Garden party (?)/gathering - gift bags???

[LookItsMeAgain]

My mum is planning on having a small family party/gathering in her back garden soon to celebrate her birthday. We'll order take away food to be delivered and we'll organise and sit in our family groupings far enough apart to stay safe but close enough that we can still hear each other

I was thinking of putting together some gift bags for the other family members and in the bags I'd put a small bottle of hand sanitiser and a small tube of suncream (I'm ever hopeful that the weather will improve). Would you put anything else in the gift bags and if so, what?

I was trying to make the day special as my mum is in her late 80's and every birthday we get to celebrate with her at this stage is a good thing. Nobody has asked me to do this and there aren't any small kids left in our family, they are all teenagers/young adults. I just thought it might be a nice thing to arrive and see at the outdoor gathering.

I’m sorry but those things don’t feel like gifts...

Hope you have a lovely time. Honestly I would spend the money on food and drink instead - surely everyone has their own hand sanitiser nowadays?

I definitely wouldn't expect goodie bags at a family gathering, and would rather that money were spent on the birthday girl, or nice food and drinks.

If you want everyone separate - maybe bowls of treats on the tables? Mini cakes, sweets, balloons, party poppers....

I think everyone is sick to death of all the reminders so won't appreciate hand gel etc. Just make sure there is some available if needed. Party bags aren't needed for adults. Just have a lovely time with friends and family and plan how to share food without spreading the Virus and making sure people know which glass is there's.

Sun cream wouldn't work in our family - 4 of us and I always have to take 3 different types with us due to allergies.

@Seeline

Sun cream wouldn't work in our family - 4 of us and I always have to take 3 different types with us due to allergies.

Thank you - I wouldn't have thought about that.

I'd bring both of those items myself, I'd think just have a normal sized bottle of both available for anyone who doesn't bring their own.

@Sleepingdogs12 - that's a good tip about the glasses and making sure everyone keeps their own. I could look into getting some glass identifiers and giving each family their own ones.

These gift bags aren't designed to be given out at the end of the gathering, they will be in place for when the other family groups arrive in.

Food & wine and drinks will be looked after but this was a thought I had about a little something extra for each of the family groups.

Honestly- why not just have a normal party

Sitting in family groups etc- sounds like a total pain. Party in the garden- all a bit sick those- they are not fun. Party gift bag- not usually for adults birthdays

From what you are describing you might as well zoom from a warm house at home.

From 17 May, you can socialise indoors in a group of up to 6 people or 2 households, including for overnight stays. Up to 30 people can meet outside.

So-either individual families come and see her indoors or you just have a normal party outdoors. No need for family tables or marked wine glasses.

What about some lovely cupcakes they can take away with them?

Sorry, I also wouldn’t like these kind of gift bags. How about offering to buy the birthday cake instead?

Ok - it was just an idea.
She is very nervous about Covid which explains the distancing she wanted... I can't see it lasting that long to be honest...and she really wants to see the family together so we're trying to accommodate her wishes more than our own.
Thanks for your ideas and feedback.

I may try and sort out some personalised cup cakes from a bakery which might be nice for her.

I think everyone will appreciate a cupcake id go with that. Enjoy the celebration

Cupcakes sound lovely! Maybe a big tub of sanitiser and suncream as you come in so people can use them?

My friend did personalised cupcakes for her birthday with pictures on of her family which was a special touch - a bit weird biting into them though!

I think you sound very thoughtful and am surprised by some of the messages you've had on here. Your mum has every right to be cautious. Cupcakes sound great. You could make a big frame that you hang in the garden for people to get photo taken (just go up in groups) and then you could send around pictures afterwards. Or get people to sign a big piece of card and you can print out the photos and stick them on for your Mum. String lights in the trees, pretty napkins and tablecloths. Unlike seemingly everyone else I would probably use both sun cream and hand gel (yes, I have it in the bottom of my bag, but would use the nearest to hand for convenience), so a bottle of each on a table would be good.

I'd stick to the cupcakes too, the gift bags sound a bit of a waste of money tbh.

The idea of a big photo frame is really good. We had one at a party years ago - made of cardboard, painted gold, held up on an easel. We wrote something like “Jean’s 60th - happy birthday!” on the frame. Different family/friend groups all went up for photos there and it was a fun reminder. You could even construct a sort of perspex sheet blocking the middle of the frame so your mum could safely take photos with different people? Eg I’ve seen people use a clear shower curtain to separate households but still be able to take photos together.

I LOVE the idea of the photo frame!!! Much better than the gift bag idea I was trying to come up with.

I have to either order it online or try and find a party supply shop that has one in stock. Lots of things aren't available yet or haven't been released back for selecting online since lockdown restrictions limited things to 'essential shopping only' grrrrrrrrrr!!!

Thanks for the tips and advice every one. It has all been taken on board!

If you can't find a frame online, you could either make one with some strong cardboard or use the front of a picture frame (we have large poster-sized ones from IKEA in bright colours). If you have children they could decorate it.

I've ordered a photo frame online so that is sorted.
I've ditched the idea of the gift bags though as I had already bought the actual bags, they may get used to bring some cake home in instead!

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. You are a great bunch of people altogether!