Adult Birthday Party | Help Me Host It | Party Ideas, themes, tips and more.

Planning

Turning 30 is one of those "in between" places. For many of us, it's a moment to reflect on where we were, and where we are going. A good job, a house, perhaps a spouse and maybe a child or two - life seems to move away from clubbing and defying responsibility, and turns more towards a new phase in life. For that reason, thirty is both anticipated, and feared. And the best way to take the fear out of "30" is to throw one hell of a party!!! Leave out the black and funeral humor and toast the decade that was, and the decade that is coming. Surround your thirty-year-old with friends, family, and most likely, a lot of alcohol. : )

What is your "Party Picture"? 30th birthday party

When planning a 30th Birthday the goal is to recognize the decade of "twenty-something" and start "thirty-something" with a bang - the opening day, so to speak.
If this isn't a surprise party, involve your Guest of Honor - they should have a say in their opening day ceremony.
What ambience are you looking for? Will this be formal, informal, quirky, traditional, dance into the night, or quiet conversation?
How much have you budgeted for the event? Consider decorations, food, drinks, rentals, entertainment, activities, favors, photography...
How much help and support will you have from friends, family? Will you be hiring professionals to take on some of the responsibility such as catering, planning, photography?

Delegate, delegate, delegate. The less any one person is responsible for (especially YOU)the more everyone can enjoy the event!
This is particularly true if you are planning your own party. If it's your own birthday you definitely don't want to spend your time in the kitchen or tending to the needs of your guests! You want to be sitting sipping champagne - make sure you have others helping.

How many people are you intending to invite/do you expect to attend? These numbers are not typically the same, be realistic in attendance estimates as this is the number that really matters.
What time of year, week, day will your event be? Are there any conflicts that will limit your party (such as holidays) or perhaps may open budget boosting options for your event (such as hosting a brunch rather than a Saturday event)?
How much time do you have to put your 30th Birthday party together?

Picture it! - Take pictures! Print them! Share them! 30th birthday party

A Milestone Birthday, like your 30th, is an event that deserves proper memorializing. It borders on Lifetime Event status, and deserves a few framed photos at the least!
Have a plan in place before the event begins to ensure that the photos and video that you want happen, and that it inconveniences yourself, or your designated "photographer" as little as possible.
Consider hiring a photographer. A simple event that lasts a few hours is not going to be the same price tag as an elaborate wedding, with before, during and after photos and hundreds of prints. Bring in a photographer for an hour or two to capture the big stuff and the guests, and the costs will be drastically less! This is particularly true if you are hosting a once in a lifetime event!
If cost is an issue, consider replacing your annual pose with a professional photographer for your event and using an amazing candid as that year's picture. These photos would also be great holiday gifts - what better gift than a framed professionally taken photo of your guests as a gift for them! This may offset the expense.
Disposable cameras allow your guests to shoot candids - moments you wouldn't have gotten yourself.
Designate a couple of guests as photographers, but make sure you meet all of their needs throughout the event as their duties will limit the opportunities to enjoy the party.

Theme

Creating a Sense of Cohesiveness and having a little FUN. 30th birthday party

A party doesn't have to have a theme, however, a theme provide inspiration and cohesiveness that evidences attention to details. A 30th Birthday party should be fun, and mesh with the personality of your Guest of Honor. Is there a certain place they love? What about a hobby that lends itself to a theme? Do they love wine or beer for a tasting party? What about an era? Have fun with this party - you only turn 30 once!
The theme can be simple, just some colors and a certain style, or it can be incredibly elaborate and inspired, evoking the feel of a place, a time, or an event.
The theme begins at your invitation and continues through in venue, décor, tablescape, music, food, drinks, even your activities and entertainment.
The key is to select a theme that fits the event and, where applicable, the preferences and personality of the individual being celebrated as well as the guests you expect to attend.

** One of the fatal mistakes a host can make is to fail to plan a party that will be enjoyed by the Guest of Honor. If your mate is an outdoorsy flannel wearing man, a sophisticated sushi tasting may suit YOUR tastes, but probably not his. Fit the event to the theme to the person, as well as the guests you expect to attend.

Once you've selected a theme that inspires you, consider all five of your senses. Find ways to invoke the theme in each of the senses, allowing the guests to immerse themselves in the moment, shedding the every day for the mood you are creating. Whether it's a the spicy, colorful, hot tempo of a fiesta or the relaxing, mouth tantalizing, of a wine tasting - invoke each of the senses. The food, the décor, the sounds of your party should all play a role.
Research your theme to find inspiration. Try a search for the country, hobby, event, etc. that is the basis for your Theme.

