Party ideas - 30th birthday

kdcwedding

I am kind of early on this, but I think it's going to take some careful planning and I want to get an idea going before it's too late.DH turns 30 in March, and claims that he has NEVER been surprised for any party-type event. He always figures it out and has to fake it. I want to really surprise him with a party.So, I am calling on all my lovely P&E ladies for ideas. I want something indoors (since it will still be cold around here), and something more active than just dinner/bar/etc because we do that all the time.So far I have thought about a bowling outing, Dave & Busters, etc. but I am open to any and all ideas. Anyone got some good ones?

[Deleted User]

I think anything you do will be fun with the surprise aspect.  Do his friends/family live near you?  Especially if he doesn't see them often, having everyone surprise him at his favorite restaurant or bar will be a blast.

kikibaby

Best way to surprise him is to make it something that you would normally do together.  If it's near his birthday, and you suggest going out bowling, but you guys NEVER bowl, then he'll probably guess.  I had a surprise party for a good friend of mine, and I held it at a bar at a hotel I used to work at- I just told her that I was invited to a private reunion party there.  I think bowling is a fun idea, though.  The bowling alley's around here usually have catered party packages.

scoetto

If it's something you ALWAYS do, then do it. Seriously. But plan a party around it. And don't make it a secret. Obviously make the party part a secret (everybody there waiting when y'all walk in) but don't make the plans a secret. Let his friends know he'll know where he's going but not who will be there. My 30th was this past March and that's what J did. He had a cookie cake (my favorite!) and all my friends there waiting. We had a blast!

gkb0910

PP is right.  Make sure it's something that you would ordinarily do so it doesn't seem odd.  For FI's 30th, I bought 6 tickets to the Cubs game and had 4 of his friends surprise him there.  Us going to the game wasn't weird at all. I think a Dave & Busters/Gameworks type place or bowling would be fun.  The other thing to keep in mind is not to bring it up too early.  You'll obviously be planning for a long time, but if you mention going bowling to your H 2 months before his birthday, he might be wondering why you've thought about it so early.

kdcwedding

He loves bowling, and we used to go now and then, but we haven't for a while. Maybe you guys are right. We have a local bar we love that has a little upstairs area, I wonder if they would let us "VIP" the space for the night or something. We give them plenty of business! My other thought was for it to be something special, but just not tell him it was more than just me and him, you know? Like if we did the bowling thing. I just really want to make sure he has a blast - he's so hard to please with big events. Right now I think I am in planning mode because the wedding is done and I need something to focus on that is in the future. Maybe I just spend all this energy on the honeymoon first

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

If you're making it a surprise, do it at least a week before, or right after his birthday. If you do it the day after, just take him out to dinner on his actual birthday. My best friend threw me a surprise party the weekend right before my 17th birthday. Since she was inviting a bunch of people over for a sleepover 4 days before I turned 17, it wasn't hard to figure out.

sunflowerbride5

FI is turning 30 in Febraury and I'm doing the same thing - we are taking a trip, just the two of us, the weekend before so he won't be expecting anything, and I'm just going to suggest a casual dinner at his favorite restaurant that night. Except his family and friends are all flying in to surprise him! I'm so excited I don't know how I am going to keep it a secret for so long. If you did a romantic dinner or something before it might throw him off track.

[Deleted User]

I don't have any new creative ideas to add. Where is Bec when you need her? But I do think that bowling is an awesome idea.

kikibaby

The best surprise party I ever went to was for a friend last year.  Unfortunately, it is unlikely anyone could recreate it for their own purposes, but I want to share cause it was amazing.We all met up for brunch (which he knew about) at this place in town that has what they call "Drag Brunch".  It's a bunch of dudes dressed up very badly and very raunchily in drag.  They gave him a nice little lap dance, even! (I have pics and video!)Then, we all went to a Monster Truck rally where we had box seats.  Best. Party. Ever.

kdcwedding

kiki, that sounds totally bitchin.

BostonBride919

I saw something on TV with a "kids themed" 30th birthday that was really cute. Lots of candy, a pinata, etc for a youthful theme. That could work well with Dave & busters or something like that as a venue.