Agh! How do you host an 18th birthday party?

[Noweighteen]

DS wants an 18th birthday party at our house for about 30.
help!
We don’t have family so it would be more a regular teen party, but obviously we’d like it to be special/ easy for him without it getting too overwhelming and us being too interfering. Friend says we should go round twice through the evening with plates of Cornish pasties otherwise leave them. Have to say I’d find that a bit cringe.
we thought we’d hide upstairs in case and they can have downstairs and the garden.
Any tips please? My brain has totally frozen. What food? Veggie option? Do we provide beer and wine? Do we provide a cake? If so do we have a toast and cut it With them all? Do we even say hello? Yikes!
dont even know what time to start it!
visions of teen parties in American films haunt me. Luckily no swimming pool. All tips very welcome indeed!

Wow some good times had on here!
Thank you everyone for the tips. I think they are all fairly nice kids. But ha, what do I know?! Renting a room may be a bit tricky - ( crap local pub) but They’ve just been to friends 18 at a home which had family and cake and party food then they were left alone but all very sedate as the train left at 10 or something, so I Have Hope.
thanks for the warning re buckets! I’m hoping garden is enough and will put BIG signs to the loo. And order pizzas probably though it breaks my heart to spend £150 or so on 15 dominos, so food ideas please!
Can’t believe ketamine is common? I’m old enough to think a sneaky spliff at the back of the cricket club disco was insanely grown up at 18.
thanks re what to expect - maybe I should put on a frock and hand out the sausage rolls. It’s that balance between letting them know we are here and not being totally yik and ott friendly or going the other way and being get out the drugs cool. I’d love them to feel a bit exciting in a good party way, And actually yes, as a pp said, all seems quite tame compared to our 18ths! Can’t quite make out this generation. They seem very normal even compared with their siblings who were 18 2-3 years ago.
good thought re sleeping over as I think the last bus is quite early. I shall suggest they bring sleeping bags, provide a pile of bags/ blankets etc in case.
Thinking out loud now!
more tips welcome. What makes a great party in your opinion? Maybe that’s another thread!

My DD had her 18th last year at home and with around 30 kids of similar age. I was a bit worried at first with the idea but DD and DH convinced me.

It was a great night and a hit with all. We provided some food and a range of drinks but most brought there own. We were hip parents and partied with them! No trouble at all obviously a few drinks spilt and a bit of throwing up etc but that was dealt with quickly etc. They had free rein of downstairs and garden. It was in Feb so the wooden floors did get filthy but wiped up fine. Guests left around 1pm naturally with a few stragglers til 2pm.

Daughter says all her friends still rave about her party being the best and us parents are epic in their eyes 😂 Our house is a great.party house though due to layout.

There were alot of funny videos on the ring doorbell.

We had an 18th 'prinks' here last night so it was a short night and they left all the empties stacked up, no mess. We hosted a bigger one a few months back, they didn't stay all night as they got taxis elsewhere but it was most of the night and it was messy enough with glasses and cans left all over as they left in a rush. There were a few badly cleaned up spillages. We just did finger food but if they were all night here I'd do pizza too. I was holed up in my room, didn't say hello but there if needed. I gave a lift to a few and had to show my face when they were leaving. What surprised me was how they all thanked me on the way out the door, they were so lovely and polite.

That all sounds great but sorry what? You made the boys pee outside??

Hope you’ve got a big garden @Alondra! 🤣

Thanks everyone!
we started moving stuff to keep it safe and we all managed to break something!
DH will order dominos which is insanely expensive but he’s convinced no one will eat sandwiches or party food or buns and cold sausages - DS doesn’t want us warming stuff up.
There must be something that’s appealing cold and isn’t a million quid!
apart from that, I hope it’s looking good.
fingers crossed!

Our local independent pizza place does super massive pizzas like the size of a bike tyre - anything similar near you?

I just cooked some pizzas for a party my Dd had

Or pizza bagels

Ingredients

• 15 bagels
• 500–600 g pizza sauce (thick passata or ready-made)
• 700–800 g grated mozzarella / pizza cheese
• Toppings (choose 3):
• Pepperoni: ~250 g
• Cooked chicken: ~300 g
• Ham: ~250 g
• Sweetcorn: 1 large tin, drained
• Peppers: 3, finely diced
• Olives: 150 g, sliced
• Dried oregano or Italian seasoning

Baking Plan (Important for Volume)

• Use 3–4 large baking trays
• Bake in batches if needed
• 190°C fan / 375°F
• 10–12 minutes per batch

Make-Ahead & Storage

• Bake the day before
• Cool completely
• Store in airtight containers in the fridge
• Remove 20–30 minutes before serving

Great idea, for the enormous pizzas! Unfortunately they are 40 minutes away!
bagels sound good too thank you!
I think the challenge is.. I am mean/ careful and DH wants stress free. I suspect it’s best to keep quiet and let him order domino’s!
so.. arrive 7, crips etc, glow in the dark frisbee, fire pit, music in shed, soft drinks, some beer/ cider and domino’s about 9, leave at 12. That sounds ok I think?
I’ve turned into a wuss!

