AIBU not to know how to throw a 50th birthday party

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I have never thrown a party at home but am thinking of doing so for my 50th. If I had a party at home, what are the common expectations? Drinks, music, what level of food? Nibbles? Snacks? I have no idea! I have lived a sheltered life! TIA

We've done loads of parties at home; I hate the work associated with it and am fairly quiet but my husband loves having people over.
It's easier if you can use outside space. Drinks - Wine, beer and soft drink cans in ice buckets. Don't offer spirits unless pushed; jugs of pimms or one type of cocktail is fine. Get loads of ice. Paper cups if you don't have enough glasses, you can get glass hire for free if you order enough wine from Majestic or other places.
Food - keep it really simple but lots of it. Bbq in summer is easy - burgers and sausages in rolls, with loads of salads. If indoors, do a limited but plentiful buffet - French bread, olives, salami, cheese, crisps, and a few hot things like sausages with honey/mustard, roast potatoes, chicken wings. Top it up halfway through. If smaller numbers, pre make a lasagne or something easy that you can put in oven with kitchen cleared up from earlier prep.
Dessert - pre bought, or a great birthday cake.
Music - playlists are good, get one set up on Alexa or whatever you have in advance.
Make sure you have loads of bin bags and kirchen roll.
Hope that helps

And tell them when it will finish

Drinks: invitation says byo (most will anyway) with beers/wine/mixer for approx two thirds of attendees. Some spirits for late people.if you're a night bird. Paper cups yes.
Food: Iceland. Party oven food coming out like fancy canapes, pizza, some fresh dips and crisps.
Music: find an old rock and roll playlist on Spotify, everyone loves it.

I hosted my 50th last year in autumn at home. I got a local caterer to make a beef stew, chicken curry and veg curry. Rice, bread, beetroot etc. I massively over catered. I got a couple of local barman/friends in to make espresso martinis and gin sours for a few hours. After that everyone free styled it. I played Spotify through a speaker. I bought loads of booze and now 6 months we still have left overs. My advice is don't scrimp. If cash flow is a problem then don't overstretch and meet in a local pub. Which will be just as good.

Whatever you do OP, enjoy it

Get a gorilla tub filled with ice as your bar

Few days ago we had a 40th birthday party for my husband, not over the top. We had chips for people to nimble on and my friend cooked us food, jerk chicken/rice and peas, beetroot and we had some drinks too. We ate and then ate the cake, then everyone went home.

I invited my friends to a pyjama party for my 60th. I had lots of substantial nibbling food set out in the kitchen, along with drinks and a cake. We played games and chatted.

I know it sounds tame. Everyone's different- my friends and I wouldn't have enjoyed a 'getting plastered and dancing with the furniture shoved round the room' kind of party.

@picklemewalnuts that sounds really cool!