Party ideas? 50th

[Tinkerbellone]

Hi everyone. Posting here for traffic.
Please share your ideas and inspire me.

I'm 50 this year. I have always wanted a big party & to invite my friends and family. My DP has paid for one for me - bless him. I can have up to 80. It's at a great place - kind of wedding venue hotel type place. It's 4 weeks away and I am getting panicky about it.
Should I have a disco or singer. What about those Photo Booth things and what about table decorations? Cake?

Please would you inspire me with ideas of things I can do? Or great ideas of parties you've been to. I am terrible at knowing what to decorate or do. It doesn't come naturally to me.
Thank you everyone ❤️

What have you arranged so far? Sit down meal? Buffet? Daytime? Evening?

I think only you know your guests. We've been to (and held our own!) 50ths the last few years. I'd say sit down meals are the worst, it's hard for the atmosphere. I prefer a disco to a live band (but get to know your DJ, we had one who seemed to be having as much fun as the guests and kept everyone dancing up to the end). Be generous with drinks, and ensure there is somewhere nearby for people to stay if they're travelling any distance (or they fancy a treat night away!). Consider dynamics of adult only/including kids. I wouldn't worry too much about decorations, or you could look to hire some?

And have a wonderful night!!

Maybe have a theme of something a bit cheesy like ‘be fabulous’ and encourage people to dress up in whatever makes them feel good. Photo booths are fun. If you do have a DJ get friends to make a request when they RSVP

have you already done the invites? If not I'd get those out asap - people's diaries fill up quickly and there have been multiple threads on here about people being flakey and dropping out of events so I'd try and over invite to compensate. Get an idea of how many will be definitely coming and arrange the space for that - if it is set up for 80 it will look quite bare with only 50 people, for example.

A band is always fun but only worth it if people will actually get up and dance. If not may as well just stick a playlist on. Also any decent band will usually be booked up months in advance for a weekend, although given the time of year you might be lucky. You could ask for songs from the year you were born/your 18th/year you got married etc?

Decorations - I doubt people notice or care too much, but if you're not naturally talented with decorations the easiest thing is to check what colour the room is and buy things that match with that, e.g. if the room/carpet is blue buy decorations either in blue or in a complementary colour (e.g silver), or at the most a mix of the 2, rather than getting gold and silver balloons, multicolour flowers, green banners etc. For all the 'big 0' type ones I've been to people have tended to have photos of the birthday person at different ages around the room. If they have an overhead projector or screen I made a video for my mum's 50th.

To be honest probably the best thing is to chat to the venue. They'll be used to hosting events and might even have decorations you can use.

But I'd try and get on it asap, again, 4 weeks is leaving it pretty late for a large party!

Thank you. I was so anxious and stressed - I'm feeling a bit better now. The invites went out and food/buffet is already sorted too.
Xxx