You know the basics: streamers, balloons and matching tablecloths, plates and napkins. Now make it your own with paper lanterns, scented candles and a bold color scheme in your favorite colors and patterns, like polkadots, snakeskin, shimmering stars.
A collage of the birthday person serves double duty as decoration and a thoughtful gift. Whether you choose flattering, embarrassing or NSFW photos is up to you -- and how likely it is that the birthday person will be getting revenge on you for it.
Paste your photos on a large piece of cardboard or encase in a frame with a large border. Then hang on a prominent wall, and leave a cup of markers nearby so guests can scribble during the party.
For milestone birthdays and other extraspecial days, take photos of each guest with the person of honor as they arrive. Upload your photos onto Evite so everyone can share in the memories.
Incorporating a birthday party theme makes birthday party planning easy. Check out these party ideas for decorations, activities, menus and more.
Birthday party themes:
Kids Birthday party themes:
Make the birthday person the star of your birthday party games. Center your Truth or Dare questions on them, or just recount your craziest adventures together.
If you’re a kid or a kid at heart, play birthday party games like pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs, or take a page from Mexican culture and celebrate with a piñata.
Before you break open the piñata, distribute baskets or decorated paper bags so everyone can store the candy and trinkets they grab when it breaks open.
A special menu makes a birthday to remember. Think decadent dishes of the birthday person's favorite indulgences — whether that involves cheese, olives, pizza, sausages or chips in every flavor.
For dessert, add a new spin on an old classic: Instead of your traditional cake, serve a tiramisu cake, a layered ice cream cake, a tower of assorted cupcakes or heaping bowls of candy.
Featured Birthday Party Recipes from Epicurious.com
Chambord spritzer
• 1 oz. Chambord (black raspberry-flavored liqueur)
• 1 1/2 oz. white wine
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Chilled seltzer or club soda
• A twist of lemon peel for garnish
Mix ingredients and serve chilled. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
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Non-Alcoholic – Lemonade with lots of ice and thin, decorative slices of lemon and lime.
| 1. | Birthday / The Beatles
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| 2. | In Da Club / 50 Cent
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| 3. | Birthday / The Sugarcubes
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| 4. | Angels / Robbie Williams
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| 5. | Vogue / Madonna
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| 6. | Relax / Frankie Goes to Hollywood
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| 7. | Let's Dance / David Bowie
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| 8. | Praise You / Fatboy Slim
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| 9. | Firestarter / Prodigy
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| 10. | Wonderwall / Oasis |
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