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30th Birthday Party Supplies
Hitting age 30 is a major milestone, no matter how you cut it. Leaving your 20s behind, one feels the finality of adulthood. In years past, this was sometimes viewed as a somewhat dubious occasion for celebration. But not so anymore. This is in part because we are living longer, and 30 is not as daunting as it once was. But the change is also in recognition of all the benefits of adulthood. Because many people are now not marrying and having children until they are in their 30s, they get through their 20s with a lot of the liberties of adulthood and not as many of the restrictions. So, entering the 30s, for many people is the beginning of the settling down time, and thus the 30th birthday celebrates this milestone. Whatever the reason, an adult’s 30th Birthday Party is one of the most special ones he will have in his life.
As with any adult party where alcohol will be involved, it is a good idea to think through how to reduce the risk of irresponsible drinking behaviors without limiting the fun of the event. As you are beginning to plan the event, think about having a special invite for designated drivers, or think about sending messages with the invitation that encourage the young adults to have a good time, but to do so in a healthy way. You can even think about doing something completely radical and holding a dry 30th birthday party; it would be certain to be remembered by all those who attend.
Having said that, you can think about your invitation list. The number of people invited to the party is typically a good way to gauge the ultimate cost of the party, and will drive how much food you need to think about, as well as the place. It could also dictate the theme. Suit your desires and budget when it comes to the invitee list. If you want a small intimate dinner party, do that it. If you want to invite everyone you know and rent a big hall to do it, as long as the budget permits, it’s your celebration!
In terms of theme, there are some standards to choose from. A toga party, which connotes the kind of wild celebration common to 30th birthdays is always popular. If going this route, think about ways to extend the theme, such as placing cardboard Greek statuary around the party site, and hanging grapes from the walls. You can also employ Greek letters, and other Greek references. You can also have a Prohibition themed party. Ideas for extending that theme include decorating the room like the 1920s/1930s, playing music from that era, setting up a Speakeasy as the bar area, and making it a costume party so that all the attendees are in the spirit. And, you can have a very sophisticated dinner, to emphasize the more sober and subtle aspects of adulthood; though generally these dinners are done slightly tongue-in-cheek.
Another popular theme is the murder mystery party. Decorations will help set the tone. Decorate the room like a mansion, or a train from the early 1900s. Or, you can think about a safari theme. Whatever theme you settle on, setting the tone for it should begin with the invitations. There are preprinted invitations that are appropriate for a wide variety of themes. You can also think about making your own. For example with a toga party, you can cut up an old sheet into little togas and write the invitation with a marker onto the tiny togas. Whatever you decide, there is a standard set of information that goes into the invite. It should include the name, the occasion, the theme and costume if any, how you want gifts handled, whether the part y will include food and drink, the hours and the location of the party. If you want people to RSVP, put that into the invitation as well.
In terms of supplies, there are options no matter what the theme, or even if there is no theme to speak of. There is a wide array of plates, cups, napkins and table clothes that are designed with the 30th birthday in mind. And there are specially printed balloons and table clothes as well. The same is true for banners and crepe paper.
For games and events, there are a lot of options as well. If you have a theme, think about games that tie to the theme. For example, with the murder mystery theme, stage an actual “murder” and have the attendees go through clues to determine the culprit. There are murder mystery kits available to help you walk through the steps to create a successful murder mystery.
You can also play standard “adult” games, to demonstrate how the birthday person has entered adulthood. You can play bridge and euchre and other “adult” card games. You will want to plan how to ensure everyone who plays can quickly come up to speed on the rules of the game enough to play and stay engaged in the action. It all comes down to how you want to celebrate.
30th birthday celebrations can last into the wee hours, so plan to have plenty of food and drink on hand. The type of food you serve will connect to the theme (or lack of it), but generally speaking, unless you are holding a dinner party, think about foods that will keep bellies full and alcohol consumption moderate. Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and chips are all good. And then there’s the cake. For those who eschew a theme altogether, the cake might be the place to go a little crazy. Think about having a cake designed special for the occasion and celebrant. Pick some great love or achievement in the life of the birthday boy or girl and have that made into a cake. This is a very popular trend of late. Just make sure to take plenty of pictures before the cake eating begins!
If there will be gift giving at the party, you can plan the gift opening for later in the party, depending on the type of party you are having. If it is a non-time-constricted party, think about what will be the time when the most people are there, so that you avoid people leaving the party before gifts are opened. If you have a cutoff time set for the end of the party, just plan to do the gift giving toward the middle to the end of the party. Again, the objective is to have as many people enjoying the gift opening portion of the night as possible.
Finally, after all the party-goers have left, plan to write out thank you cards for the attendees. These cards should be thoughtful, and focus on the recipient’s part in the person’s life, as well as they gift they might have brought. This is an excellent opportunity not just to thank them for coming to the party, but to acknowledge their part in helping to make your life special.
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