Help, how do I make husbands 70th birthday party a success?

We had a really good magician for my husband's 80th birthday party, he kept everyone amused, and I made a list of "10 years" and put this up for people to read, together with photographs. i.e. the first ten years with mum and dad, next with sister and whatever else pertinent. So we had 7 lovely displays of photographs and talking points - probably very much as happens at some wakes, but he was able to reminisce and enjoy with those who were there, some of whom actually remembered events too!

I would start by trying to create a more cosy atmosphere within the room appygran Moving chairs and tables closer together rather than farther apart. (effectively shutting off part of the room) Or else set the buffet table away from the wall which again will help to fill an empty space.

Try to concentrate on the people that are coming rather than dwelling on those who are not. Make sure all those who attend have a special time, then at least they will tell the misery guts people what they missed!

Don't forget there may be people who just turn up on the night and likewise there might be people who say they are coming and then don't for some reason or another.

Try to give off a "all the more for us" vibe rather than looking disappointed. Encourage DH to mingle with the guests rather than taking root in a corner.

I have never had a party in my life so probably not the best person to offer advice. Maybe a party animal gransnetter will be along soon.

I do hope it goes well and wish your DH a very happy day.

Thanks PRINTMISS I am doing the ten year thing with photographs and writing a poem(small rhyme) for each decade. The idea of a magician is a really good one I will look into it.

My husband is 70 in November. Not yet decided what to do on the day, but i gVe told him that during the year I shall be giving him 70 presents. He has had about 16 so far and include tea and cake at garden centre, bottle of gin, cut glass whisky tumbler, Jeeves and Wooster play, cinema, big bar of chocolate, and several lie-ins while I walk the dog, buy a paper and a bacon butty. I have lots more ideas for the rest of the year.

I shall be 70 the following year so I feel the bar has been set!

My husband was 70 last week. He didn't want any presents (never does)! He was happy when his daughter, her partner and our grandson and her partners 2 children came over for a week! We had a "party " on the Sunday with some friends and the family with a cake (home made by yours truly) and then a family meal on the Monday (his birthday). The family bought him a photo frame and some fruit trees (as requested). He was happy with that! A man of simple tastes!!

appygran have you considered contacting the venue and asking if there is a smaller space you can use? or if they have ways of making the space smaller? They may have screens or room dividers you could use. Otherwise tables round the edges of the room or across one end to block off space, with flowers, presents display boards on them to make it seem this was intentional. Alternatively I have seen at weddings an area blocked off with a camera set up, a seat to sit in and a book set out. Guests sit down make a short video message and leave a message for your DH in the book, you can then send this out to all those who failed to turn up! I couldn't do the techno bit but I am sure you have Dcs or DGCs who could handle it.

I'm sorry you are having to worry now about what you intended to be a lovely event appygran and I hope it goes well.

I do wonder about parties though as a whole. DH is 70 this year and I was given a dire warning - no parties or special events. I used to be a party girl myself but dread them now I always feel tired and drained for days afterwards and the what to wear problem is dreadful. The last time I gave a small BBQ party quite a few people decided not to come. Party invitations among friends here as whole seem to have dropped off in favour of going out for a meal to a restaurant. I'm at a loss for what to do for DH - he doesn't regard it as in anyway special so I will probably just find a nice place to spend the day in the country.

I won a GN competition for a Warners break so we went there to celebrate my 70th. DS and DD and their families and uni friends always go to a music festival together in summer and it happened to be the weekend of my birthday. DH and I had a lovely time and flowers and fizz were delivered to the room from them all and they rang up too.

For DH's 70th the year before, we were in France on holiday so just had a special meal out. He doesn't like a fuss so that was his choice.

I used to love big parties when I was younger but seem to have outgrown them and now only want my close family with me - when they are available!

I hope you manage to solve your dilemma, appygran. It is my seventieth in November this year and I definitely don't want a party. We'll probably do what we did for DH's and have a family meal somewhere. More of a dilemma for me is what we do for our 50th anniversary this year. We are hopeless at throwing parties and don't know many people outside the family anyway; most of the ones we do know live two or three hours drive away!

Lots of great ideas thank you for responding. I am not a party person but husband is, so for this special birthday decided to arrange one. I would have preferred a family meal or a holiday. I have decided to ask if venue have a smaller room or if we can somehow partition part of the room off and organise some extra activities. May invite a few of the neighbours as well, it will provide an opportunity to get to know them better. However I am determined that those family and friends who do come will have a good time. Feeling more positive about it now.

appy I have just had my 60th and the family asked if I wanted a party, I didnt so they booked a conservatory in a local hotel with a light buffet for my immediate family. There were 30 of us, it was held at 1pm so all my Grandchildren came which was what I wanted, they range from 18ths up to 21yrs. I had the most amazing afternoon, we had background music not a disco and the kids just played on the floor, I got to chat with everyone and it was perfect, so dont worry about the numbers small is good, hope your DH enjoys his birthday.

appy I'm sure the numbers won't matter, a friend of ours had a 70th birthday party in a private room in a restaurant and it was a lovely occasion - as trisher suggested, ask the venue if they have a smaller space you could use, to make it seem more intimate.
Is anyone giving a speech? Someone who has known your DH for years & could recount amusing anecdotes?
Anyway, I hope you have a great time.

appygran you will have a great time, after all all the party poopers are staying away so everyone will be there to enjoy themselves. Wish you and your DH all the best.

