How to Plan an Adult's Birthday Party

• by Courtney

• Also Try: How to Plan a Birthday Bash | How to Plan a Surprise Party

Introduction

• Whether or not they’ll admit it, most adults enjoy a birthday party in their honor as much as kids do. Whether you're throwing a birthday party for your best friend or your boyfriend, this page will show you how to set up a birthday party at your house that's fun and unforgettable. Nothing says "Happy Birthday" quite like a high-spirited gathering of family and friends with plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. Let's get started.

• • If you're planning a large-scale birthday party, head over to Mahalo's Guide to How to Plan a Birthday Bash.

Step 1: Set the Date

• Before all things, set the date. Guests don't need advance notice about the venue or the menu for your party. What they do need to know is what date to block on their calendars.

• Simple steps to setting the date:

1. Ask the birthday honoree what the ideal party date(s) might be.
2. Consult with any VIPS, such as friends or family, to make sure that they can attend.
3. Push the party date to a weekend night if the birthday falls on an inconvenient weeknight.
   • More people will be able to attend on a Friday night than on a Tuesday night. Guests will also be in better spirits on the weekend.
4. Pick a final date.

Step 2: Personalize the Party

• Does your friend like to cut loose and dance all night long or would a classy cocktail and dinner party be a better fit? Think about what kind of celebration suits the birthday boy or girl's personality. Here are some popular party ideas:

1. Throw the type of party that your friend would like best:
   1. Have a barbecue for your friend who loves to hang out outdoors in the afternoon. Fire up the grill!
   2. Host a classy dinner party

• • Host a classy dinner party for your witty friend who adores good food and great wine.
  • Throw a dance party for the non-stop partier.

1. Pick a theme for your party
   1. Choose from the classic party themes: a '60s or an '80s party, a luau or a casino party.
   2. Customize a theme party for your imaginative friend: a bloody theme for the one who's obsessed with Dexter, a sexy theme for the Desperate Housewives junkie, or an American Idol-themed karaoke party.
2. Plan a special group gift.
   • Ask around to find out if there is anything that the birthday boy or girl is saving up for such as a vacation or a new bedroom set. If so, ask everyone to contribute to a monetary group gift.

Step 3: Invite Guests

Build the guest list

• Guests make or break the party, so invite an interesting mix of people who know how to have a good time.

1. Decide how many guests the party location and budget can accommodate.
2. Make a list of the honoree's close friends and family.
3. Consult with the honoree to make sure you haven't missed anyone.
4. For additional guests, consider personality:
   1. Invite people who will fuel conversation and burn up the dance floor.
   2. Invite exciting new friends and interesting personalities—anyone the birthday boy or girl has been hanging out with or talking about lately.
   3. Don't invite drama queens or the birthday honoree's frenemies.
5. Gather contact information (including e-mails) for everyone on the list.
6. Check your list. Ask the honoree's friends to double check the list for missing VIPs.

Send Invitations

• Whether you're sending paper invitations through the mail or an Evite, get the word out early because great party people are in high demand. Remember, the earlier you send out the invitations, the better your turnout will be.

1. Invitation Details:
   • Name of birthday boy or girl
   • Address and directions to party location
   • Date and time
   • Contact name and phone number
   • RSVP deadline
   • Additional instructions for gifting, BYOB requests, or plus ones

Count RSVPs

• You don't want to spend $500 on food and drinks when only 10 people are able to attend the party. Keep a close watch on your RSVPs as they arrive, and and plan your party around the number you receive.
  1. Keep a paper or a spreadsheet near computer or phone.
  2. Make a list of confirmed guests as RSVPs arrive.
  3. Tally number of guests who will attend.
  4. Use this count to plan your budget and menu.

Step 4: Plan the Menu

‎

• Rule #1 for any party is to keep your guests well fed and happy until the very end.

Here's how:

Tips for Planning a Party Menu

1. Keep it simple: It's okay to serve an elaborate dish or two, but keep in mind the size of the party and all of the other things you have to do.
2. Asses your skills: Be honest with yourself about your culinary skill level. Save the souffle for a rainy day.
3. Ask for help: If you feel overwhelmed in the kitchen, enlist a friend or two to help you cook—bribe them with a nice bottle of wine.
4. Pick favorites: Consider the guest of honor's favorite foods, but plan a menu that suits the type of party you're throwing.

Sample Menus for Different Types of Parties

• Dinner Party
• Serve cocktail snacks and sit-down entrees:
• Appetizer: Baked brie or grilled scallops
• Entree: Cornish game hen or rack of lamb
• Sides: Mashed potato and butter bean cakes with green onions or butter-and-herb roasted red onions.

• Dance Party
• Serve finger foods, but keep it light:
• Fresh cut veggies with ranch and blue cheese dressing
• Artichoke and spinach dip with tortilla chips or crackers
• Chicken tenders with honey mustard dressing
• Mini frittatas

• Barbecue
• Serve grilled meat, veggies and hearty sides:
• Appetizer: Feta and pepper dip
• Entrees: Grilled steak or grilled chicken marinated with a barbecue rub
• Sides: Grilled vegetables, macaroni and cheese and green bean casserole

• Once you've decided on what type of menu you want to serve, find additional recipes at:
• Mahalo's Food Category
• Epicurious.com
• Martha Stewart Living

Consider Catering

• If you've got a few extra dollars to spend and cooking isn't your thing, cater the party:

1. Find a caterer: Get recommendations from friends, or search online.
2. Check availability and references and clear it with the Better Business Bureau].
3. Discuss menu and budget options.
4. Sample menu items before you choose caterer.
5. Confirm staffing and budget details in a written contract.

