How to Plan a Birthday Party for Adults

When you’re a kid, there’s nothing more exciting than your birthday.

Perhaps the best part of yours was unwrapping gifts. Maybe you were showered with love and special birthday traditions. If you were extra-lucky, all of your friends came over for a fun-filled day of jumping castles, party favors, cake, and party games.

But as you get older your birthday may become less of a big deal and you might not put in the effort you once did to mark the occasion. Birthday parties shouldn’t stop as you get older, so keep reading to find out how to plan a birthday party for adults.

Compile a Guestlist

The size of your party will depend on who the guest of honor is, and how much you’re willing to spend.

If the birthday girl/boy doesn’t like a big fuss, it might be a good idea to plan a celebration that’s a bit more low-key. These kinds of parties could be cocktail evenings, dinner parties, or even birthday trips.

Usually, it’s best to celebrate with family and close friends which makes for a smaller and more manageable guestlist. But if you’re unsure of who to include to make the day special, just ask the guest of honor!

To Theme Or Not To Theme

Deciding on a theme will depend on the person you’re throwing a party for, but they’re definitely not only for kids’ parties. Throwing a themed party doesn’t mean everyone will have to dress-up, although that can also be fun.

Themes can be really helpful as they guide your decisions in terms of decor, food, games, and location. There are so many unique themes to choose from, so go wild!

Organize, Organize, Organize

When you were a kid, you might receive an invitation from your classmate inviting you to celebrate with them around a week or two in advance. An adult birthday party might require a little bit more planning. These days invitations usually go out via Facebook, allowing you to manage your guest list and keep track of final numbers.

However, this can be tricky if not all of your guests use Facebook, or only check it occasionally. Plus, designing a Facebook event doesn’t leave much room for creativity.

The safest bet would be to send out a beautifully-designed email invite. Websites like Canva offer free design tools and templates so that you can design something unique. There are also a bunch of great apps to help you stay on top of party organizing. Here are the areas you should focus on.

Decor

When it comes to adult birthday parties, it’s always best to keep it simple. With a few statement decorations, you’ll be able to spend more on food, drinks, and presents.

Pick three or four colors that match with your theme, or just a simple color palette and DIY some banners, streamers, or bunting. Another great decor option is some beautiful birthday flower arrangements that can double as birthday presents when the party is over. There are so many great options online to order flowers for a birthday.

Food and Drinks

When it comes to drinks, you’ll want to serve a variety of options. If you are serving alcohol make sure to also serve non-alcoholic options for all of your guests.

Depending on your budget, food can be anything from a couple of snacks to a full sit-down dinner. This will depend on your theme and the number of attendees.

Games

What’s a birthday party without a few games? Games aren’t entirely necessary but they can make for a memorable event. There are a few options when it comes to party games specifically for adults. But it’s always fun to play classic kid’s games like “pass the parcel” or “pin the tail on the donkey” with a unique spin that fits your theme.