30th Birthday Ideas for DH

[goingrunningtomorrow]

My DH turns 30 at the end of this month and we have an 8 month DD. I want to mark the occasion but am knackered, skint and completely uninspired. I used to be great at planning surprises before DD arrived but have lost the will now! Doesn't help that everyone keeps asking me "so what are you doing for DH's 30th?" and I have literally no response

Any inspiration/ideas out there for a nice meaningful cheap surprise that also work around having a small baby? Preferably non-eveningy things that require babysitters as DD is a nightmare to settle in the early evening hours.

Gah. Now I've written it down I need a lie down myself.

Why not give a babysitter the job of settling the baby and go out for a few hours? The 'everyone' asking what are you doing for his 30th could join you at a local eaterie and maybe they'll even pick up the tab!

Can you rope your parents or PILs in to help? Are any of the friends asking about your plans competent babysitters?

Wrong time of year for a picnic or is it. Ring round, get a babysitter, you organise a heap of friends to fix up a surprise bbq or everyone-bring-a-plate-of-food (and drink) in someone's back garden or public space (beach? wood? hillside?). Wrap up warm and have a bonfire or candles in jam jars. Some music.

Can you do something at home? Invite friends over, you do some nibbly food bits and put on the invites 'bring a bottle'. Start the party at 8pm and then you'll have a chance to settle the baby beforehand.

Do you have a budget? How many people would you want to include? Do you as a group have a childish streak - think fancy dress or theme?

Marking place as its my dp's 30th at the beginning of Nov and we have a 6 month old and limited funds as I'm on mat money
We don't have a huge social group so parties are out lol!
I was thinking a meal but we do this once a month when ds goes to nannies so it's not exactly special ifswim

mampam great idea - we have a tiny house but bigger shared garden so a bring your own/bonfire party could work well if the weather holds.

donkeys our parents both live abroad/other end of country so no joy there. Love the bonfire picnic idea though.

ColdCottage Budget is around the £50 mark, and there would be maybe 10 or so of our friends involved. Lots of them also have small kids too...hence why a daytime thingy might work better. We LOVE fancy dress.

Who out of your friends has got the biggest house? Ask them nicely if they could host and do an afternoon/evening party to include the children. You can still provide the food and everyone else can bring a bottle or you could ask everyone to bring a plate of food and you could buy some drinks with your budget?

I've been to plenty of parties where we are asked to bring something.

Can't really help too much...

Most of the things I like doing cost quite a bit of money so we tend to save up in advance. I'm not really bothered about doing something for the sake of it so some years I do nothing or maybe a meal out or a drink in the pub.

For my DH 50th I made him up a digital list of one track from each year of his life which was fun and he liked it. Cost zero if you use youtube. Ds taught me how! I put it on a cd, too.

Agree party, pref at someone else's house, all bring food and wine. Dolly it up with fairy lights. Maybe think of a special surprise to give him at the party.

I hate the idea of surprise parties so I'd let him know bit maybe add in some extras. Do you have any musical or creative mates? Some songs are good if well done. Create a collage of pics from all periods of his life....

I'd do the free for all as suggested with kids or a cheese and wine adults only party at your house. Or do a murder mystery evening?

For my DH's 30th we had a pirate party at his parents house (big house and near the sea) it was September so we did a BBQ and BYO booze.

If you have the space, with only 10 people could you push the furniture back or into a bedroom ? If not village halls are only about £20 to hire for 4 hours. Then make a big chili with jacket potatoes or rice, ask people to bring a pus as well as drinks.

What's your DH's first initial? Say it was p, have a P party. Everyone comes dressed as something starting with that letter. Makes it easier for people.

My DSis just had her 30th. The printed pic of her through the years in black and white. Then stuck them on the wall in the shape of 30. Boots have an offer at the moment - 75 prints for 1p each.