Planning a 80th birthday?

10 Terrific tips for throwing 80th Birthday Parties

Remember to celebrate the person, not their age! Celebrate their achievements, and the times you have spent together.

1. Pick a theme for your 80th Birthday Party

If you don’t have a specific theme, give it a go, need a hand with ideas? Why not visit our Event Theme section to get more food for thought? What about a theme around the year you were born?

2. Plan the date for your 80th Birthday Party

This should be around the real birthday, but not absolutely necessary.  Try  friday night or weekend as generally there may be some adult consumption that  makes the next day tough!  Make sure it is good for all the family and friends.  Check in with everyone, young and old and make sure it suits

3. Book your venue for your 80th Birthday Party

Make it central and easy to get to for all guests. If it is your home, be prepared!  The up side is you don’t have to drive, but someone has to clean up, so we recommend getting out and about!   Even better, is one of your children’s houses! Go on, pass the baton!

4. Invitation lists for your 80th Birthday Party

Make sure the invite matches theme and the tone and language is appropriate.  Make sure you get everyone, family, friends and long lost friends. This is a big one and all the years gone by are worth celebrating. Make sure you get RSVP’s for confirmed attendees at least 7 days prior to the party. Add a section for food allergies on RSVP so you know what you are dealing with!

5. Feed ‘em

Hire a caterer! don’t mess about, this is a really big one and everyone should be there to celebrate, not cleaning up, scraping dishes or even staking the dishwasher!

6. Entertain them- party entertainment

You have to get them to move, MUSIC is critical, so a dj or live cover band is great, as they can perform or play music of all eras!  Jazz bands, swing bands, big bands, latin bands.. you name it. At 80 we still like to dance like there is no tomorrow!   And we love to see the kids and grand kids do the same!

7. Scrapbook or photo slide show!

get out the photos, these days it can be a scrap book or photo album, or if you have a clever grand child, they can put it into i-photo or keynote and project it onto the wall or ipad! (phew, thank goodness for kids!)

Think about a “this is your life” moment, without it sounding like it is going to end too soon!  (ummm….)