So, it’s someone’s special birthday, and
you’ve decided that this is the year that they get the surprise of their life.
Hosting a surprise birthday party is harder than it looks, what with all the
secret WhatsApp messages and hiding the decorations! Particularly when you can’t
ask the person their preference on anything, you have to go solely by what you
know of them. We have 6 top tips for you to consider that will help you make
the important decisions.
Keep it Appropriate
The age of the birthday boy or girl can
decide your whole event. If they are turning 21, then there is likely to be a
lot of loud music, and questionable drinking choices. For 30, perhaps a karaoke
bar is the place to be. 50, and maybe this is they first time they have been
out all year. 80, and maybe they want something more low-key. That being said,
it all depends on someone’s personality. There are plenty of 18-year-olds who
want nothing more than board games and pizza. Just like there are 40-year-olds
who want to get dressed up and hit the town. Knowing the person that you are
throwing the party for is going to decide what you do, so make sure you choose
something that fits with their personality,
not yours.
Do They Like Surprises?
Linked to this is knowing if a surprise
party is actually best for them. Do you know the best people to invite, or can
you get a group of people together who will know? If they have a lot of people
in your life that you don’t know, or won’t be able to contact, then it might be
a good idea to tell them that you are going to host a party and ask them for a
list. Some people just really, really, don’t like surprises, and won’t
appreciate something as big as a party being dropped on them. Not every party
has to be a surprise one, they might be happy if you do all of the organising,
so long as they know it’s happening.
Venue
Picking the venue is one of the most
important things to get right when planning a surprise party, as it will set
the tone for the whole evening. Are you looking a club? A VIP bar? Maybe something
more casual so that you can really go to town on when it comes to decorating.
It has to be accessible for all of the guests, and there also has to be a
plausible excuse in place for why the birthday girl or boy is turning up there.
There is a full array of birthday party venues for hire in London, from small
rooms to truly unique and bespoke private areas that can fit all close friends
and family. If you are having a theme, this will help you narrow the selection
down a lot, but don’t pick somewhere that is out of sorts with the rest of the
night.
Make Sure They’re the Last to Arrive
There is nothing worse than a surprise
being ruined by someone turning up too late and meeting the person the party is
being held for – before their grand entrance. No one is still going to be
surprised at this stage. When sending everyone the information about when to be
there, make sure that it is a minimum of half an hour before the scheduled
surprise. Be strict about the time, as it’s the one thing that could ruin all
of your careful planning. If anyone is running late, ensure that they text
ahead so they know if it’s safe to come in or not. Make sure that you know how
far away the birthday person is at all times, so that you can prepare everyone
for their arrival.
Have A Theme
A theme is something fun to do that will add even more to the surprise. Getting everyone to dress up and decorating the venue can really add a sense of fun to your party. Having props for them to wear and hold when they arrive will mean that the party is instantly started, and all of the snacks, nibbles and drinks can be around a set theme as well. It even opens up lots of avenues to have party games. Make sure you know that it’s something your friend or relative will like and get enthusiastic about, and that all of the other guests are on board with being a little bit silly. If you’re not having a theme, make sure that you at least have a dress code similar to what the ‘surprise’ will be wearing. This means that they won’t look completely out of place when they arrive to their own party.
Keep the Surprises Coming
To make it a night to really remember, keep
the surprises coming. Maybe have a friend fly in from overseas to add some more
shock value. You can also have surprise gifts and even a ‘surprise’ cake. This
is a cake that seems plain on the outside but has a themed centre. The more the
birthday person is kept on their toes, the better. Make sure that the surprises
do stop at some point however, otherwise they’re likely to become too overwhelmed.
They’ll also want time to actually mingle and chat with all of the friends that
you have invited to celebrate with them.
A well-planned surprise party can be one of
the best nights you’ve ever had. Not only will the person have no idea, but other
people have gone to the bother of planning it all for them. It’s a really sweet
and caring thing to do for someone special in your life, and they are sure to
be thanking you for years to come. You’ll also have lots of other people
looking to get on board and help out, so you’ll never need to do all of the
planning by yourself.
Search
