Planning a surprise birthday party...

[whiskeysheri]

I can't think of anywhere more appropriate for this question, so I'll just bung it in here... :)

I'm planning a surprise 50th party for my mum's birthday in April and seeing as I have no experience of actually putting together a party, let alone a surprise, I just wondered if anyone had any tips for me, please?

Anything is appreciated. I want to make it really special for her. Thank yoooou. :)

[sara3]

awhh... I hope my kids do this for me when I'm 50! (it's a way off yet!)

I think a lovely idea is to visit as many friends and family as possible and video special messages, memories and thoughts, then put it together to show on the day / evening. hopefully that should cause some laughs and a few (happy) tears :o)

[whiskeysheri]

I'm sure they will, sara. :)

She deserves it, so glad she's my mum.

That's a really lovely idea! I really like that! I've already emailed my aunties, uncles and cousins to forward any nice/funny/embarrassing photos they have of her over the years to me, so that I can enlarge them and put them up at the venue. :)

[unrulyjulie]

Hey hun, :-) Do something like my boy did for me! That was a lovely surprise. :-) sort of apat from some of the minging piccys LOL
I did a surprise party once for L's dad.It was hard work keeping it secret to be honest and you can begin to look highly suspicious. Just make sure you concoct a good story so nothing raises her suspicions. Will you have it at home or in a venue somewhere?

[whiskeysheri]

Hi, lovely! Ooh, yes, L is who inspired me with the photos! :) Oh, and I don't a minging pic of you exists, lady. :)

Ah, yep, the story was the first thing I had to think of because of being in the village, but I think I've sorted something to not look too suspect with her bloke (he and my sister are helping me out), but he really does need to learn how to whisper!

I think I'm going to just get our village hall, hun. I'm inviting so many people and anywhere like a hotel function room want to provide the food, too (for almost �15 a head!), so this way we can do our own thing and decorate it the way I like.

It's my dad's 50th in two weeks, too, and he has insisted on something low-key, so I'm trying to think of something that looks like I'm making as much an effort for him, too. Although, I think he'd rather just forget it. :)

[unrulyjulie]

awww bless him. i think i will when its my 50th too! Mind you, i might just invite you al back for that one! :-)

I think a village hall is perfect, you can do things in your own time there, it will just be getting her there that's the tricky bit lol

I am sure you will do a wonderful job though hun, i have a feeling you will be so good at planning and organizing something like this! xxxxxx

[funnygirl]

I had a surprise 50th in a hall and boy it was a surprise as I thought I was going to a wedding reception.

The only thing that spoilt it was my Mother In Law turning up an hour too early, but my hubby said she was comin to the 'wedding' too!!!!

[what..the?]

I dont know how much you have to spend but if you could blow some photos of you mum up like posters for the wall decorations that would be cool, like one when she was a baby, then a teenager, then when she got married, one when she had children, and one now, like a timeline.

Try and find some old friends of hers and relatives she has not seen for a while a get them to come visit and stay in a hotel. You might need to ask your mums friends for ideas on who to invite, and also steal your mums phone/address book to see if youve forgotten someone.

Maybe in the video you plan to do with peoples messages, what if you did a history bit, where you go back and visit the places she grew up and film them for her maybe compare photos of her past with the new present and try and trace people from years gone by do like a 'This is your life' if you got enough information you could even theme the whole party on 'this is your life' and have the video and the book for her too keep.

[whiskeysheri]

Aww, thanks, hun. I just hope I can pull it off, to be honest. It's a pain that I live with her! :)

Was it a welcome surprise, funnygirl? I think she'll like it, but there's always a chance she won't, I s'pose...

Thank you, what.the! That's a similar thing to what I had in mind, including photos of her three weddings... It's a family 'in' joke. :)

I'm trying to locate her battered, old address book at the moment, so fingers crossed I can. She has one brother in Italy and one in France and they've both arranged their flights already.

I really like your last idea, thank you, but I just think it would be too hard to do with everything else to get ready. I planned to do this a couple of years ago, and I thought six months would be plenty of time- eek, maybe not. :(

[funnygirl]

Yes Whiskey, it was a welcome surprise as I saw all my old friends and family.

There's nothing not to like! I went on to have a right old knees up!!

[what..the?]

lol good luck, I'm sure it will be great

[what..the?]

what about just scanning lots of photos into a computer and then making a slide show of loads of pictures that can be playing over and over on a tv in the hall during the party?

Party games??? lol party games to win toy prizes (toys from the time your mother was a child) as I'm 27 I don't have a clue what toys they had then?

[whiskeysheri]

Great, thanks, funny! I think the surprise will be more that she hasn't had to plan it- she's always been the hostess of the family and having to get everyone together, hosting it and feeding everyone.

Ooh, yes, what.the! I really like that! I think that will look really good, too. Thanks for that.

Ha! I wonder where I can get a load of Victorian toys? ;) Nah, I reckon her old friends, music and a bit of drink will keep her occupied for a good few hours. :)

Hmmm, also, is it okay to ask people to bring a bottle on their invitation? Obviously I can provide the basics, but it'll bankrupt me buying drink for (possibly, the way it's going) almost 100 people!

[funnygirl]

Whiskey, even I cannot remember Victorian toys!!!

Though I did have a dolls house!!!!

[whiskeysheri]

Haha, <B >funny</B >, I know, so did I. :) I'm having fun winding my dad up more about being "old." Better reaction. :)

[what..the?]

You could joke on the invitation and say birthday gifts in drink form only please.... she's getting too old I can't eat solid's

"klinky klinky"

No seriously I would put something nice on the invitation like "any help towards party beverages would be greatly appreciated"

[funnygirl]

Ask immediate family for help providing food and drink.

Let each member be responsible for something and take the worry of your shoulders.

Even kids can help with decorations!

[whiskeysheri]

I think I might have to, funny- all this is starting to add up and I haven't sorted a disco yet! Although, I don't know about the kids and decorations, I can be a bit of a (nice) control freak and wants things to look just right. :)

[mrs_overall]

Why not make a "This is Your Life" book for your mum?