Please settle an argument!

[Stickywhitelovepiss]

OH and I both have milestone birthdays coming up... in 2022.

We had planned to have a massive combined party and had a bit of a "for fun" discussion about potential themes / locations / food etc. As something of a forward planner by nature, this has now spiraled in my own overactive imagination to the point that I don't want to wait another 4 years for this to happen. I have essentially got it all planned in my head already now!

OH is totally onboard with the party idea, but insists we should wait till said milestone birthday year, or "no one will think it is worth coming". I say fuck it, life is short - let's have a party sooner rather than later, and no one really gives two hoots what's the occasion is and whether it's our birthdays or not anyway, as long as there is booze and food and fun (which there will be in spades).

Wise women of MN - what say you please?

2022!! Go for it. You can do it all again anyway.

—awaits invitation—

Go ahead, we could all be dead in four years.

Do it now! Say it's a practice run for the real thing 😁 life is too short, go for it and enjoy it!

user1471505356 - exactly my point!

I agree with your OH about waiting for the actual year to celebrate your milestone birthdays but you could just have a party before that if you want one, just don't call it your special birthday party.

Yes, you need a rehearsal!

Will people be expected to buy outfits and presents for this very happy unbirthday?

I think you have to do it now just to make sure it works right? Like when you have to eat the chocolate to make sure it isn't poisonous, just in case. It's a public service really.

This would be an “all out” event on our part, so no chance of a repeat performance in another few years - especially as neither of us are particularly keen on reaching either milestone in the first place!

Absolutely no presents required. We will put on venue (very accessible for all friend and family sets), music, catering (all dietary requirements catered for), DJ, decor, bouncy castle for the kids, and plenty of “starter” booze. We’d be inviting people to come in the style of a certain decade (not obligatory though) and also to bring a bottle or two to keep the party going, but that would be absolutely it.

Does that still meet MN party etiquette standards...?

I vote with your DH. I am totally with you on the early planning (started planning for my 40th years in advance!) but I just think it's more meaningful if it's celebrating a genuine milestone. Sorry!

I would have said wait for 2022, but with you saying you're not looking forward to the milestones I reckon definitely have it now. And style it as "Sticky and OH's absolutely not milestone party".

We’d probably just position it as a party, rather than a birthday one.

Would people still make an effort to come do you think?

I like that! @Daniel

Isn't it time you renew your vows or something?

I’m going to a 48th birthday party this weekend that’s basically a big party for someone who isn’t looking forward to being 50 so they’re having a party this year before they get depressed about getting old (their words)

I couldn't wait 4 years for anything - it is bound to be an anticlimax if you wait that long. Just have the '4 years to go' party now while you're
keen.

My brother and his wife had a fantastic huge dinner party when their ages added up to 50. They called it a Middle Aged Spread ..........

Wait. And also, keep planning. Think of all the even more brilliant ideas you can have in the next 4 years.

Another one saying do it,with everyone under instruction that it's a bribe shindig so they won't mention or make a fuss when the milestone comes😁

Myself and my husband said we would do something special for something specific. He was diagnosed with cancer 2 months before. Get the fuck off mumsnet and plan it for now. Go have fun drink and be merry because I assure YOU I am living live is to short. His cancer is advanced stage and I am I fucking limbo can't even plan anything for our baby's first birthday because well you can have people around post radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment xx never care what others think when you want to do something for yourself x

@Bertrand I've tried to think of similar, but the numbers unfortunately don't fit...

@user1484424013 I'm really very sorry to hear that, and wish you all the very best... OH has had a number of health worries too, so am surprised he's not more on board...

Do it know.
DH wanted a big party for his 70th. He didn't make it.
You will have a glorious time !

NOW