Turning 50… How do I throw a party people will talk about for years?

I’m in the early stages of planning a 50th for a friend. The theme is James Bond- everyone dressed up, casino games, props and Photo Booth, cocktails (and bartenders) as well as food.

I like parties with party games, the sort which gets everyone talking to each other because often if you invites work/old friends/relatives they won't know each other and just stand around in little groups chatting to their acquaintances.
For one of mine I did a quiz with an odd fact I knew about each person so everyone had to speak to each other to fill out the answers (eg. someone born in the USA, someone whose middle name is Keith etc.) Great ice breaker.
I have no time for people who are too "cool" to play silly games. 😁
Also lots of good food and a big bowl of no too alcoholic punch.

A party which people of the neighbourhood will talk about for years?

Easy!

Make it a swingers’ party.

All I can do is tell you about mine, which got the guy who ran it LOADS of enquries and I still get messages 2 years later asking for his details!

I am part of a large community of online quizzers. I am not a "drink, disco, buffet" kind of person. So I asked one of the hosts, who does quizzes in pubs, to host a "game show night". It was brilliant.

I know people say "oh everyone said my party/wedding/etc was the best they had been to!" but the host is getting enquiries 2 years later on the back of it! He played music in between the rounds too. So think a round of "House of Games" then music then "Wheel of Fortune" etc. It was amazing.

Happy to recommend someone if you are in the Midlands, he isnt cheap but worth every single penny!

Yep! Or failing that, a very good tribute artist.

It would be pretty cool getting Rick Astley or someone to sing live at your party!

As someone above said, make sure your music isn’t so loud it drowns everything else out. Free alcohol, unless none of your friends are drinkers, definitely helps. Love the idea of guessing the shots.

Went to a wedding the other day and there was a really cool photo booth which took 3 pics and then printed 2 copies. You stuck one set in a book, along with a message for the couple, and could keep the other set. It was such a great idea!

Also went to a wedding a couple of years ago with team games done with your table. It was a great way to bond with people you may not know and got everyone laughing. One was just musical chairs (each table had a representative) but it got very competitive and was hilarious. Another game was a kind of scavenger hunt. A rep from each table had to find.... A one pound coin, a watch, a red lipstick etc and then run back to a central point. Obviously the table helped their 'rep' to get each item. Each time the last person to get the item went out till it was just 2 teams battling it out.

Great live music & good food.

I feel like the most memorable parties are the ones where drama occurs. After all, no one really remembers the food or decor after the fact.

if you really want to impress people though, live music from a notable artist would be a good shout. By notable, maybe an artist that was popular in your teens/20s as I imagine your guests are a similar age to you and therefore the performance would feel nostalgic. I’d expect that to be costly though.

Make sure the venue isn’t too big for the number of people you’ve invited otherwise there will be a lack of atmosphere. Keep the venue size as close to the numbers you have or slightly smaller. Great music and food too

Doesn’t help you, but for my 50th I took the 0 of and had a 5th birthday party. It was brilliant, thank goodness the day was lovely as it was on the beach. A huge picnic of sandwiches crisps fruit cakes nothing special just what I had when I was 5 ! We had a sandcastle competition we went on the donkeys. There was about 60 of us there so not huge mostly family and a few friends, but it was such fun. My DH arranged for an icecream van to deliver to us good old fashioned 99’s with strawberry sauce my favourite. At the end of the day some people drifted off but the rest of us had fish and chips and hit the funfair . We got lots of people stop and stare but no body seemed to mind that we sort of took over a large part of the beach I had so many strangers wish me happy birthday. Best party ever.

so that’s my advice, don’t be 50 be 5

Pay for everyone’s booze. An amazing DJ.

I know a woman who has great parties. Bar set up in her house with bar staff, plenty of great food, mariachi band.

No gimmicks, but everyone shows up to her bash, every time! She does have a great house, but it’s the vibe more so.

Ok
so for my 50th
fire dancers
stilt walkers
photo booth
£500 sweet buffet
celebrity masks on tables
80s disco
blow up air guitars
a professional cameraman
exclusive country house venue
WAS AMAZING!!!!

We had a massive balloon wall, after the food we handed out flashing glasses flowery necklaces and light up wands, glow sticks and everyone was up dancing it was amazing - we had blow up musical instruments (guitars / saxophones) for the kids on the dance floor invite a mix of ages get the dj to play proper middle of the road party music it will be fab

Sad to say, the guaranteed way for people to always remember it and keep talking about it for many years afterwards is for something truly terrible to happen - whether planned or not.

As long as you remember it (hopefully fondly!) - and your immediate family - isn't that enough?

I went to a wedding with a wall of crisps. Literally one wall of the venue was covered with all different bags of crisps and you could just grab whatever you fancied. Same wedding also had a tray of shots of random alcohol on every table and you had to guess what was what for a prize bottle of bubble for your table. Brilliant icebreaker.

we still talk about that wedding !

Naked karaoke followed by keys in a bowl.

Silent disco. Did it for my 40th. My pals still bring it up as they found it such a laugh.

Exactly.

Pretty much this. Or not as outlandish. Organised fun never is.

The things I remember most from parties or holidays are the things that wère completely impromptu, that you couldn't plan.

I also had a house party for my 50th. Karaoke and more food than was possible to eat. Friends still laugh about the crazy amounts of food I put on, people were going home with tupperware doggy bags!

A good ska covers band will get the party going

Ride in on a camel