cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,444 
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Aug 30, 2015 17:30:47 GMT
In like a year and a half - LOL (February 2017)
How early would you start planning?
My ideal plan is to rent a small venue (like the local Legion has a smaller party room that would work size wise) and have a surprise party for him.
My head says start now, so all the expenses won't be all at once. I can put a deposit on the hall, it won't be over $200 to rent anyway, and then food wise I can do most of it myself, or have a few close family members help with veggie platters, meat & bun trays, that kind of thing. It would be a cash bar (Legion run and not terribly pricey) and I have a friend who does the DJ thing on the side.
And then is the "when to have it" thing. His birthday actually falls right on a Saturday, but I think he'd suspect something if we tried to plan to get him there. Would you go the week before? Or the week after? I thought the week before would be more unexpected than the week after.....
So am I off my rocker? Too early to plan?
ETA - I know DH would be fine with a surprise party. Parties are his kind of thing, so a surprise one with all his family & friends would be a really great time for both of us.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,179
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Aug 30, 2015 17:39:13 GMT
Depends on if he'd want a party!  My husband turned 60 last year and he was not at all interested in having any kind of party; just not his thing. So I set up a glass blowing class at a local place and we took the couple next door with us because they also like that type of thing. We had a great time, I spent maybe less than I would have on a party and we all have blown glass pieces that we made that day. But if your husband would love a surprise party, go for it. I have no idea if it's too soon, though I wonder if he'd find out somehow with that much time ahead? |
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Post by leannec on Aug 30, 2015 17:41:01 GMT
I think a surprise party is setting yourself up for failure ... so many variables ... I'd ask dh what he wants to do and plan from there |
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Post by cadoodlebug on Aug 30, 2015 18:06:23 GMT
DH hates surprise parties with a passion. And this is the reason I was completely taken by surprise when he pulled off an incredible party for me for my 65th birthday. But I know better than plan a big one for him. Perhaps in a few years I'll do something on a small scale for his 70th. So the big question is, how does your DH feel about surprise parties? On a funny note, my BFF in Louisiana told her DH she thought their housekeeper was stealing from them when she found things hidden in a never-used guest bedroom. It was stuff like bags of chips, nuts, etc. He was planning a surprise party for her and had started buying a few things here and there.  |
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Post by justkat on Aug 30, 2015 18:12:56 GMT
I say go for it! By planning/preparing earlier things will be easier. You'll be better able to get the venue you want, better prices, more room to deal with the little things that go wrong, more time to change things around as needed etc. Also more time to save money, if that's an issue.
When my husband turned 50 I threw him a smallish destination surprise party. He'd always said how much he hated surprise parties. But he always enjoyed himself immensely when we attended one. So I said wth and went for it. He loved it. Couldn't stop smiling and thanking everyone for coming. He still talks about it and it's been 2 years. LOL
Datewise I'd suggest the week before. Or find some other reason to get him to the hall on his actual birthday; maybe say an event for someone else?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 5:56:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2015 18:16:56 GMT
In like a year and a half - LOL (February 2017) How early would you start planning? My ideal plan is to rent a small venue (like the local Legion has a smaller party room that would work size wise) and have a surprise party for him. My head says start now, so all the expenses won't be all at once. I can put a deposit on the hall, it won't be over $200 to rent anyway, and then food wise I can do most of it myself, or have a few close family members help with veggie platters, meat & bun trays, that kind of thing. It would be a cash bar (Legion run and not terribly pricey) and I have a friend who does the DJ thing on the side. And then is the "when to have it" thing. His birthday actually falls right on a Saturday, but I think he'd suspect something if we tried to plan to get him there. Would you go the week before? Or the week after? I thought the week before would be more unexpected than the week after..... So am I off my rocker? Too early to plan? I think some things about it are too early to plan. But, the venue may book up a year in advance so I'd at least research how far out my desired venue does typically book and put in a reservation before then. As for the funds, I'd start socking away a small amount each pay period so I'd have the funds at that time. I'd pull a drawer out of my night stand or dresser and tape a large manilla envelop to the underside of the furniture's top. That way even if someone searches drawers for unrelated items or removes a drawer they likely won't see it. |
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Post by cadoodlebug on Aug 30, 2015 18:20:38 GMT
I say go for it! By planning/preparing earlier things will be easier. You'll be better able to get the venue you want, better prices, more room to deal with the little things that go wrong, more time to change things around as needed etc. Also more time to save money, if that's an issue. When my husband turned 50 I threw him a smallish destination surprise party. He'd always said how much he hated surprise parties. But he always enjoyed himself immensely when we attended one. So I said wth and went for it. He loved it. Couldn't stop smiling and thanking everyone for coming. He still talks about it and it's been 2 years. LOL Datewise I'd suggest the week before. Or find some other reason to get him to the hall on his actual birthday; maybe say an event for someone else? Only if he is a little slow.  |
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,421
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Post by luvnlifelady on Aug 30, 2015 18:26:34 GMT
I would also get a feel for what he wants. I just turned 50 and would've been mortified if DH threw me a surprise party. He'd probably like one ok.
