



From milestone birthdays to getting together with friends and family to celebrate, adult birthday parties can be so much more than a simple hangout. For the ultimate celebration, you need to know how to plan an adult birthday party, from the themes to food, venues and more. Birthday parties aren’t just for kids, after all.
We’ve got some adult birthday ideas that will make your get-together even more memorable, whether you’re celebrating your birthday or planning a surprise for someone else. Check out the adult birthday party guide below for some inspiration and the steps for planning an adult birthday party.
Picking a theme will make planning an adult birthday party that much easier. Choose something the one who’s celebrating a birthday will love, or keep the guests in mind and pick what will be fun for everyone. Having a theme will help you choose:
While your options are virtually endless for a grownup birthday party theme, these are a few popular choices.
Celebrate your favorite team, watch a game from home or head to the stadium to see the action in-person. Even if your birthday falls out of the sport’s season, decorate with your team’s colors, logo and more. Encourage guests to wear jerseys or colors, and you can even play the sport yourselves if you’re celebrating your birthday at home.
Vintage and throwback parties are always a hit. Guests can dress in fun outfits, and you can get creative with the decorations. Some popular decade themes for birthday party ideas include the following.
Those decades are fun adult birthday party options that you can make anywhere from simple to extravagant. For a more opulent celebration, choose a decade from centuries ago for something like a Victorian ball or vintage garden party.
Movie-themed adult birthday parties are always a blast. Rent a popcorn machine and decorate with some movie posters to start your celebration. To narrow down your cinema theme, you can choose:
Guests don’t have to come in costume, but it can make your theme more apparent if everyone looks like a character from a movie. You don’t even have to choose a particular film, genre or director, and instead create a Night at the Movies or Hollywood theme. Screen a couple of movies, roll out a red carpet and make you and your guests feel like Hollywood stars.
Any get-together needs food to make a celebration complete. Plan your menu with your guests in mind, and don’t forget to get all the serving items you need when you plan an adult birthday party. If your party is at a bar, restaurant or another destination that has a menu, you won’t need to worry about food and drinks in your birthday party preparation. But if you need to bring food to a venue or if you’re celebrating at home, consider some of these birthday party menu ideas.
Give guests something to nibble on before the main meal. Snacks and appetizers are also great to serve at parties that take place after mealtime or end before it. Whether you make these yourself or go store-bought to reduce the things to prepare for a birthday party, consider serving these snacks and appetizers:
Make sure you have a mix of foods all your guests can eat. Consider guests with food allergies or those who are vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free. Have at least one thing that everyone will want to eat.
The entree or entrees you serve at a birthday party depend on what time your party is. Whether it’s an early afternoon get-together or an evening of events to celebrate, you may want to serve one of these meals at your birthday party.
Do as much prep as you can before the birthday party, so you have time to spend with everyone. Focus on simple party meals you can cook in large batches, and have a headcount in mind for your guest list as you do your party food prep. That way, nobody will go hungry.
Since you’re planning an adult birthday party, you could also plan an adult drink menu. Set up a bar, get some glassware and:
Let guests know if there will be drinks at your party, so they can plan to drink responsibly and get home safe at the end of the evening.
Everyone expects a cake at a birthday party, even if it’s for adults, but not everyone likes cake. Satisfy every sweet tooth with a variety of desserts, like cookies, brownies or ice cream. Offer healthier alternatives with fruit or fruit-flavored desserts, as well. If you’re going to have other dessert options, you may consider having a smaller cake, since everyone can fill up on other sweets.
Finding the right venue will help all your other birthday party planning ideas fall into place. When you pick a spot to hold the party, make sure you have a rough guest list count in mind, since some locations can only accommodate a specific number of visitors. Plan a celebration at an adult birthday party venue for a fun time that’s appropriate, yet exciting for older guests.
If you and your friends are fans of puzzles and you have a smaller guest list for your birthday party, visit a local escape room. With a large group of guests, see if you can arrange to have separate teams compete against each other at the same time in different escape rooms.
Escape rooms are fun and challenging, perfect for anyone who loves a team-building exercise. Most escape rooms take an hour or less, so you’ll have time to celebrate after and get a meal.
Wondering where to organize a birthday party for a low-key celebration and retreat? Treat yourself and your friends to a relaxing spa day. Shed away the stress of adult life and unwind with some time together. You can let your guests choose their favorite treatments or all enjoy something together, then go out for a delicious meal or head back to your house for a post-relaxation celebration.
Sample local wine or brews to celebrate a birthday. Many wineries and breweries offer party packages, or you can arrange a visit with a smaller group for a tasting. Make a stop at a winery or brewery part of your birthday party or the whole celebration. Be sure to organize transportation for everyone, or ensure all your guests at a larger party have a safe way to get home after your party.
Cut down on many of the steps to planning a birthday party when you have it at a bar or restaurant. While you won’t need to serve food or drinks or get chairs and tables for guests, the price could be higher, especially if you have a large party.
If you or a friend have space for entertaining, why not stay comfortable and plan an adult birthday party without going out? Whether you have a large or small gathering, you may need some rental party equipment. Cross off some steps to planning a birthday party and get party items like:
Before you rent party equipment, make sure you have a rough idea of your guest list and how much space you have at your home or a friend’s home.
All the above tips will help you know how to plan a birthday party, but you have a few other steps for planning an adult birthday party. Among what to plan for a birthday party, these are some of the essentials.
With those birthday party planning tips, you’re ready to put together a fun, yet grownup, celebration.
Now that you know what to plan for a birthday party, get the supplies and equipment you need with Peerless Events & Tents. We’re proud to be the most trusted tent and event rental service in Texas, and we’re ready to provide what you need to make your birthday party or other events a success.
Contact our Austin, Dallas, Houston or San Antonio location today to get everything you need for your next party. Check out our catalog of party equipment and tent rentals to create your Wishlist and get a free quote!