Turning 50… How do I throw a party people will talk about for years?

[Donewiththisshit]

What’s the most memorable thing you have seen at a party big or small? I’ve got the venue, I’ve got the people and a theme but I want to make it legendary.
So far all I’m coming up with is a Photo Booth…..help! I would love to hear about the parties that stick in your mind for being brilliant so I can copy!
(AIBU for asking for your best party experiences)

Make sure the venue isn’t too big for the number of people you’ve invited otherwise there will be a lack of atmosphere. Keep the venue size as close to the numbers you have or slightly smaller. Great music and food too

I feel like the most memorable parties are the ones where drama occurs. After all, no one really remembers the food or decor after the fact.

if you really want to impress people though, live music from a notable artist would be a good shout. By notable, maybe an artist that was popular in your teens/20s as I imagine your guests are a similar age to you and therefore the performance would feel nostalgic. I’d expect that to be costly though.

Great live music & good food.

Went to a wedding the other day and there was a really cool photo booth which took 3 pics and then printed 2 copies. You stuck one set in a book, along with a message for the couple, and could keep the other set. It was such a great idea!

Also went to a wedding a couple of years ago with team games done with your table. It was a great way to bond with people you may not know and got everyone laughing. One was just musical chairs (each table had a representative) but it got very competitive and was hilarious. Another game was a kind of scavenger hunt. A rep from each table had to find.... A one pound coin, a watch, a red lipstick etc and then run back to a central point. Obviously the table helped their 'rep' to get each item. Each time the last person to get the item went out till it was just 2 teams battling it out.

As someone above said, make sure your music isn’t so loud it drowns everything else out. Free alcohol, unless none of your friends are drinkers, definitely helps. Love the idea of guessing the shots.

It would be pretty cool getting Rick Astley or someone to sing live at your party!

Yep! Or failing that, a very good tribute artist.

All I can do is tell you about mine, which got the guy who ran it LOADS of enquries and I still get messages 2 years later asking for his details!

I am part of a large community of online quizzers. I am not a "drink, disco, buffet" kind of person. So I asked one of the hosts, who does quizzes in pubs, to host a "game show night". It was brilliant.

I know people say "oh everyone said my party/wedding/etc was the best they had been to!" but the host is getting enquiries 2 years later on the back of it! He played music in between the rounds too. So think a round of "House of Games" then music then "Wheel of Fortune" etc. It was amazing.

Happy to recommend someone if you are in the Midlands, he isnt cheap but worth every single penny!

A party which people of the neighbourhood will talk about for years?

Easy!

Make it a swingers’ party.

I like parties with party games, the sort which gets everyone talking to each other because often if you invites work/old friends/relatives they won't know each other and just stand around in little groups chatting to their acquaintances.
For one of mine I did a quiz with an odd fact I knew about each person so everyone had to speak to each other to fill out the answers (eg. someone born in the USA, someone whose middle name is Keith etc.) Great ice breaker.
I have no time for people who are too "cool" to play silly games. 😁
Also lots of good food and a big bowl of no too alcoholic punch.

I’m in the early stages of planning a 50th for a friend. The theme is James Bond- everyone dressed up, casino games, props and Photo Booth, cocktails (and bartenders) as well as food.