Planning a surprise birthday party is much like planning a regular birthday party – it’s just that everything is (supposedly) done in secret, and there is an element of surprise. Many people have thrown surprise birthday parties before, and they have managed to sort it out – which means you can, too. So be it a surprise birthday party for a colleague or boss or a party for a friend or family member, the critical aspect to remember is that the celebrant should have no clue – and you should always think of what the celebrant may like or prefer. So without further ado, here’s how to organise and plan a surprise birthday party for someone special.
Choose the venue/location and make a guest list
The very first thing you have to do is to select your location or venue. It’s best to keep things simple, so you can choose to have the party in the person’s home, a favourite hangout, or the office conference room. Of course, you can always throw a party at a restaurant or other venue – as long as the celebrant can get there without any problem, and you have to work out how they will get there – and who will bring them to the place!
The next step is to make your guest list or list of attendees – and you should have a fair idea of who the celebrant’s friends are; and perhaps you can also ask one or two close friends or colleagues to help you with the planning. Alternatively, if it’s a big party, you can always count on a party planner – party planners in Cotswolds like Oasis Events who can bring your party to life. You can also set up a group chat or page on Facebook to give the guests updates and see who is coming. Finally, of course, ensure everyone knows it’s a surprise – so that no one will slip.
Go for a party theme
Another thing you can do to make the party more interesting and exciting is to go for a theme. If you want, you can ask the birthday celebrant themselves for ideas – don’t give it away! For instance, you can ask them what kind of birthday parties they’ve enjoyed in the past, their favourite food and beverage, and so on. If the celebrant is a fan of sports or a film, or an activity, you already have your theme!
Plan the perfect menu
The surprise birthday party wouldn’t be complete without a well-chosen menu, so it’s best to plan it right away. First, of course, you need to have an idea of what the celebrant likes, but you also need to think of the guests. If, for example, your guest of honour has a sweet tooth, why not plan a dessert spread or bars. On the other hand, if they live a healthy lifestyle, then make sure you have healthy and fresh dishes on the menu.
Here are some suggestions that will generally make the crowd happy – try out a punch made from citrus juice and champagne, and serve tacos or nachos (you can even have a taco bar for added fun). Of course, every birthday should have a birthday cake, but you can choose something more unique such as birthday cupcakes (it’s easier to handle, too) or even a giant birthday biscuit or trifle.