Good luck deciding what to do. It's nice of you to think of him.
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Post by gritzi on Aug 30, 2015 18:42:47 GMT
If your DH would not object to a surprise party then by all means start planning. My DH knows that I never want a big bash/surprise bash for milestone birthdays. It's usually depressing to me, so a party would not be a pleasant surprise. I would appreciate the gesture, but not how I wish to celebrate. Next year is a milestone anniversary year & I do intend to have a bash for us to celebrate |
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Post by lancermom on Aug 30, 2015 19:34:07 GMT
I am planning for my DH next month. It will be a surprise, sorta. It is the Saturday before his birthday which is on a Monday. We are going to a local ace and reserving back room. I will have a few close friends offer to go out and celebrate. So he knows we are going out. But when we get there everyone else will be there. Since it is a bar, I will order appetizers for people until we get there. They can pay for their own drinks. That is how things are done around where I live.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,637
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Post by valincal on Aug 30, 2015 19:45:56 GMT
I had a lot of help from his friends when I planned my DH's 50th so all I had to sort out was the cake. And I'm thinking that's not going to be an issue for you, lol!  I don't think it's too far in advance to start planning if you need to book a venue. |
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
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Post by Nanner on Aug 30, 2015 21:02:39 GMT
Nothing wrong with planning things early.
For DH's, we went to Vegas But he knew about it - he isn't the kind of person who would just go somewhere without being involved in the planning.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 30, 2015 21:20:24 GMT
I'd book early. But not tell anyone until just a few months out. I'd look at the calendar and avoid Valentine's Day weekend and Presidents' Day weekend, as people often have plans those weekends. So I'd look at the 6th or the 27th. Unless one of those days is his birthday.
i wouldn't buy anything until MUCH closer to the date unless you can hide it at someone else's house. Just put a $20 in an envelope weekly or bimonthly. It will be so much easier!
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 30, 2015 22:42:48 GMT
I sort of threw a surpise party for DH's 50th. Planning started 5 months before. I would have started earlier but we were in the middle of a big move and I wasn't sure where we would be living on his birthday.
The first thing I did was invite everyone to come and celebrate with us which meant traveling to CA for 90% of the invitees. His birthday weekend coincided nicely with Spring Break for family in Canada so he knew my sister and family were coming which made it easier to plan things without DH suspecting it was all about him that weekend. Six families joined us and we had an adults only dinner out Sat night and a big family BBQ on Sun afternoon at our place (his actually birthday). He had a number of "surprise" moments as his two oldest BFFs arrived Fri night and then two more early Sat morning. After the second one on Sat, he asked me to tell him if anyone else was going to show up. We still had a couple more families to come, but at that point I filled him in on everything so he could relax and enjoy the weekend.
When I sent out the invitations, I asked everyone to send a card or story of their favorite DH memory with a goal of getting at least 50 cards. This box of cards is the best gift he has ever received.
I would have the party on his actual birthday, start planning and saving now but don't send out the invites until way, way closer to the day. The hardest part was not sharing with DH when I found out who was coming, it was really hard to keep it secret.
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Post by mlynn on Aug 30, 2015 23:02:47 GMT
If doing it at the Legion hall, I would do it on Friday so that it ends on his actual birthday. In the meantime, work with him on plans for his actual birthday. That will help to throw him off.
When my husband turned 40, I threw his surprise party at my next door neighbors. Her birthday was a few days before his, so I told him that we were catering the party. (We were selling Pampered Chef back then and she loved the braids). He was clueless. We even arrived with a gift in hand. When we arrived with the food, people were already there. As he is carrying in the food, he thought to himself 'wow, we know a lot of the same people'. Then he put the food down, turned around, and saw family and friends from back home. That is when he figured it out. You have time to plant the idea that someone has a birthday near his (or even ON his) without arousing suspicion. Then you can tell him that you are going to this person's birthday party. It can be someone you work with, someone at church, a girlfriend's boyfriend...anybody. It does not even have to be a real person. A fictional new supervisor at work or something would do. And then just mention something about the person occasionally.
I would book the venue as soon as you know the date for the party. Weddings, anniversaries, and milestone birthdays tend to be booked far in advance.
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Aug 31, 2015 0:51:23 GMT
I turned 50 last year and o threw my own party. My husband had a milestone coming in 2017. He can plan his own, too!
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Post by RobbyKay on Aug 31, 2015 1:17:28 GMT
Does he ever deliver cakes for you? You could have all of the attendees gathered at the venue, and he could walk in with his own cake!  |
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Post by RobbyKay on Aug 31, 2015 1:32:19 GMT
Does he ever deliver cakes for you? You could have all of the attendees gathered at the venue, and he could walk in with his own cake! |
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