21st Surprise Birthday Party

Planning a 21st surprise birthday party is a great way to honor a close friend or relative. The 21st birthday is a huge milestone in many young adults' lives, and a surprise party gives this celebration the extra attention it deserves.

Surprise your friends with a party.

The most vital factor in planning a surprise birthday party is keeping it a secret. After all, it wouldn't be a surprise if the birthday man or woman found out. A 21st birthday party is even harder to keep a secret, as many celebrants are expecting a birthday bash in their honor.

Try following these tips to keep a 21st surprise party a secret:

• Skip emailing an invitation or sending out online invitations. Instead, call every guest and speak to him/her in person. This way, there aren't any emails that are accidentally forwarded or invitation cards left lying in sight of the birthday person.
• Plan a small birthday party, such as a dinner at a restaurant. However, when you get there, have a huge group of people in a rented banquet hall.
• Invite your friend out for drinks or an activity, while others gather at his/her home (or yours).
• Celebrate with a party the weekend before or the weekend after, so the person does not suspect that a surprise party is in the works. If you plan a party with alcohol, make sure it is after the person's birthday, so she can sip the drinks.

The ruse is an especially important part of the 21st surprise party. Choose a ruse that the birthday person is likely to believe. For example, if you invite him to an amusement park for the afternoon while your co-planners are decorating his house, he will know something is up if you typically hate roller coasters and large crowds.

Avoiding the need for a ruse is a great way to keep the surprise party a secret. Instead of inventing a reason to get together, simply use a regular get-together as the actual party. For example, if you normally meet every Friday for girls' night out, or bowl with your brother every Sunday afternoon, use those activities as a cover for the surprise party.

Once you have the major aspects of the party figured out (how to keep it a secret and how to get the birthday person to the actual party), you can focus on the rest of the party details.

While a surprise party is a theme in and of itself, it might be worth it to have a sub-theme, too. If your friend or relative is attending school, a college party theme is a good choice; just be sure to keep it from becoming a wild college party if coworkers, parents and younger siblings are invited.

A Las Vegas or gambling theme is a great choice for a 21st birthday surprise party. Cocktails and drinks are another choice for a birthday party. Even though it is a surprise party, you can use any creative theme ideas you think the birthday person will enjoy.

Having a large selection of good party drink recipes is typical at a 21st surprise birthday party. Include beer, wine and a few mixed drinks for everyone to enjoy. If the honored guest is not interested in drinking, consider having a few "mocktails" available.

Buffets with simple party foods are a good choice for the 21st birthday party. Ordering a variety of pizzas or a party sub sandwich are other options perfect for a young adult's birthday party.

Choose decorations that coordinate with your 21st birthday party theme. Lots of balloons, confetti and streamers are great for tossing onto the birthday boy/girl as he/she enters the party, too. A large banner with "Surprise" written on it is perfect for placing over the main party area or near the food table.

Keep decorations simple, especially if you plan to do a lot of drinking at the party. Remember to drink responsibly and have designated drivers, too.

Throwing a surprise 21st birthday party is a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday. By making the party a surprise, you add a little something extra that other 21st birthday parties lack.

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