Do I pay for anything?

[Hesreallyshort]

Thinking of inviting a large group of mum friends (25 ish) out for my birthday for lunch at a large local restaurant (outside, lots of tables)
Do I pay for anything? It’s been ages since I’ve not had just family birthdays.
I’ve ordered a beautiful cake to be made, which we’ll all obviously have at the end,

I’m trying to remember the last time I was invited to a birthday lunch or dinner and the host didn’t pay.

I think the way people celebrate these things changes as you get older. For instance, in our 20s, people probably knew they couldn’t afford to take dozens of friends to restaurants, so they tended to have a house party or picnic instead.

People don’t do big parties every year as we get older, but definitely for ‘milestone’ birthdays (eg 40th or 50th), people feel that they’re at a point in life where they should be able to treat their friends. I’ve had friends take large groups (maybe 50 people) away to for the weekend. They rent a house and caterers, or we go to a spa. DH has been on loads of sailing weekends, or car racing things. For me personally with my 50th coming up in a couple of years, it will be a toss up between taking maybe 20 or so good friends out for dinner somewhere really special, or having a party at home with caterers and where I don’t need to cap numbers. I would never dream of asking anyone to pay to attend my party - it just seems so entitled to me. If I couldn’t afford to do much, I’d just make a massive vege curry or something and get people over. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

Crack on OP, send out the info and see how many say yes, I don't get the fuss? My group of friends eat out in large groups regularly, it's no hassle. The default is we pay for ourselves, then usually order the birthday girl a nice dessert and cocktail after, or a round of shots.

It's not complicated, just be clear. Have a nice day