AIBU to ask you what you/anyone you know did for their 40th birthday party?

[ginghamgiraffe]

Looking for inspiration for mine - themes/fancy dress/rustic/sophisticated
I can't decide
I do know I want to have a great night.
(I did start a longer thread in the correct topic but no bugger answered so I'm posting here)

I loved my 40th.

Myself and my ex went to a very expensive hotel for a couple of nights. Posh suite, sea view, champagne the works it was great.

On the actual day we had a family lunch at another gorgeous hotel and in the evening my parents had a wee 'do' at theirs with people like my Godmother, aunts and uncles etc

Then on the Sat I went out for dinner with a group of friends.

In all my 40th lasted about 3 weeks

My ex wasn't my ex back then though that would just have been weird going away with an ex partner

Nothing.

I sat at home and cared for the DCs while he went away for 5 days with his mates on a trip relating to his hobby.

I like a lot of the other answers better - you probably shouldn't take mine as a suggestion

And today is our anniversary. Guess where he is?

I don't drink so I had an afternoon tea in a local sports club. My mum and I made sandwiches and cakes, and I asked friends and family who are keen bakers to also bring cakes. We hired China tea sets and had sandwiches and cakes on tiered plates and a teapot on each table. There were family and friends of all ages, and we had board games and toys for the children. Was lovely

Had a 2 night stay in a gorgeous country hotel and spa. I hadn't slept so well since before having DC1 (10!). We went on a big shopping trip in a nearby town, mooched round museums, went for long leisurely meals and curled up and read by a roaring fire.

Bloody brilliant.

I'd never have had a party as we simply don't have enough friends or family close by. Plus I'd have hated it!

It was last December. I was on a home pass from a psychiatric ward. . Awful time.

Two of my friends had parties, one at her house and the other had hers in a hotel. My other friend is going to Italy with her husband and then having a big party when she comes back.

I don't know what I'm going to do for mine. But I'm NOT having a party that's for sure.

Had a bunch of tulips and some fizz. I had just had a baby though so surprise parties were out

Nothing.......was 37 weeks pregnant and DH working abroad

totally get that it's horses for courses
Want to do something fun and prob about 100 guests - have a fair budget I reckon, have a great group of mates who all live locally, and want to pay back loads of kindnesses to me by having a great night for all my friends - food, drink, dancing.
Yes as pp said, playlist essential.
Just want to work out the detail bits.
here's the tumbleweed thread in the parties section for those who like that kind of thing

Oh and without wanting to sound like some kind of grouch, I don't want family friendly

Much as I love all that stuff - we do LOADS of family friendly stuff (have 4 young DCS)

I'm really thinking something GROWN UP where I can wear something fab that is not machine washable for a sodding change.

Went to Vienna and had a sumptuous dinner out!

i didnt really do anything
i would go on holiday

DEFINIELY No shit fancy dress

i have been to loads of 40ths - they are okaaay but meh - can live wihtout them

( I think i got a new windscreen for mine)

I hired out a large private area in a bar (no hire fee, but a minimum spend behind the bar) and organised a joint party with a couple of uni mates, we invited over 200 people between us. We didn't provide food as canapés are so expensive, so we warned people to eat beforehand and saved our budget for the drink.

My DH prefers a quieter night, so for his we went to a nice restaurant with 4 other couples.

No themes or fancy dress btw.

Ooh, what spa?

We took the kids to Ibiza and danced all night at Ushuaia, it was amazing. I would rather chew my own arm off than have a party, but then again I don't like groups of people, it reminds me of being at school. I'm much better one to one.

I organised a surprise party at our house for circa 30 people for DH. Fancy dress. He only found out about it on the day when I told him he needed to put the party tables out. (We used to do a lot of parties). Half were coming from abroad as we lived in France at the time and they were staying over. We had a very big party house in France. I did a full roast dinner for everyone so it was quite the operation. That was pre DD.