had snacks, beverages in our suite. My mom hosted breakfast for everyone who stayed over the next morning. Oh and I gave Mr. P a Breitling Superocean, so that made me wife of the year. He felt very loved and happy.
I think spending the day doing things a person loves with people you love, is the way to go...not about the cost, just fun and friends (and family, if you like them)
I'm thinking of getting up, telling him it's his birthday, and making him a delicious breakfast. Then we will go to the coast. I found a place that has bumpet boats, go kart races and mini golf. We can hit up the beach and go fly his kite. There will also be lunch, and the olive store. Then the casino. We go home and have a bbq with friends and play games, and out to bar after.
The best birthday party I threw was a "young at heart" party for H's 30th. I rented a 3 story rock wall and bungee run/bounce and it was awesome. Grilled out, lots of alcohol, invited friends and family. Win!