I cannot bring myself to pay silly money for Domino’s!

I’d not have a fire pit!

Honestly, I'd pay for the Domino's as the least effort option.

god no don’t have a fire pit. That’s asking for a trip to A&E.

omg
don't register with the police
no need to give your phone number to parents - these kids are 18
you aren't hosting - your son is - so don't invite another couple.
just weird

can't be bothered to comment on the rest of this post, but it's really OTT

I struggled to book a function room for an 18th so had it at home. Did a big bowl of alcoholic punch. Otherwise bring your own. Can’t remember what food - no doubt pizza. We sat in the upstairs lounge but I was shouted down to dance to Mr Brightside and the dog stayed downstairs with them. They are a good bunch of kids so apart from a bit of sick and a blocked toilet it was fairly trouble free.

Very difficult to do this. They mostly won't touch 18ths as there will be 17 year olds there from the friendship group and also the high chance of people throwing up.

I think it sounds great apart from the fire pit, just in case of accidents.
I think paying for Domino’s is easiest and the kids will enjoy that. It will also prevent disasters like treading sandwiches/crisps into the carpet - also pizza will be good for soaking up alcohol.

Thank you guys! Maybe not a fire pit then!
reassuring re pizza- I’m with you teenage and twinkle but it breaks my heart to pay dominos. They are GRIM. I could get new boots, I mean a great present for son for that!
needs must!

My parents kindly let me have a party at home for my 18th, it was also about 30 people. They were good friends with our neighbours so they went over to theirs for the evening so they were close by out of the way, and came back at midnight which was the “end” time for those not staying over (about 5). I think there was pizza. Some things I remember happening:

One girl who wasn’t a super close friend so wasn’t staying over threw up all over the downstairs toilet, she was in such a state that one of the designated drivers who was supposed to be taking her home refused and left without her (don’t really blame them!) So when my parents got home they had to try and get hold of this girl’s mum to come and collect her.

The downstairs toilet also had a door that stuck a bit, someone (never found out exactly who) ripped it off its hinges.

As others have said, the floors (mostly tiled) got absolutely filthy with people going in and out, I had to help my parents wash down and repaint all the skirting boards as they got so dirty.

Back in the day a lot of people smoked so cigarette butts all over the garden, but I doubt that’s a problem these days!

Luckily my parents were very chill and I think they had mentally prepared themselves for some damage! I remember another friend’s parents who absolutely flipped when their carpets were left filthy after a party at her house and she had to sheepishly ask us all to contribute to the cost of a professional carpet clean that her parents had insisted on.

Yes to Domino’s (unless you really can’t afford it) and as per a pp, just order margherita and pepperoni. There’s actually bigger discounts once you order a few, typically 50%off.
your 18 year old dc is the host - not the parents.
things like whether they want a birthday cake or whether they want other food will be their choice.
they will likely buy and serve alcohol (it’s kind of the point of an 18th).
We had a problem when another local gathering got shut down by the police and those guests relocated to our party.
Due to this experience (and another experience when a 17 year old had permission for a party whilst parents were away) I would suggest not going out. I came downstairs when I realised our guest list had doubled. My dc lacked the experience to know what to do.

You need to expect a certain amount of wear and tear including spillages and dirty floors, this is part of hosting large groups. If you are houseproud with cream carpets and soft furnishings, and have strict rules such as using coasters, you may want to rethink the idea of a house party. If the guests aren’t going to feel welcome and your dc will be on edge it’s not much of a party. (Deliberate vandalism and theft is of course a different matter but food will get dropped and people will spill drinks etc)

A toilet should be available for all guests, great it it’s downstairs. Male guests should not be encouraged to use the garden as a toilet despite the recommendation from a pp.

Oh and you don’t need to register a domestic party with the police in the UK, I think they would be surprised if you tried to.

Thank you! This whole thread is very useful and reassuring indeed! You are a lovely bunch.
No cream carpets and coasters here coconutboosts for once that’s a plus!
and thank you for the domino’s reassurance. I thought 15 x 12” pizzas for 30 odd kids. Maybe 10. And lots of crisps.
DS and his girlfriend don’t think people will eat much and DS thinks people will enjoy wandering to the chippy. I’d have died if people disappeared at my party, but times change!
DS has conceded that balloons might be ok.
I just want him to have fun - not miss the party by being the host.
im more nervous than he is!
thank you!

My DD had her 18th birthday party at home. I think about 15-20 came. With some trepidation, we went out and left them to it. It was absolutely fine. A few did get very drunk and either they or their friends called their parents to collect them. They spent pretty much all of their time in the kitchen and garden (it was January!) and according to DD this is what always happens at parties. Only polite to warn your neighbours in advance.

Thank you! Party is in full flow as we speak, we are hiding upstairs and they all sound very lovely