30th birthday party

Venue

What is your "Party Picture"? When you close your eyes and imagine your 30th Birthday party, what do you see? Is there a venue that will work for your picture? Is there a club, a favorite restaurant or some other type of venue that will work? Or do you have a space in someone's home that will fit the bill and have a more casual, intimate setting?

Options may include: your home, your backyard (open or tented), a restaurant, a club, a hotel, a rented house, a park, or an event based venue such as the zoo, bowling alley, or a museum.

$$ Having a party at home can boost your budget, but it also requires more effort on your part. Consider price comparing offsite and onsite options, you may be surprised how little you actually save when you factor in the cost of food, decorations, rentals, and how much effort you are able to delegate to venue staff that will allow you to enjoy your own party!
How many guests do you expect to attend?

Offsite options will let you know capacity maximums and minimums
When entertaining at home consider - REALLY consider - how many guests your home can comfortably accommodate. Consider how you can open your primary rooms to maximize space, or can expand into your outdoor space. However, don't fall into the common pitfall of overestimating the actual capacity of their home.

Does your venue work with your theme?

When working with an offsite venue, often your venue can actually drive your theme, such as an ethnic styled restaurant.

30th birthday party

Invites

Your invited to celebrate a Birthday, and it's a Big one!
Invitations are the opening salvo for your 30th Birthday party. They set the mood and provide a tantalizing peek into what you are planning, sparking your party mojo.
Invitations go out 2 to 4 weeks before your party, however, it never hurts to send out a "save the date" notice earlier to ensure that your guests have a clear calendar!
Be creative! Invitations can be theme related, or they can be event specific. A 30th Birthday party celebrates the end of the 20s and the beginning of the 30s. Have fun with pictures of your Guest of Honor at their greatest, or even do a continuum of pictures from college graduation, dancing in a club, then an engagement picture… There are a lot of choices that can be inspired by the individual and don't cost a lot of money.
They also serve a practical purpose, providing the following information: 30th birthday party

What are we celebrating?
Time of Party
Location of Party
Party details such as meal served, it's s surprise, or dress requirements
RSVP Information - phone, e-mail, Party Page...

How formal does your Party Picture require your invitations need to be?

Printed - all the bells and whistles
Printed - basics
Printed (and designed) at home with invitation software
Prepackaged with details filled in
Tree-vites (a treeless invitations sent by e-mail)

Include a link to your Party Page with party details, directions, and RSVP information.
Have a system to track RSVPs

RSVP Tracker on your Party Page
Notebook by your phone
RSVP Cards

Send a "Party Reminder" a week or two before the event - this will provide an e-mail version of your party details and directions in case your guest loses the original copy.
Thank you cards can coordinate with the invitations or the theme. You can also take your favorite party photo and personalize your thank you card.

Birthday's are typically gift giving occasions so Thank you cards are even more important here because you are thanking the guest for their presence, AND their presents!

DressItUp

Decorations - A couple of balloons or the whole enchilada, it's up to you!

What do you need for your venue to fit your 30th Birthday Party Picture?
Get inspired from your Theme! What brings your Theme to life? How can you inject the details into the décor and tablescape? Don't forget your internet research to get inspiration.
Little touches can have big impact, so think it through and remember the fine details as well as the large strokes.
Select three or four colors that you will primarily be working with - this defines your color scheme.
Walls, furniture, lighting, centerpieces, linens, chair backs, tablescapes (see below), even the ceiling and floor can all work into your decorations. No surface is off limits when it comes to decorating!
Don't forget to incorporate your food, beverages, and even your entertainment into your decor.

Tablescapes - Your tables are your prime real estate, maximize the effect!

Presentation is key in entertaining, and the table is the frame for the refreshments, appetizers or meal that you will serve. Make HOW you serve as important as WHAT you serve.
Not only are the tables the primary presentation for the refreshments, but they are also the focal point in the room.
Determine how your tables will be arranged - served meal, buffet meal, light appetizers… one long table, several smaller tables - start by building the design.
The obvious starting point is the centerpiece, however, also consider the linens, place settings, crystal, place cards, napkin presentation, and even chair accoutrements.
Functionality! Consider your guests when dressing your table. A large centerpiece will either be a visual obstacle, or, will be removed and therefore a waste of resources. Keep it low, or keep it high if guests will need to see each other across the table!
Place settings and crystal will depend on the type of event you are having. From the finest china to high quality plastic ware - it depends on what your party picture is.
Finally, remember your FOOD. Food, beautifully presented, is the reason d'être for your tablescape to begin with. Remember that your food should play a role in the design of the space.

