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Original poster

How did you celebrate your 40th?

83 replies

rosesl · 29/10/2024 19:57

Just that really - how did you celebrate your 40th?
Mine is next May and want to do something special. Welcome ideas... no budget really but something special

OP posts:
pecanroll · 30/10/2024 23:37

I just had mine. Started the day with a massage and a really special lunch, hairdressers and a big party with dj, food, family and friends, loved it.then 2 days after, dh and I buggered off on a 10 day holiday with no dc* fabulous.*

I love how this is all the options. This, do this.

Garlicbest · 30/10/2024 23:50

It was bloody magnificent. It was also my last big birthday celebration (donkey's years ago now) so I'm glad I did it! I had a massive friends & family party that was intentionally planned like a wedding reception, with a marquee and a children's entertainer. A friend and I went to France to buy the booze (RIP, EU membership but I reckon it's still worth doing) so we made a fun couple of days out of that too. In the evening 5 of my friends and I had a limo into London for a very raucous (read drunken) dinner at a posh restaurant, then the limo back home again. By that time we were shredded and behaved like schoolchildren on too much sugar; the limo driver was a gem who managed to let us be bonkers while keeping us alive and not getting arrested.

I had another party at a bar in London, with the friends I hadn't been able to invite to the 'reception', and that went on into a club. Then another party at a bar for everyone, which was wild and messy and I can't remember it. I found a disposable camera from that one, had it developed and it's full of people I've never seen before or since - but they all look very happy.

I think it's a great idea to go to Italy - you always have good times in Italy! But, if budget can be found, do something with all your friends as well. Have fun 🥳

Josette77 · 30/10/2024 23:52

Me ex husband threw a surprise party with friends and family at a pub, and then my best friend threw me a surprise paint night party with a bunch of girlfriends.

It was fun!

Mabris · 30/10/2024 23:58

rosesl · 29/10/2024 20:21

I'm not really sure what I want to do.
My partner and I have both have children from previous relationships and whilst we'll likely go for a meal with them we're unlikely to go away with them in May more likely the summer. We've done Disney this year so it wouldn't be an option really.
I don't know whether to have a party and then a holiday with my partner but not sure where to go.
We spoke about vegas but it's just so far. My partner won't sit around on the beach for a week so that rules out a total beach break.
I though a few days day in Rome then down to sorrento or Venice for a few days then lake Garda. Or Milan and lake como.
Or any other ideas/recommendations?
We went to the south of France this summer just the two of us and thoroughly enjoyed that but want something different

I had my 40th in Rome just at the start of the 1st lockdown in Italy. The place was deserted. On the plus side we gained entry into all the places of interest without any queues however, we were terrified that Rome might go into lockdown and we'll be stuck in Italy. I just wanted to spend my 40th alone with DH unfortunately, covid ruined the whole experience. I look forward to my 50th, hopefully will have a big party with my friends and family

feellikeanalien · 30/10/2024 23:58

Went to Seville for the weekend with DP and stayed in a lovely hotel overlooking the cathedral. Spent most of our time wandering around and eating delicious food and drinking lots of lovely sherry and wine.

MinnieMountain · 31/10/2024 06:30

I went to Rome with DH.

Yalta · 19/01/2025 14:19

Fat and pregnant. Went to the local chain pizza place with dh and toddler dd and had to listen to a group on the table next door who were discussing how old I was and not in a nice way.

Not a happy birthday to the point I never bothered again. My 50th I was sat at the edge of a gym watching dc do an activity and my 60th I stayed in and didn’t do anything as everyone forgot

mamaduckbone · 19/01/2025 18:01

I spent my actual 40th camping with my Dh and dcs. I was a little bit miserable about turning 40 so didn't want a big party or anything.
We went to a festival (Camp Bestival) later in the summer which is still one of my absolutely favourite weekends ever. It was so much fun.

Funderthighs · 19/01/2025 18:18

I went to Lazerquest with a group of 10 friends and had a mega battle with a group of teenagers. It was great fun and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

TheCatCameBack112 · 19/01/2025 18:28

I took the day off work and went for breakfast with my ILs on my actual birthday then took myself off for a massage and facial. The following weekend my dh took me and dds to a holiday cottage on the coast for the weekend. My sister and her family and my good friend surprised me, they has booked an apartment nearby. We did seaside things and had champagne and strawberries and it was lovely.

In the year I turned 40 I also did a run of lists, like create a 'Top 40' Playlist, visit 40 pubs, have 40 days out, watch 40 amazing TV shows/films, read 40 books, 40 random acts of kindness, 40 squats a day challenge. I had fun completing these over the course of the year

AtticusCatticus · 19/01/2025 18:39

8 1/2 months pregnant, and very grumpy.

Would not recommend.

