40th Birthday Party | Help Me Host It | Party Ideas, themes, tips and more.

Planning

Okay folks, as a woman quickly approaching 40, can I just say, LOUDLY, that if I never here "Lordy Lordy Kim is 40" I'll be a happy woman. Now, that's not to say that I'm not looking forward to 40, because I am, it's a huge year, in a lot of ways. But I'm not looking forward to the death jokes. The temptation is to tease the Guest of Honor about how old they are, that it's amazing that they've managed to elude death another year… And if your Guest of Honor has a sense of humor about their age you can get everyone laughing. But most agree that, although you can have elements of the "Over the Hill" humor, don't let it be your entire theme. Rather, celebrate LIFE and how amazing your Guest of Honor's decade has been. When I turn 40 I want a party to beat all parties, a celebration of my favorite things. At forty, most of us have finally hit our stride - we have a lot to celebrate!

What is your "Party Picture"? - 40th Birthday Party Ideas

your Guest of Honor has had and start the next decade 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 40th 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 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 40th Birthday Party be? Are there any conflicts that will limit your event (such as holidays) or opportunities to budget boost?
How much time do you have to put your event together

Picture it! - Take pictures! Print them! Share them! 40th Birthday Party Ideas

A 40th Birthday Party, as a Lifetime Event, deserves proper memorializing. You at least need one photo worthy of framing!
Have a plan in place before the party 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!
If cost is an issue, consider replacing your annual pose with a professional photographer for your 40th Birthday 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. 40th Birthday Party Ideas

A 40th Birthday party doesn't have to have a theme, however, a theme provides inspiration and cohesiveness that shows attention to details. The easy choice is just to have streamers and colors and giant "40s" everywhere, but that's probably not your best option. You're far better off making this party all about your Birthday guy/girl. What are they into? What would make them (and your guests) say "wow!!" Consider hobbies, countries they love, music, or even an era.
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. Only your own creativity (and budget!) set any limits.
The theme begins at your 40th Birthday 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 a 40th Birthday Party for your Guest of Honor 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 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.

Venue

What is your 40th Birthday Party picture? Is the venue you are considering going to work with it? This is a pretty significant birthday, a "once in a lifetime" event. So your venue options may be a little more elaborate or extravagant than you would normally consider. Chances are you are also including more people, so common party spaces, such as at home, may not be able to accommodate your guest list.

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

40th Birthday Party Ideas

$$ Having your 40th Birthday 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? For a 40th Birthday you're probably going to have a larger crowd, so plan accordingly.

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 your home.

Does your venue work with your theme? 40th Birthday Party Ideas

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

Invites

Your invited to celebrate my 40th Birthday, and we are going to do this right!!!
Invitations are the opening salvo for your grand fete. They set the mood and provide a tantalizing peek into what you are planning, sparking your party mojo.
Usually invitations go out 2 to 4 weeks before your event, however, it never hurts to send out a "save the date" notice earlier to ensure that your guests have a clear calendar!

If you are turning the 40th Birthday into a major party, plan your invitations accordingly. The bigger the party the more notice you'll want to provide your guests. Bump it to 4 - 6 weeks in advance if this is a serious party that you want everyone to be able to come to.

Be creative! Invitations can be theme related, or they can be event specific. A 40th Birthday party celebrates the 30s and gets excited about the beginning of the 40s. Your invitation can reflect that. Or, you can simply personalize your invitation to the person, instead of the event. You can work with pictures, memories, moments… What has come before, and what you expect is right around the corner.
Invitations to party also serve a practical purpose, providing the following information:

Whose 40th Birthday are we celebrating?
Time of Party
Location of Party 40th Birthday Party Ideas
Party details such as meal served, it's s surprise, or dress requirements
RSVP information! Provide phone number, date to RSVP by AND e-mail.

How formal do your invitations need to be?

Printed - all the bells and whistles
Printed - basics
Printed (and designed) at home with invitation software
Prepackaged where you fill in the details
Treevites 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! 40th Birthday Party Ideas