• For more detailed information about hiring a caterer, see Mahalo's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Caterer

Step 5: Drinks

• Set up your home bar with a variety of liquors and mixers and beer and wine. Many people don't drink alcohol, so provide plenty of soda and juice.

1. Ideal Liquor Selection:
   • • Vodka, rum, whisky, gin, tequila and scotch
2. Mixers and Non-Alcoholic Beverages:
   • • Cola, diet cola, ginger ale, soda water, tonic water and a variety of juices (cranberry, orange, pineapple, grapefruit).
3. Don't Forget Beverage Accoutrements
   1. Glasses or plastic cups
   2. Plenty of Ice
   3. Beer and soda tubs
   4. Corkscrew, bottle opener and ice tongs

Step 6: Birthday Cake

• Whether you bake a birthday cake or buy one, choose the birthday boy or girl's favorite flavor.
• Cake recipes:

1. Mahalo's guide to Cake
2. Mahalo's guide to Red Velvet Cake
3. Mahalo's guide to Carrot Cake

• Frosting recipes:

1. Mahalo's guide to Icing
2. Mahalo's guide to Buttercream
3. Mahalo's guide to Ganache
4. Chocolate frosting
5. Vanilla frosting
6. Cream cheese frosting

• If you buy a cake, order the cake from a great bakery or local grocery store at least a few days before the party. Tell them:

1. What type of cake you want.
2. The number of people it should serve.
3. The name of the guest of honor.
4. The age of the birthday boy or girl.

Step 7: Entertainment

• If you've done a good job with the guest list, your party will be buzzing with conversation and laughter. Great entertainment will enhance the occasion, mix up the crowd and ensure that the party remains dynamic and interesting throughout the night.

• Play great music

1. Before the party, scour the guest of honor's CD collection, iPod, Myspace and Facebook pages for their favorite music. Play songs from their favorite bands throughout the night.
2. Start and end the party with mellow background music.
3. Mix up a variety of genres and decades, from disco and '80s to hip-hop and classic and modern rock.

• Encourage Dancing

1. If you don't have a decent stereo, rent a karaoke machine and sound system.
2. Purchase disco-themed decorations at a party store.
3. Clear furniture out of one room to make a dance floor.
4. Get out on the dance floor and set an example.

• Play Party Games
• Keep some party game ideas in your back pocket to pull out if and when the party slows down.

1. Break the ice as the party starts with Who in the World Am I?
2. Bring guests out of their shells and amuse the whole room with Charades.
3. Forge intimacy among the late-night crowd with a game of Two Truths and a Lie.

Execute the Party Plan

• You've got all of the party details planned out. Now, it's time to put the plan in to action. As the date approaches, follow these simple steps to make sure that your party goes off without a hitch.

A Few Days Before Party

• Prepare your home to maximize the comfort of your guests and to ensure the smooth flow of party events.

1. Thoroughly clean your home.
2. Decide how you're going to arrange furniture and where you're going to serve food and drinks.
3. Purchase non-perishable groceries and party decorations that you will need.

One Day Before Party

1. Double check your list of ingredients and buy perishable groceries.
2. Prepare any dishes that you can today.
3. Purchase or bake birthday cake.
4. Send out an e-mail reminder to all guests and field queries from guests.

The Day of the Party

1. Wake up early to give yourself plenty of time to prepare.
2. Tidy up your home.
3. Arrange furniture for the party and set up the bar.
4. Set up party decorations
5. Set out fresh flowers.
6. Prepare appetizers and entrees.

One Hour Before Party

1. Shower and get dressed.
2. Stock the bar with ice.
3. Set out appetizers.
4. Pour yourself a drink.
5. Relax and receive guests.

Party Time!

• You've gone the extra mile to put on a birthday party for a special person in your life. It's time to enjoy the party you created without totally cutting loose. A great party requires a great host, so be active with your guests.

1. Introduce all guests.
2. Keep appetizer plates full and drinks refreshed.
3. Initiate entertainment, such as dancing or games.
4. Set aside time to sing "Happy Birthday" and open presents.
5. Make sure that everyone gets home safely. Don't let anyone drive drunk!

Conclusion

• No one ever said that getting older was going to be fun. Many adults are content to let their birthdays pass by unnoticed. But, if you plan a great birthday for an adult in your life, one thing is for sure: the guest of honor will feel like a kid again!

Resources for How to Plan an Adult's Birthday Party

• eHow.com: How to Plan an Adult's Birthday
• eHow.com: How to Plan a Dance Party for Adults
• eHow.com: How to Host a Barbecue
• Party Game Ideas: Party Game Ideas for Adults and Family
• eHow: How to Plan an In-home Casino Night
• QuickandDirtyTips.com Tips for Building Your Guests Lists
• Suite101.com: Prep Your Home Part 1 (April 4, 2006)
• About.com: How to Hire a Caterer  
• Party411.com: Party Invitations: A Complete Guide
• Epicurious.com: How to Entertain: Tips from Our Experts
• Thatsthespirit.com: Setting Up Your Home Bar
• wikiHow: How to Plan a Party
• howstuffworks: Party Planning Tips

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