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!

I hope he has the best time x

We need an update tomorrow! Hope they all have a great time.

fantastic! Checking in for the debrief tomorrow.

You basically welcome them, let them know you’re around, then leave them to it. Provide some booze but nothing heavy (many will bring something), lots of carb heavy food like pizzas). Best to have an exit time and be sure to warn your neighbours! Skip the cake - you could have a sheet cake but you stay away.

well thank you lovely mns! It all went swimmingly! They all arrived at once, really appreciated the domino’s later on, so thank you for that. We hid upstairs and enjoyed hearing the laughter odd singing and very old music choices! They brought a cake, used a fag for a candle, and all sang a rousing chorus of happy birthday. SO lovely!
thet were all unfailingly lovely. No broken stuff, drugs or cobra Kai type fights in the imaginary swimming pool. Or if there were, all tactfully handled.
thank you for the massive handhold - if only my chums were as polite! Here’s to the 21st! And thank you all, such good reassuring advice and tips!

Fab news!❤️

30 is too many. My son had his 18th & 19th at my parents house. We ordered pizzas and had beers/ciders. We were in attendance. He had 6 friends for his 18th (Covid times) but about 12 ish fir his 19th.