Tips from a consummate party pro.
There’s only one thing that event planning pro Renee Patrone Rhinehart loves more than a good party. And that’s helping other hosts across the country throw the best ones. Now that parties are back in full force again, she’s seeing a trend toward super festive milestone birthday parties. Here, she offers ways to make a 50th, 75th, and everything in between a blast from the past, or just a blast pure and simple.
- A theme really sets the tone and there are many sources of inspiration, including the decade in which the honoree was born. The fifties, sixties, and seventies – each with distinctive color palettes and styles – are always fun. Choose music, décor, and games from the era, and ask guests to dress the part. Or you can always go with gold, silver, or platinum depending on the milestone birthday in question.
- Bring in some memories – we love personalizing a milestone birthday. Print out old pictures of the honoree as a baby, kid, teen, adult, and more. Put their picture on a stick or get a cardboard cut out of them from a different era. Make their favorite drink the signature cocktail and name it something fun! For an extra festive touch, add edible glitter!
- Keep the food and drinks simple – serve their favorite foods, some food that was popular in their youth or just keep it all easy. Opt for heavy appetizers that are easy to serve and follow up with lots of mini-desserts or better yet – a great cake!
- Speeches/roasts – ask a few family members ahead of time to prepare quick toasts so the room is not silent or awkward when that time of the night comes
- Guest book – have a book where friends and family can write sweet messages – it could be a travel coffee table book or a golf book – depending on their interests. The guest of honor will cherish it forever! (Another idea is to ask each guest in advance to provide a page with memories, “in-jokes,” photos, etc, and assemble them into a book to present at the party.)
About Renee Patrone Rhinehart
Renee Patrone Rhinehart is the founder of Party Host Helpers, an innovative resource that provides extra staff to help set up, serve, and clean up at even the smallest at-home celebrations. For more information please visit www.partyhosthelper.com
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