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I don't know how much you want to spend, the age of the guests, or time of day it will be held, but some ideas that might help are -

Balloons on ribbons for every chair - pick 2/3 colours (one looks lonely) and group one of each colour from each chair at slightly different heights. 70th Birthday balloons for the guest of honour (try eBay).

Vintage sweet stand - this kind of thing is really popular now with mixed age groups as everyone loves the old fashioned sweetie shop! You can get small ready made cardboard stands that come with bags that you fill with sweets (all from eBay).

Scrapbook of memories - you might not have time for this, but perhaps you've got help. Guests could bring photos to add to the book if they want and write comments - or maybe just get a guest book from eBay and pass it around for guests to write messages to your husband.

eBay is your friend when it comes to this kind of thing because everything can be delivered quickly (make sure the seller is in the UK though), and it's usually cheaper than the high street.

A magician is a great idea, especially if they can do a little spot where your husband can be the 'willing' volunteer.

Hope you have a great time and do remember to tell us how it goes!

Card factory are very reasonable for balloons if you have one near you.

Yes, I agree the Card Factory is brilliant for party stuff and miles cheaper than any other shop. It does the helium balloons too which could be good for your husband's chair.

Have you got any help appygran?

For my DH's 70th last year, I rented a house in the Malvern's for a long weekend that was big enough for DH and me and our 2 DSs and their families. We had a lovely time and younger DS cooked a special birthday meal. We also contacted people from different times of his life and got them to make a short video talking about the things they had done and younger DS linked them all together on a DVD. DH was completely over whelmed by this - he had no idea

I love the idea of changing to a smaller room and the balloons on the chairs.

Last year for a special birthday (male) I sent a balloon bouquet. It had one really big themed balloon, 3 or 4 large balloons, and about 5 smaller ones, all helium filled. It went down a treat. And for several weeks after there were about ten balloons hanging from various parts of the ceiling, having released the tether that held them all together.

Just popped back on this site, thanks for the great ideas. Gosh you can rely on gransnet for ideas I should have come on here first. Number of guests don't worry me it was just that I received quite a few sorry can't make it today after said people previously accepting. Just felt a bit gutted and needed to rethink my plans. DD and DIL decorating venue and I have pointed out some of your ideas, it is now over to them. I am busy putting together a memory wall of photographs depicting each decade. I may leave enough room for guests to write messages or add photos as this would be a nice memento for husband to keep.

Thanks again

We did the photograph thing at my Dad's 95th which took place at home. We made it into a quiz by asking people to guess the year the pic was taken. It was a lot of fun and got everyone circulating around the sitting and dining rooms where they were blue tac'd up. Good luck with your party I'm sure the people there..the ones who care will have a great time.

So apt that this is here today as I am holding a surprise party for my husband's 70th in April - not easy to keep it from him now we are retired and he is around 24/7! Getting some great ideas from this stream and feeling calmer. Wonderful daughters are taking on lots of the organisation and both offered their gardens for a marquee. It has grown from 50 to about 80 friends and family!

I'm sure your husbands party will be a big success appygran.

Just a thought, but as well as Card factory did you know that Asda to a good selection of party accessories, party.asda.com/ they do several 'themed' ideas.

My DH celebrated his 60th last month with a kiddies tea party with our four grandchildren on the actual day and a meal out with their parents at the weekend. He wanted jelly and ice cream and party poppers so we decorated the dining room, bought lots of balloons and to our grandchildren's delight played the game of 'Pie Face' where he was pelted with squirty cream!

I think I'll go away for my 60th

The same thing happened to me when I planned a ceilidh for my 60th birthday. Of my three siblings and their families only one could be bothered to turn up on the day but the one who came really made a big effort to speak to my children, their other halves and my grandson as well as my friends. When you make arrangements such as these and are so excited and looking forward to it, it can be very dispiriting when the numbers are half of those invited. We had a great time though because those who came were those who cared enough about me to join in and it was a fun and life affirming occasion. The ones who missed out were the ones who couldn't or wouldn't make the effort to come along - not me!

Lots of lovely ideas! Have you thought of a table quiz? We had events off past 60 years and a famous people of the same name. The DC organised it and provided a chocolate winner's cup (from Thornton's). It provided a subject for discussion, particularly amongst guests who didn't know each other very well. Music from his favourite decade/ decade would be good too.
Good luck.