It's Your Birthday!

by Desi Creswell, Tastemaker in Residence

It seems like after a certain age if you want a birthday party it becomes up to you to throw one for yourself. While you want the event to be special, you also don’t want to be so worn out from the prep that you don’t enjoy your own party. Whether you want to throw a huge bash, or have an intimate gathering, below I share my top tips for hosting a stylish adult birthday celebration.

Set the Tone

Get guests excited about the event with an invite that reflects the overall tone of the party. An easy option is to use an electronic invite from a site such as Paperless Post. However, I will say there is something special about receiving an actual invite (you know, sent through the mail!). Fine Stationary and Tiny Prints both offer a wide range of adult birthday invitation designs that are easily customizable.  

Select Party Décor 

Any quick and easy way to achieve a pulled-together look is to use a monochrome color palette. Look to your invites for color inspiration or stay neutral with metallics or a crisp white. Susty Party has a great selection of designs and colors. The best part - all of the tableware is disposable and compostable so you don’t get stuck on dish duty at the end of your evening. 

Plan a Self-Serve Menu

Play up your theme through the food. Hosting an outdoor movie night? Serve up a variety of gourmet popcorn. Or try a sweets bar featuring candies and confections in your chosen color palette. Most importantly, select menu items that are self-serve. This will ease the pressure on you as a host or hostess and free you up to enjoy the party. 

For any event, I find it essential to have a checklist and timeline for party prep. To get you started, here is a party planning checklist from one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple. Take it easy and enjoy your day!