Planning a surprise birthday party isn't as easy as it looks. When it's for someone near and dear to you, it's hard not to raise suspicions. Movies make it seem like sneaking around is the only thing to it. But there's a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. In this article, I'll guide you through the ins and outs of pulling off a successful surprise birthday party. Let's begin!
Doing Your Research for the Birthday Party
First thing's first, you have to find out what the celebrant is into even if you've known them for years. The party has to be planned according to their interests because it's a celebration of their life! Obtain the answers to the following questions:
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When will they be completely free for the night/day?
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What theme would they be interested in?
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Would they prefer an indoor or outdoor celebration?
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Are they partial to an intimate celebration or an all-out bash?
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What is their idea of a good time at a party?
Having all the answers to these questions takes the guesswork out of planning. But aside from the first question, you can't just ask them directly. The secret? Get the birthday celebrant to share their thoughts. Here's how to get the info you need:
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Initiate a conversation about the parties you both have been to.
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Look through Pinterest or other social media platforms together and exchange comments about party trends and themes.
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Bring up recent celebrity parties and events and ask the celebrant what they think of these.
Pro Tip: Make sure to practice the art of subtlety. It’s too obvious if you do all these at once or if it's all you talk about. Work questions into a conversation naturally. Share your sentiments to show a mere exchange of ideas.
Get Organized
After securing all that info it's time to start planning! Being organized helps you execute the surprise birthday seamlessly. Take note of everything you will need by creating checklists. You'll need a list of guests to invite, a to-do list, and a checklist of everything you'll need for the party. Don't forget to prioritize these essentials:
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venue
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food/catering & beverages
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decorations
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entertainment
You should also organize to-do lists depending on the tasks you need to do ahead and on the day itself.
Don't Forget to Delegate
A lot of hard work goes into a surprise party. The good news is, you don't have to carry the load on your own. Once you've got a list of tasks, you can assign some of these to guests who are willing to help out. Allocating roles also make guests feel involved. Now that's one way to get them in the mood to party!
Keep in Touch via Social Media
Round up your team of party planners in a private chat group. A WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger group will allow you to plan things out by having a channel to share info. It's easier to coordinate with everyone and keep things covert this way.
Avoid Sending Mass Invitations
Forget about the traditional invitations and keep in touch with everyone on your guestlists one by one. You wouldn't want to risk exposing the invitations. That way, you can explain that the celebration will indeed be a surprise. Let them know if they should send you a confirmation of attendance via email or call.
Get Creative with the Surprise
Now it's time for the surprise! Putting a blindfold on the celebrant is a little outdated and might be a dead giveaway. Find creative ways to execute the surprise according to the venue. Leave the cliches behind for something smart and convincing. Don't forget to inform the guests beforehand!
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