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You’re turning the big 4-0 – congratulations! Forty is the new 30, after all. At 40-years-old, we’re sure you’ve accomplished so many things. From personal milestones to career goals, there’s a lot to celebrate about this birthday!
Now the BIG question … what should you plan? No need to worry, we’ve put together the ultimate guide for throwing a fabulous 40th birthday party!
From different types of celebrations and themes, to what to eat and what to do, and even who to use – we’ve got your birthday celebrations covered.
So, sit back, relax, and gather some party planning ideas that are sure to wow your guests and make this the most memorable birthday yet!
How to celebrate the big day
Still trying to figure out how to celebrate the big day? Check out some of our 40th birthday party ideas (below) that will be fun for you and your friends!
1. Host an intimate brunch or dinner
If you love to host, this party idea is for you! Whether you have a passion for cooking or want to take things up a notch and hire a private chef or some fab food vendors, you can never go wrong with an intimate get-together from the comfort of your own home. Pro tip: If you’re providing all the food, ask your guests to each bring their favorite bottle of wine!
2. Throw a big party
You know this is right up our alley! You can decide if you want to keep things a little more relaxed or go all out.
The first step is to decide on what type of party you’d like to have. Do you to have a theme, such as an 80’s party? Or make it a glamorous night out?
Next, you’ll need to select your venue. Will it be at home, a friend’s house, or will you book a venue? Think about things like parking, how much space you have, and how long you want the party to go until. Sometimes venues have their own caterer you must use, and restrictions on alcohol use. Think carefully before you make a final decision.
No matter your theme or location, you can elevate your celebrations by hiring event professionals to help. We highly recommend hiring a bartender, caterer, balloon stylists, and rentals, among other things. You can find all of these vendors and more on Festively.com.
3. Plan a wine tasting trip
Speaking of drinks, who doesn’t love a good excuse to go to a winery! Wine tasting is a great way to enjoy delicious vino and beautiful views with your favorite people. Most wineries are outdoors and beautiful scenery is everywhere (hello, Temecula and Napa!). You can also step things up a notch by requesting a private area at the winery to decorate and enjoy some light bites and bottles of wine.
4. Set up a karaoke night
Whether you’ve got the goods to host a karaoke party at home or you reserve a private room at a karaoke bar, you can never go wrong with flowing drinks and group sing-a-longs. Bring out your inner diva for this birthday bash!
5. Make it a spa day
Spoil yourself and your best pals with an at-home spa day. Plan a full afternoon of pampering for you and your friends with great skincare products, mimosas, massages, and manicures!
Steps to planning your 40th birthday party
Once you’ve locked down the type of party you’d like to have, now it’s time to get organized and get the goods! Here’s a party planning timeline to help keep things organized:
- 1+ months before: Finalize your venue, date, order invites, and pick a custom cake.
- 3-4 weeks before: Send out invites, plan the menu and/or book the caterer, bartender, DJ, order custom decorations and treats, and book any rentals.
- 2-3 weeks before: Order balloons, grab your party supplies, organize any fun photos or funny games, and get your birthday outfit.
- 1 week before: Lock down your menu, finalize your guest count, create the layout of the party (where to place tables, chairs, food, games, and presents).
- 1-2 days before: Clean the house (if you’re hosting), prep the food, and decorate!
- Day of: Do last minute cleaning, get glammed up, and delegate any day of running around. You need to focus on getting ready to party!
Your 40th birthday party should be one for the books – so how can you make this one stand out from all the other birthdays you’ve had? Make it about you!
How to personalize your party
It is YOUR birthday, so customize it to you!
Here are some great ways you can personalize your party:
A custom cake and/or desserts
Let’s be real, even in our 40s we’re still living for dessert! Make it extra special with custom designs, colors, and monograms. Whatever your theme is, keep it consistent in your décor and desserts. If you’re favorite color is pink, pick out a beautiful pink cake, a color-coordinated donut wall, and/or matching cupcakes or cookies
Custom, colorful balloons
Nothing screams party more than balloons! Spell out your name in big foil balloon letters or create a colorful balloon backdrop for photos – your friends will be blown away, and you’ll love the way it photographs too!
Floral centerpieces
Flowers are so important to any good party! Gorgeous floral centerpieces will elevate the vibe of your event and bring a fun and feminine energy to the party. Try to coordinate your floral arrangements with your other décor for a seamless flow.
Photo station
Create a designated space for fun photos! Whether you’re using a balloon backdrop, want to create a floral arch (or maybe a combo!), or rent a backdrop for the day, this is a great place to take group pictures and plenty of one-on-ones with you, the birthday girl, and your pals.
Marquee sign
Nothing screams fabulous and forty like a giant marquee sign with 4-0 spelled out in lights! This is a great addition to a balloon garland or a floral arch and will really add an extra spectacle to the party.
Good safety meastures to take at the party
With any group gathering, it’s important to remember that people have different levels of comfort when it comes to hygiene and safety.
If you’re looking to make all of your guests feel a little more at ease, and practice some general health and safety precautions, here are a couple suggestions for implementing more caution:
Pre-package food items: One way to avoid having many people touch the same serving utensils is to serve pre-packaged meals or appetizers. This could be individually wrapped cheese plates, sandwiches and chips, salads, and/or desserts. The more creative, the better!
Create table settings with individually wrapped silverware: Instead of having the silverware and plates in a communal place, create table settings with individually wrapped or pre-placed silverware and plates.
Socially distanced seating/dining arrangements: Spread out seats with fewer chairs at a table and place tables at a greater distance from each other.
Use paper towels or napkins in communal areas: Instead of hand towels in the bathroom or kitchen, use disposable paper towels or napkins to cut down on shared items.
Go outdoors when possible or offer good air flow if indoors: The safest environment for a larger gathering is always going to be outdoors. But if you are planning a party indoors, you can create a safer space by offering good air flow throughout the venue by opening doors and windows and circulating the air with fans.
Wrap up
At this point, we hope we’ve helped you come up with some great birthday ideas. BUT ideas don’t throw a fabulous party – people do! Check out our list of amazing local vendors who can bring these party ideas to life!
At Festively, we’re all about women supporting women, so you can feel good knowing that when you work with these vendors you’re supporting a woman-owned small business!
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