The Gen XY Lifestyle
Planning the perfect birthday party for your 70 year old
Turning 70 is nothing to sneeze at, but it is something that can be celebrated with a birthday party
And if you want to spoil a special birthday boy or girl in your life and help them celebrate seven decades of a life well lived, it’s time to start planning a 70th birthday party.
But planning the perfect 70th birthday party often is not easy. From the theme to the decor, the cake to the entertainment, there’s a lot you need to consider if you’re going to create a memorable birthday bash.
Check out these simple tips to help your guest of honor celebrate their 70th birthday in style.
Find out what the birthday boy or girl wants
The first thing you should do is sit down with the guest of honor and find out how they want to commemorate their birthday. Do they want something small and simple for close family only, or a big bash that includes all their friends and extended family? Would they prefer a traditional sit-down dinner or something a little more casual and relaxed?
It all depends on what the birthday boy or girl wants, so try to do whatever you can to tailor the party to suit their preferences. Some soon-to-be 70-year-olds will tell you that they don’t want to be made a fuss of, and that’s fine, but just make sure to give them the sort of occasion they’ll enjoy.
Choose a theme
Next, it’s time to decide on a theme for the 70th birthday party. In some cases, there’s no need for any sort of theme at all — if the guest of honor just wants a nice dinner with their nearest and dearest, you can often do without a theme.
But if you want to add a fun and interactive element to the party, why not get together with the guest of honor to decide on a suitable theme? They might have a favorite movie and want everyone to dress up as a character from the film, maybe they’d like an old-school Hollywood vibe, or perhaps the theme could reflect the favorite decade from their youth.
It doesn’t have to be anything overly extravagant, but a few additions to the decor, a couple of tweaks to the menu, and inviting everyone to don a costume can make a big difference.
Get organised
A 70th birthday is a big occasion, and you’ll no doubt want to get as many people there as possible to help the guest of honor celebrate. It’s also the sort of event that some guests will fly in for from all around the country and even overseas, so it’s essential that you start planning early.
If you can, finalise your guest list and send out the invitations at least a couple of months in advance. This should give everyone a chance to clear some space in their calendar, and start thinking about the best birthday present for a 70-year-old!
Choose a venue
One of the most crucial decisions you’ll make in the planning process is choosing a party venue. The venue plays a huge part in creating the ambiance of the occasion, but it needs to be perfectly practical too.
So start comparing birthday party venues near you to find something that ticks all the right boxes. The right venue will have the perfect look and feel for your party, have the right seating arrangements, and have friendly staff who can cater to your needs.
Remember to consider accessibility when choosing a venue. The easier it is to get to, the better the chances of everyone having a wonderful time.
Food and drink (and cake!)
Now it’s time to think about what you’ll be eating at the big 70th birthday celebration. Once again, this is something you should do with the help of the guest of honor. Will there be a set menu or a full range of dishes to choose from? Three-course meal or appetisers and cocktails? Is there a specific type of cuisine the birthday boy or girl prefers (or would prefer to avoid)?
Some venues take care of food themselves, while others will require you to bring in your own caterers. Drinks are important too — maybe you could create a signature cocktail for the guest of honor, or just go somewhere they can get their favorite beer on tap.
And don’t forget about one of the most important parts of any birthday party: the cake! Baking it yourself can be a touching gesture, but if you’re already battling to stay on top of a host of other planning duties, it’s often easier to just order a cake from a professional.
Entertainment
Last but not least, take some time to think about how you’ll keep everyone entertained at the party. For example, would they like some live music, such as a jazz band or a string quartet? Who will be giving speeches and when? Do you want to display some photos of the guest of honor over the years? Will there be party games to lighten the mood, such as trivia or a costume competition?
The right choices will depend on the guest of honor and the attendees, so tailor some activities to suit your guest list.
One final tip: remember to take plenty of photos throughout the party. Turning 70 is not only a wonderful achievement, but it’s also a rare opportunity to get friends and family from far and wide together. If you’ve got your camera ready all night long, you’ll be able to create cherished memories for the birthday boy or girl. You could even turn them into a photo book or some other piece of memorabilia to gift to the guest of honor as a memento of reaching this special milestone.
Photos by Pixabay and by Catrin Johnson on Unsplash