Food/Drink

Refreshments - The heart of the party, amusingly, is the stomach!

What time of day will your party be and how long will it last? This will determine how much food you need to serve. Can you get away with light hors d'oeuvres and snacks or do you need a full meal? Or, if your event lasts long enough, do you need both?
If serving a meal, how will you serve it?

Formal seating - limits guests to a selected meal and is typically more expensive when catered.
Family style - dishes are served as they would be at home, allowing guests to select what they want while at the table. This is less formal but more personal than buffet.
Buffet - Allows guests to mingle while they eat, adds variety to the meal selection, and guests can graze throughout the event, reducing rigidity of schedule.

If the party is at home, or somewhere where food is not served, the question to ask is, can you cook?? And, more importantly, DO YOU WANT TO? Preparing and serving the food is incredibly time consuming and can really limit your ability to enjoy your own party. Here are some options that minimize your time in the kitchen:

Make ahead dishes that only require reheating or mild prep work.
Have the event catered (with delivery ). Compare costs if you are cooking as a way to budget boost - you may be surprised how similar the costs are for the amount of effort you save!
Have it catered by your favorite restaurant and pick the food up (less expensive for a Budget Boost). If serving is an issue, go buffet or hire some local teens to help serve.

Have a plan to keep everything hot, or cold, as necessary.
Try to avoid dishes that a portion (15-20%) of your guests won't like. If you know of any special issues, try to have an alternative that will accommodate.
Plan out beverages. Use the Drink Calculator to determine how to allocate nonalcoholic, beer, wine and bar drinks.
Consider a couple of "signature drinks" to simplify the bar.
Have a plan for guests who consume too much - the safety of everyone depends on it.
Refreshments can fit your Theme!

FunStuff

Entertainment - When you want more than just your stereo…

It's a 30th Birthday party - it should reflect your Guest of Honor's personality and be a lot of fun. Consider entertainment options that will give your party some kick AND fit in your budget. Entertainment can be in the form of music and dancing, or you can go outside the box and also include other entertainers or rentals like a bounce house that can accommodate adults, a karaoke machine, a picture booth, a tasting (beer or wine) or even a dance instructor for some hot Latin moves to go with a Spanish flavored party.
Consider your Theme - is there a specific type of entertainment that would compliment it?
DJ's, musicians, palm readers, celebrity impersonators, dancers, bands, acrobats, clowns, the possibilities are endless. Explore what's available and get a couple of quotes, it may not be as expensive as you might think to make your event even more memorable

Activities - Get people talking!

Once you get out of college (or school in general) meeting people is not part of our everyday agenda. You don't have new classes every semester, new dorm residents each year… it just becomes infrequent that you have to use your social skills for meeting and mingling with new people. This means that, as people get older, strangely, they can get shyer. Help eliminate this issue by giving your wallflowers a way to approach other guests and enjoy your party. There's a reason they are called "ice breakers" - they help your guests, who may not know each other, break the ice.

Begin with something simple and subtle while guests arrive. It gets your mojo flowing and avoids grouping of guests that may leave some folks on their own.

As your party progresses, you can rely more on conversation, or you can plan something more formal. If you are serving alcohol and have music, that will probably loosen guests up as well.
If your crowd is a little quieter and you aren't heading out to a club in a party limo, consider ways to keep the party revved and the energy high. There are many subtle activities, as well as "get together" games, or even cards. Check out the "Party Fun" page for activity ideas you can tailor to your event and theme. You'd be surprised how quickly you can get adult guests to let loose a little and have some fun.

Prizes/Favors

A little something to remember your event by…

A party favor thanks your guest for spending the time with you and the Guest of Honor, and also provides a little reminder of your event. A little memento of the 30th Birthday celebration is all that's needed. Stick with your Theme, or make it personal to the Birthday honoree. Birthday parties are fun, so make your party favor a little fun too.

If you can get a group picture and slip off to your computer for a few minutes, a little picture magnet or frame is a great little reminder of this important Birthday Party.

Favors are NOT required - but it's an extra touch that shows attention to detail and gracious hosting. Consider the occasion, the Theme, and the group you brought together for inspiration.
Another alternative that is becoming popular is to put together a couple of prize baskets that the guests can play for throughout the event. Spark a little competition and have fun with the prizes.