It’s that time of year again. It seems to rear it’s head at the same time every year and the older we get, the harder it can be to want to celebrate it. That’s right, it’s birthday time and whether you are planning the big day for yourself or for your loved one, we’ve got some great tips to help this birthday celebration be an event to remember and something to smile about.

Planning Tips

  • Start the birthday party planning 4 to 6 weeks in advance. This will give you enough time to get all the details under control.
  • Pick a theme. It doesn’t have to be an over-the-top theme. Simply choosing something like “retro chic” or “red and romantic” will help you formulate the color scheme, decorations and food to be served.
  • Create a budget. Money can be pretty tight these days but it doesn’t mean you can’t throw a fantastic adult birthday party on a specific budget.
  • Decide on a time for the party. Will it be a sit down dinner of light appetizers and desserts? Appetizers will undoubtedly be a less expensive way to go if you are having a larger party. If your hosting a more intimate party, you may want to do a sit down dinner with simple but elegant dishes.
  • Create invitations. Plan to send our your invitations 2-3 weeks before your event. Check out PurpleTrail’s unique and stylish invites. Or, if going the print invitation route, check out poseprints.com or stationarystyle.com for creative and elegant invitations.
  • Let your guests know the dress code. If you want them to wear cocktail attire, let them know. You don’t want anyone to feel over or under dressed at the party. Also be sure to let them know it’s adults only. This way no one shows up with their littles ones while as you greet them with a martini at the door.
  • Plan a menu. This is where the budget part really comes in handy. Try and make dishes that serve the number of people you invited. Don’t try to make a small dish feed a large number of people. Fresh veggies and fruit can always be altered in inexpensive ways (chocolate dipped strawberries etc. )

Birthday Party Supplies:

Once you’ve picked your theme, think about how much you’ll need to decorate the house. Lighting elements can be an inexpensive way to create the perfect atmosphere. Tea lights and votives thoughtfully placed can create a warm and sophisticated look. Paper lanterns hung across windows give a fun and retro feel to a room.

Our favorite site that pieces together all the necessary items to give your party a spectacular and put-together look is socialcouture.com. They have a variety of theme packages that can make any birthday party look like a professional planned it all! Check out some of the looks they have like “Black Vine” and “Hollywood Glam” They have everything from zebra striped cocktail shakers to table linens and party games. They have everything it takes to create the perfect birthday party. They even have great drink recipe ideas on their site. Check them out!
So this year when the dreaded B word is just around the corner remember, it’s entirely possible (and way easier) to embrace getting older with a fantastic party. And socialcouture.com is a great place to find all the elegant and stylish details you’ll need to create the best birthday celebration yet. Cheers!

Do you have any other fabulous birthday ideas to share? Email us at partyexperts@purpletrail.com. We’d love to hear from you!