How to make a birthday special with a lunch at home?

[Mushroomwithaview]

I am hosting a family lunch for about 15.

It is a very special occasion, and I want to make it special.

I am thinking I'll extend the dining room table and set it for all of us with white cloths and fresh flowers? It will be a squeeze, but it's doable with an extra table at the end.
I'm a pretty good cook and able to cook a decent meal for that number. Plus bubbles? Is that enough? I feel I'm missing something.

Any other ideas to make it special? I really would love to go to extra effort to make it a celebration.

Book a stripper. Your family will talk about it for years.

Or just get a cake and candles like a normal person. Honestly, what a silly question.

Bunting, helium balloons? Good xxx party decorations and I’m sure loads of ideas will appear!

Think about music - what would suit the occasion?
Decorations - balloons or banners or candles?

What a nasty reply. Wow.

I was thinking the same about the first post. Leave @BreakfastAtMimis to enjoy the stripper. Let's focus on your lovely gathering.

OP your ideas are already good. I was going to say balloons and bunting, we made a playlist of all the songs the relative liked.

I would just say - whatever you do, have someone bring a tripod to set up a camera to get you all in. So often events like this go past without having a pic of the whole family at the table!

Cook something the person/people who are centre of attention will enjoy.

BreakfastAtMimis booking a stripper might not be appropriate, children could be present or the celebration might be for a 50th wedding anniversary. Also, the recipient(s) might not enjoy it.

Definitely get some photos between you all, and a cake would be nice - don't feel the pressure to do it all yourself, someone else could get the cake.

Yes, will def do a cake.
And yes, decorations.

Hmm... I feel like I haven't yet had a good idea that will make it special.

An afternoon tea type meal? Salmon sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, cream cheese and cucumber, ham and cheese, on different breads. Bowl of salad. Mini sausage rolls. Scones. Selection of cakes.

Could you order some paper napkins with the person’s name and reason you are celebrating printed on it?
If it’s a special birthday, make labels with their name and age on to stick onto wine bottles.
If it’s at Eastertime, could you get a large hollow chocolate egg and some small hammers with ribbon on - pass it around the table for everyone to have a go at breaking it up then eat the choc with a cup of coffee.

I dont know if it is appropriate but there is a chef lady on you tube and forgive me I cannot remember her name but she is an absolute wizz at grazing boards. The ones she does are stunning,almost like art work but and heres the best bit she shows you exactly step by step almost idiot proof (not that you're an idiot but I am a bit!) how to do these stunning things, even down to how to shape and cut the food .It is genuinely brilliant. Would it be worth looking at that maybe for ideas? You could do an individual dessert one maybe or starter? I found her by just typing in how to ..grazing boards. Just a thought! The kudos you would get too lol !!!!

Jesus @BreakfastAtMimis...... What an utterly cnuty thing to say. Sad.

Printed menus and drinks lists give that extra special feel. You can self design on vistaprint pretty easily and have ones that say “Debbie’s 50th birthday” and the date or whatever and then list the starter, main and dessert and then underneath you can put “to finish” coffee and chocolates or whatever takes your fancy.

Also good can do the same for a drinks list, even if it’s just “white wine - New Zealand Sauvignon, red wine - Argentinian Malbec, gin & tonic etc.”.

Another tip if you want fancy, easy and low cost drinks is buy fruit syrup to do Bellinis and fresh fruit too.

Sounds lovely, what about some nice photographs of the birthday invitee in the room you'll be eating in. I made a display on coloured bits of paper and blue tacked around the room, everyone loved it as we could talk about the memories.

Well don't feed the trolls, or go to a certain meanie for breakfast.

I agree with all the nice suggestions but am also chuckling at the stripper. 😅

Back to lovely things, what is the age range OP?

We had one unforgettable do where we had a really funny, totally rigged and personalised pass the parcel.

Some good ones with games too.

Are you drinkers? Id pick a nice cocktail to serve - rim the glasses, garnishes the works!

Canapés and fizz too.

Flowers and tableware really makes an occasion too.

Ask everybody to write down their favourite memory of the special person. Put it into a big bowl . Then pass the bowl around the table with each person picking out one and reading it. ( Not necessarily their own )

A glass of fizz on arrival.

Music

A toast with some lovely words from someone good at that sort of thing.

Hope it goes well. What a bore @BreakfastAtMimis is.

Maybe ask each person attending to bring along a photo of that person. That would be something the birthday person wouldn't have and could be very special to bring up that memory. If no photos, then they could write about a special occasion/moment about that person.

Use nice china, mismatched is lovely and you can pick it up in charity shops for pennies usually

If you have access to a Polaroid that would be useful so people can take the photos home. Also prepare video messages from people who couldn’t be there and show on laptop. If appropriate, a colour theme for people to come dressed in.

Invitations for everyone, menu cards, place cards all in a matching these. Nice table setting, flowers, cloths, napkins, bunting etc. Cake that ties in with the theme.

Ask everyone to dress up a little. If you have some younger members of the family can they help with serving drinks and canapés?

If you have photos of the family member celebrating could you do a display in frames on a sideboard, table? Lots of photos taken on the day, do you have a friend that could take some of everybody on arrival and then some group shots?

In amongst all that, have a lovely time and don't forget that it's about the people that are there rather than the 'stuff'.