Numbers for a party - honest thoughts

[QuicklyNowThen]

It's my 40th in April and I'd quite like to have a party.
Ive lived in Scotland with dh for last 16 years but extended family all in Yorkshire.
If family don't come up to party then I'd probably have around 30-35 friends/colleague's definitely coming is OK for a 40th?
Last one I went to there were lots of no shows on the night and the lady whose party it was ended up disappointed.
Another friend said 'I would have had a party but don't have enough to fill it' which has made me worry too!
Is there a minimum number before it becomes a bit sad - I just want a good night and good laugh

Are any of your friends 40 around same time?
Could just just hire part of pub?

I think 30-35 is loads - I've been to lots of wonderful 40th birthdays with less than that!

The point is to celebrate the milestone with people you really like and have been friends with for years. It's not about proving to the world that you have hundreds of friends - you can safely leave that nonsense behind at 40.

Depends on the venue. I went to a 50th recently where a lot didn’t turn up and we were rattling around a big room in a hotel. It would have been less noticeable at home or a small pub/restaurant.

I should say the parties I've been to we're mostly in people's homes, or a moderately sized room upstairs in a pub. I don't know anyone who has hired a massive function room for their 40th!

It's enough...even if half didn't show up, it would be enough imo

Depends on the size of the room tbh

Depends on what you want to do. A friend had a ceilidh and had about 80? which worked well but people tended to just talk to those they already knew. Another friend had 10 close friends round for a 10 course meal (hired in a chef) and then met up with 30ish the next day with a marquee at home. What do you want to do?

I had the same concern a few weeks ago.
It's a lot of money to pay out for a few hours if there's going to be a lot of no shows.
I had a family party at home and lots of little celebrations with different friends.

Completely depends on the size of the room.

We're about to do our joint 50th at home because I hate a sad half filled party. We debated hiring somewhere but everywhere is a little bit too small (40 people), or much too big (100 people). It will probably be a huge squeeze but will have a great atmosphere! Between us, there will prob be about 50 people over the evening.

Thanks all yep seems to be small venue options or rugby club size so 100 plus.
There's a social club option which is a happy medium in between but not as nice but that might work better 👍👍