Cost of husband’s 40th party

[naavaaira]

Posting here for traffic.
I am organising a surprise party for my husband’s 40th. He is the kind who loves being centre of attention and would love the surprise! I have never ever organised a proper event like this so have no idea of average cost and your input would be appreciated. I’m looking to cater his favourite Turkish food, inflatable night club in the garden, alcohol, cake, nibbles, and other bits all coming to around £1200 for 16 adults and 8 kids. Does that sound average or a lot?

Sounds very reasonable to me!

When’s his birthday OP ?

That sounds incredibly cheap. That's 50 pounds per person.

Its in a few weeks

oh wow! Thanks for your input.

I had a party for my 40th and my budget was half that, so I’d say that’s ample. I did a lot of DIY tho with my very creative sister.

Have a great time.

I hope it’s not February 10th because on that day

Monday February 10th 1986 I came home from school to discover my mum had read my diary! 😮

Believe me OP you did not want to be me that evening !!!!!! The trauma!!!!!

It sounds a good deal. I had a catered party in my house for 18 adults 7 years ago and that was £600 (we did have lots of drink left over) and I didn’t have your entertainment. It sounds like it will be a fab party.

25 per head for the takeaway or are you cooking the food yourself ?

another 5 to 10 head for alcohol and drinks - I would guess people will bring some

cakes and nibbles - a couple of £ per head

so it’s all on the inflatable night club - please tell me more about this monstrous thing? It needs to be coming in at around £200

Monstrous thing made me chuckle! £550 for Turkish catering, £320 for inflatable night club, £70 cake, and the rest for alcohol, nibbles, plastic plates, decor and other bits

My friends and I always say that we would love to do soft play without the kids and while a bit tipsy!

A good Turkish takeaway around here would be over £25 per person (as in a big celebration meal with all the trimmings, not just your usual shish/salad/dips/bread/rice).

£5 per head for alcohol?!! I know Mumsnetters don’t drink, but this is a 40th birthday party!! I would have thought people would have more than one glass of wine!! Yes, people will probably bring some, but you don’t want to run out of drinks in your 40th, that would be a very sad party! It doesn’t go off, I wouldn’t scrimp on drinks.

Depends where you are, but in my neck of the woods it would probably cost a few hundred pounds to order in a decent takeaway for that many people so on that basis, your entire party for £1200 sounds like an incredibly good deal!

I had an inflatable slide and ice cream man for my 60th. Everybody loved it (hardly any children, who didn't really get a look in anyway!)

Sorry, I didn't mean that as you are being cheap, more like that's a great deal, It sounds like your math is adding up.

Sounds fun …am going to google inflatable nightclub 😊

My 40th last year cost less than half that so your budget should be plenty

Inflatable garden nightclub? Are you ready for your neighbours to all hate you?

That's £50 a head, so including food and drink I would think it's pretty good value.

What's an inflatable nightclub? Have you invited the neighbours?

That’s hilarious! I can’t believe you remember the date this happened or did you then diarise that too?!

Out of 10/16 are drinking, I don’t want to skimp on alcohol so maybe will get more, will have 50 samosas as well and mums making onion bhajis. Neighbours will be fine, we’ve had garden parties previously and will inform them beforehand :)

getting mixed views on here, it’s good to see what everyone else thinks

This all sounds lovely and a I think it’s pretty reasonable money-wise. I’m sure you’ll have a tonne of fun. X

I think it sounds like great value.

Have you got a wet weather plan?

Soft drinks/mixers?

That sounds very reasonable for everything you’re having. We spent £600 on my 30th, held in our garden with a bbq and alcohol for 20-25 adults. Would have loved catering - you’re definitely making the right decision not doing the food yourself. Gets in the way of the party!