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Out of ideas
My husband turns 30 in July. 8 of our friends have also recently turned 30. Their SOs threw lovely, imaginative parties. I'm really struggling to find a theme or an idea for my husband's party. We have been to three surprise 30th birthday parties in the last six months. My husband has said that he absolutely does not want a surprise party.
One friend rented a condo in the mountains and invited their close friends to celebrate for the weekend. Another friend bought tickets for a football game for 20 people. Another friend took her husband and a small group of friends to Vegas for the weekend. We don't really drink, he doesn't like sports, and I don't have enough money to fly people places. I want to do more than just a BBQ, but I have no idea what to do. Any ideas? Please!?!
Re: Out of ideas
He has already said he doesn't want a surprise party, so why not ask him what he does want? His ideal birthday party just might be a BBQ.......or a night away at a nice hotel with you.
You could always just have a simple dinner party. Arrange some tables and chairs in your home, have nice linens,maybe have it catered if you don't want to cook something special. I think people have a lot of casual parties all the time, but a really nice dinner party in your home, or maybe a nice restaurant (no cleaning!) could be something special to remember. You could call it "New Year's Eve and a half" or something like that.
Since it's July, without knowing where you live, maybe rent a pontoon boat and have a party?
Etiquette does not dictate that a 30th birthday has to be expensive or outside your budget. Think of the best parties you've been to, then discuss with him.
Good luck.
I like the idea of a pontoon boat or something like that, as well. Maybe a camping trip?
Theme parties aren't for everyone and of course I don't know your group of friends, but what about a good old 80s party?
When you're in a situation like that, I think it's best to not even try to compete. Do something different. Everyone has taken people places, but no one's opened up their home.
If it were me, I'd probably try to throw the best homemade Martha Stewart-inspired meal I could come up with! There's a lot to love about a party at home. Think about all those lovely wedding receptions you see on Pinterest - I'd go all out with something like those but on a smaller scale. You know, all the little details like great flowers, chalkboard menus, little favors, coordinating linens... (I have lots of those little details on my pinterest entertaining board.)
To make it really different, I might consider a brunch. They're SUPER easy to pull off and it's so radically different from what everybody else did that no one's comparing it.
Think of what you can do inside your budget instead of what you can't and make that as special as you can.
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Does he have a sense of humor? How about a roast? I always thought that would be fun to do, but it has to be the right person to take it and a good group to participate.
The boat idea sounds like a lot of fun.
I know you said someone took people to vegas, but when my close friend turned 30, we threw a Vegas themed party at my house. We had a few poker tables set up around the house & a couple slot machines a friend owned. We threw those hooker cards all over the floor and used casino decorations. It was a lot of fun.
What about some kind of sporting thing if he is into that? Not sure what you have never you but I am from Chicago and there are things like whirlyball, extreme trampoline and a golf driving range type place that does virtual games.
I have also hosted a toga party where we had Olympic games - wheelbarrow races, tug of water & "shot-put" aka cornhole/beanbag/bags whatever you call it.
Whatever you decide, I am sure he will love it!
You definitely should not try to compete at all!! What other people do has nothing to do with you.
Ask him if he will like a reunion with his friends, or maybe he will like it a bit more romantic, just the 2 of you.
Surprise him with a good gift! Make him feel he is special, and you will have a happy husband.