Throwing a surprise birthday party takes planning, discretion and organisation. Follow this ultimate guide to ensure your surprise bash is a roaring success that the guest of honour will never forget.
Find a Date
The first step is picking a date. Consult the birthday person’s calendar and chat to their partner or close friends to find a date that works. Weekends often work best as people are more likely to be free. If possible, avoid dates that clash with major sporting events or other occasions that might prevent people from coming.
Once you’ve settled on a date, send out ‘save the date’ notifications discreetly to guests. This locks the day in before formal invitations go out.
Choose a Venue
Finding the right venue is crucial for a surprise party. Look for places that can accommodate the number of guests you plan to invite. City venues like restaurants, bars and function spaces often work well and many have private rooms you can book. You can easily browse places online to find options in your price range whether you are looking for a party venue in Newcastle, Manchester or London.
If you want to host the party at the birthday person’s home, make sure their partner or roommate can get them out of the house for a few hours while you set up.
Send Invitations
Create fun, creative invitations and send them out three to four weeks before the party. Use online invitations that are easy to customise and send. Just be sure to mention it’s a surprise party so no one spills the beans! Let invitees know to arrive 15 minutes before the start time to hide and shout surprise.
Plan Activities
A surprise bash needs entertainment and activities beyond just socialising. Plan games, trivia, dancing, photo booths, performances and other fun surprises to delight the guest of honour. Order a personalised birthday cake and have guests bring gifts if it’s that type of party.
If guests will be travelling for the party, arrange group rates at a nearby hotel so they can stay over.
Handle the Logistics
To pull off a seamless surprise party, you need to handle all the logistics. Choose party snacks and drinks that can be prepped ahead of time. Make a playlist of the birthday person’s favourite songs to play. Decorate the space with balloons, streamers, confetti and photos of the guest of honour.
Scope out places near the venue for guests to park so cars don’t crowd the location and tip off the birthday boy or girl. Have a plan for getting the guest of honour to the party without ruining the surprise.
Keep It Hush Hush
The key to any surprise party is keeping it secret from the guest of honour. Remind everyone who is in on the plans not to discuss anything online or in front of the birthday person. If you need to make phone calls or exchange emails about party plans, do it where the birthday boy or girl won’t overhear or see.
On the day of the party, come up with an excuse to get the guest of honour to the venue at the proper time. Then wait for the look of shock and delight when everyone jumps up yelling, “Surprise!”.
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