What did you do for your 50th? (scouting for ideas)

[Enko]

I will be 50 next year. I have never had a party for a birthday and I am somewhat thinking I would like to do something to mark this day.

I am however not your usual " party" type person.. I am more a dinner and enjoyment ... However there is a large part of me who would like to gather friends close to me and celebrate with them all.. My birthday is on a Sunday and I am thinking the Saturday would be a good thing to do.

I know I dont want to just do a family thing and I 100% want to mark it so I am not looking suggestions to ignore it.. I am comfortable with turning 50 :)

Birthday is in the early months so nothing outdoorsy is possible. We live in a house that will not easily host a lot of people and I don't want to be spending an insane amount...

Am considering dinner out with close friends
Afternoon tea...

but neither of them are making me think " ohh yes that would be great"

I left the kids with DM and went to Venice with DH for three nights. We had a wonderful time and on our return, we did cards and cake, I'm really not into parties so this was perfect!

I went to Florida!

For mine we took the children and my in-laws for a week to a lovely hotel in Bellagio, Lake Como. My sister in law and family came too. It was beautiful.

I organised a murder night party for my husband. A group of actors created a murder setting along lines of Brideshead and everyone dressed up, arrived in vintage cars etc, I did a simple three course meal with the murder happening between courses. It was great fun.

Orlando Florida

Not 50th, but 40th I went to the Scillies for a week, using the helicopter. Something Id always wanted to do but needed an excuse to pay out for it (because my birthday is in the summer so its top prices).

My 50th ideas I never booked and, when it arrived, my business partner was seriously ill, so I had to cover at work so couldnt do anything other than go out for a nice meal. I could have done a party but I am not into them.

I had 20 friends round, of this number 5 were their dc. I had a Chinese takeaway that I had preordered and also a children’s style birthday tea harking back to the birthday parties of our 1970’s childhoods with stuff like cheese and pineapple hedgehogs and iced gems.

After this myself and a couple of women friends went out for cocktails and then to a casino. DH, DS and I went out for dinner on my actual birthday which was a midweek day.

DH took me to Rome for my 50th. I took him to New York.

Afternoon tea somewhere that does a really good job of it sounds lovely. Champagne as well as tea! Make sure they know it's a special birthday as there may well be some extra details appear. We got extra petit fours for DH

Hired a beautiful house in a country village, and parents, kids, their partners, sister, bil, their kids and partners, best friend, her dh and sons all came. Friday night we had a catered bbq, Saturday night we had dinner I'd prepared in advance, Sunday lunch in a pub. Ds and ddil prepared a murder mystery for us to enjoy (we all had characters), we mooched around little towns on Saturday in the day or loafed about the house, played charades after dinner. It was a total joy from start to finish. All of us utter the words "*** Hall" from time to time and we all smile.

I did a home party with about 30 people, had a fab time, lots of cooking, which I love, dined outside as weather in July was perfect.
I asked for no gifts but if they liked donations to my two chosen charities.
I think it's great to celebrate our birthdays and celebrate life in general.
Best wishes for your celebrations whatever you decide to do and enjoy.

I am Mr "middle of the road", conformity personified, finance director etc.

50 in 2 years. Strangely tempted by a tattoo..

Think DW would divorce me though!

Will probably end up doing a group meal, friends, family etc.

Did something similar for 40th.

Certainly nothing like parachute/bungee jump etc..

Party on a boat? Centreparcs weekend? Room in a pub? Marquee? Hog roast?

I'm 40 this year. Hoping to go to either Prague or Krakow, and possibly get another tattoo.
Took DH to Paris a couple of years ago for his. He didn't want a party. Neither do I.

Throw a party in the upstairs room at your favourite pub - hire the room, pay for a few gold and silver balloons, some party food on trays, and invite as many as you can squeeze in the room. The best parties are joyously crowded!

This could be very outing...

My 50th has lasted 6 months so far and still going strong...

This weekend I met with about 30 friends and we all went walking and had a bring and share picnic. It was a doable day trip from where a lot of us live so that was inexpensive for most. Some then stayed overnight and we had a nice dinner at a hotel which wasn't so cheap but really good fun.

Returned from living overseas November 2016. It was my 50th the following year.

On my 50th birthday we had a city break to London. As I updated my social media page: To be in London on my 50th Birthday. There are no words.

My advice: do what YOU want to do.

Had a big party. Invited lots of friends. Daytime so kids could come. Got an entertainer for the kids (who all the adults watched). Drank loads of nice champagne. Lovely.

I'm single and was originally toying with the idea of buying an MG BGT (to keep for a year or two and have a bit of fun with, as a second car) - but then my own car started having issues that were going to cost around a thousand (at least) to fix.
So, I bought myself a lovely sporty car which I still have. I love it.

Went on a Mediterranean cruise with DH and the 2 teens for my 50th ( threaten to divorce him if he arranged a surprise party)

DH had a big house party for his 50 th , was actually enjoyable ( I’m not a party person )

We had his parents over for a big Celebration lunch , then had about 30 friends over on the Saturday day of his birthday week , made a huge vat of pulled pork , coleslaw , jackets , massive chocolate cake and cheese board

Was widowed at 35, so had no DH to spend my 50th with. However, the kids and I had a city break in Prague, got our glad rags on and had a swish dinner in a palace, a trip through the autumn forests of Bohemia to a mediaeval castle, then came home and had a night at the opera.

A friend of mine had his on a canal boat - a two hour round trip - it was ACE!!

I really didn't fancy a party for my 50th so I went to Paris for a long weekend with my dh. Twas lovely.

Mine is coming up. I'm doing a champagne afternoon tea in the garden at home (praying for rain but have a gazebo if need be). Very chilled and low key. Just close friends and family.

We're going away for mine next year. me, dp, 4 adult dc and dgd together for a whole week at the seaside, like we did when the dc were little. I don't really do birthdays, but this seemed a nice idea when I booked it. I'm thinking of asking my parents to come along too, even if only for a couple of days.

Forgot to say, we're hoping to go away for a mini break too but it won't be until my husband gets better and is allowed to fly.

We took a cruise from Boston, USA to Montreal. Lovely trip. For my husband he wants to do a California road trip.