Eminybob · 19/01/2025 18:44

I turned 40 in April 2020 so did bugger all as we were in lockdown. Oh I ordered a takeaway and had a zoom call with friends.

We were due to go on a luxury 5 star 2 week holiday. It was cancelled 2 weeks before we were due to go.

Gutted.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 19/01/2025 18:44

Went out for breakfast with DC, Mum and Step-dad.
Then went to Pride (DC usually go, and as it happened to be on my birthday we went together)
Went to the cinema (it was national cinema day so tickets were cheap)
Then went to my best friends house and had takeaway pizza.

We went to Harry Potter and The Cursed Child as my present a few weeks later.

Not most people's idea of a celebration I'm sure. But I loved it.

AlmostCutMyHairToday · 19/01/2025 18:53

I haven't turned 40 yet but my dream is to go on my own to a spa hotel, get all the massages, marinate in the pools and steam rooms, get delicious food served to my room and eat it in bed whilst watching a film, and then have the best sleep of my life.
(sadly probably wont happen)

Sheknowsaboutme · 19/01/2025 19:50

I ran a marathon

BitOutOfPractice · 19/01/2025 19:56

I hired a hall and invited Everyone I knew and we Had a blast dancing and singing And celebrating. God I wish I were that young again!

TwoLeggedGrooveMachine · 19/01/2025 20:02

I had an afternoon tea with a big group of friends. We had our own room in an olde worlde cafe and it was BYO so Pimm’s and Prosecco was flowing. Those that wanted to carried on for cocktails and a pub band. I also had a weekend in Italy with 3 friends, all of us with young DC so getting away was a big deal for us.

LBOCS2 · 19/01/2025 20:11

Mine's coming up - we've booked a country house for the long weekend my birthday is over. There will be 20 of us staying there made up of my closest friends and their partners and kids. DH did something similar for his, and then we hired a venue and threw a party a few weeks later. I don't fancy a party, I don't think, so I'm currently vacillating about spending the money on a holiday or doing an activity of some sorts with family and local friends.

leftorrightnow · 19/01/2025 22:06

Had a family celebration w family and a fancy meal out followed by drinks with girlfriends. I don’t think it was as big as could’ve been, but I’d just relocated and didn’t have a lot of people to invite! Now we’re in a tough financial position so can’t see a big party coming up soon, but I think once we move to a bigger home, hopefully soon, I’d love to do house warming party and invite all the friends we have now, I think that could be a sort of replacement party for me, and I quite like house warming parties, they’re a bit low key I think.

JasonTindallsTan · 19/01/2025 22:09

Ticked ‘F1 Grand Prix’ off my bucket list in Abu Dhabi with DH and local drinks with mates.

sanityisamyth · 19/01/2025 22:09

Took some food and drinks into uni (mature student) and shared them with a few friends. None of them knew it was my birthday. Didn't do anything else to mark it.

Moier · 19/01/2025 22:12

Got taken to Dublin for a long weekend by a guy l was seeing at the time.
Then a night / meal out with friends in my own town.
50th my daughters did me a surprise party in a pub.
Big buffet.. great DJ.. friends and relatives there .

Echobelly · 19/01/2025 22:12

My 40th fell on a Sunday, I hosted tea for family and in laws that afternoon which was lovely. I had a choir concert the night before, so I held a party at home the next Saturday, with a theme of 40 years of music.

Made a playlist of songs from each of previous 40 years on Youtube and borrowed a projector to show them on a wall, and encouraged people to dress in rock/pop themed way if they wanted to. Started mid evening to allow people to come with kids or who had babysitters at home. Was a bit worried as I know how it is with people flaking out, but actually had a good crowd, and it was the first time we could have a party where the older kids (who were 10-12) turn up and hang out until late-ish evening. The last attendees turned up after 11 and we kept going until about 2am in the end.

Had lots of crisps, drinks and a constant round of pizza and Iceland Indian/Chinese hot food selections in the oven.

DH had his 50th in 2023 and we went to Santorini to share a villa with about 6 of his friends for 3 nights which was lovely (especially as it was end of season so not too busy). One friend liked it so much he's doing a similar idea for his 50th this year, only in Spain.

tightarses · 19/01/2025 22:15

My 40th was in the hottest week of summer in 2003 . Had a bouncy castle for all the kids ,BBQ ,massive paddling pool you could swim in,water slide and we had an absolute blast ..husband and I went to Venice following weekend.

Indianajet · 19/01/2025 22:27

My husband was working away, so my eldest son (19) went for a Chinese for me and my boys. 50th we had a big family lunch out, 60th a tea party and my recent 70th a party at my son's followed by a meal out . I am a widow now so just enjoy celebrating with the family. I also took my two closest friends out for lunch.