What do you need for your venue to fit your Party Picture?
It's a 40th Birthday - a lifetime party, so a few balloons just isn't enough! Have a little fun, make your environment reflect your spirit.
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. Can you include images? Are there particular items that go with your theme, like Sombreros for a latin theme that could be centerpieces or hold chips? What about a map of the world for an Around the World theme that guests can mark for where they have been? Miniature take out boxes for an Asian theme with each guests name and fun filling that provides both a place card and a party favor…
Little touches can have big impact, so think it through and remember the fine details as well as the large strokes. Place cards, little items for wine glass identification, little additions to a centerpiece that don't immediately catch the eye but are fun when you notice them - it's the little things that your guests will remember.
Select three or four colors that you will primarily be working with - this defines your color scheme. There are not "typical" colors for a 40th Birthday Party - use what you love, or what is inspired by your theme or is popular.
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! Find interesting ways to inject your party into your space. Chair backs are a fun place that people often forget to add a touch of whimsy to. You can also hang items from lighting or the ceiling - make your space three dimensional, don't just put décor on the walls and table.
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 and meal that you will serve. You can serve chicken strips and ketchup - OR you can take an interesting container that fits your theme to keep the chicken strips in and then select 4 or 5 gourmet dips in fun bowls surrounding the chicken… It's all in how you present it . The point is that even if you are just serving chicken strips and chips, you can make it look great!
Not only are the tables the primary presentation for the refreshments, but they are also the focal point in the room. It's your easiest place to draw the eye and set the stage for your theme.
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 that has some height will either be a visual obstacle, or, will be removed and therefore a waste of resources. Keep the bulk of your centerpiece lower or higher than eye level so that guests can 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 40th Birthday Part be, and just as important, how long will it last? This will determine how much food you need to serve to your guests. If you avoid a major meal time, you may be able to get away with light hors d'oeuvres and snacks, which can be a real budget boost, or you may decide to time your 40th Birthday Party to serve a full meal. If your event lasts long enough you may 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 your party, reducing rigidity of schedule.

If your 40th Birthday party is not at a venue where food is served (such as when you host at home), 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 severely limit your ability to enjoy your own party. Consider several options:

Make ahead dishes that only require reheating or mild prep work.
Have the event catered (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 and pick up (less expensive for a Budget Boost) and hire some local teens to help serve or better yet, stick to a buffet.

Have a plan to keep everything hot, or cold, as necessary. Cold food that should be hot or warm food that should be cold just isn't appetizing. But more importantly, you don't want your food to spoil and leave your guests sick of your party, literally…. Have a plan in place! (Check out our General Guidance for serving food for ideas).
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. You can have something other than beer wine and soda without having to have a full bar or spend your time mixing everyone's drinks. Signature drinks (a couple different options) add a little variety, give your party a little flair and don't eat up your budget and time.
Have a plan for guests who consume too much - the safety of everyone depends on it.
Don't forget that your refreshments can add an additional element to your Theme!

FunStuff

Entertainment - When you want more than just your stereo… 40th Birthday Party Ideas

A 40th Birthday Party, as a Lifetime Event deserves a little more excitement than your MP3 player and a couple of speakers. Chances are this is the party you take up a notch. Whether it's great music via DJ or band, or even something a little different like professional entertainers or a Casino environment - your possibilities are endless. You can host a murder with a professional group that will make this party a great deal of fun, you can bring in professional bar tenders who will make serving drinks an art, or you can have Salsa dance instructors give your guests a lesson then let them loose on a dance floor… Consider your theme, your budget and the interests of your Guest of Honor and your guests.
DJ's, musicians, palm readers, celebrity impersonators, dancers, bands, acrobats, the possibilities are endless. Explore what's available in our Local Resources and get a couple of quotes, it may not be as expensive as you might think to make your 40th Birthday Party memorable.

Activities - Get people talking!

Even adults can be shy. And when you host a Lifetime Event, chances are you are bringing in guests from various walks of life. Coworkers, neighbors, family, college friends, new friends - you'll have guests of different ages, social circles, etc., and this can be a little intimidating for someone who is happy as the wallflower. The way to deal with a situation where many of your guests won't know each other is to provide them with a way to approach each other and something to talk about. Thus, the icebreaker.

An icebreaker is a subtle activity that guests can join in on as they arrive. It gets them talking, sparks some party mojo and avoids groupings that may leave someone standing off on their own. Check out our General Guidance for Party Fun for Adults where we've provided some ideas for icebreakers, and our users have added even more!

As your party progresses, you can rely on conversation, or you can plan something more formal.
There are many subtle activities, as well as "get together" games, or even cards. Depending on your crowd and Party Picture you may be comfortable with conversation, or perhaps dancing, or your poker loving hubby may have a Texas Hold'em party… You decide! People seem to think that games and activities are only for kids parties, but consider parties you've been to where there has been something to do, and how quickly your guests have joined in.

For my 30th Birthday we hosted a Murder Mystery party with a 70's theme. I still have pictures of the head of my office, a gentleman in his 50s, sitting on the floor with his wife, completely comfortable in a pink wig!!! I would never imagine that ALL of my guests would have had so much fun and gotten into the spirit of the role playing. I had several people approach me later that week and express how much fun they had and how our party was so much more fun than just standing around with some drinks.

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 for his/her 40th Birthday Party. It also provides a little memento of your event. It's simply something that will bring a smile to your guest's face as they consider a day, a week, a month after your 40th Birthday and think of you and the fun they had that night.
Stick with your Theme, or make it personal to the 40th 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 take home for this milestone 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 birthday party. Spark a little competition and have fun with the prize