30th birthday questions

[AliBaby]

Mine is coming up.

I'm excited about it! Thinking of doing barefoot bowls and dinner or canapés. Should be relaxed and fun.

Just some questions if you have had a 30th or other big milestone party...

Did you have speeches?
How many guests did you have?
Did you pay for all your guests or did you put a cost per person on the invite?

There are a few people who I want to invite but to their partners (as I don't really know them very well). is it okay not to invite partners (ESP if I'm the one paying)?

Thanks in advance

[Beautiful Disaster]

I had a black and white masquarde party.

We had speech by hubby but that's it as my mum was too sick.

Had about 50 people at a local rsl so drinks were cheap as chips so people paid and I supplied platters

[surprised]

Happy birthday.

No speeches for me. Ugh! They are for weddings and 21sts and are boring.
I had about 20 guests. I paid for everyone. I don't think it's good form to ask people to pay for a party you're inviting them to.

I only invited females - solved that problem! But to be honest I think if you are going to invite any partners, you need to invite all of them, or it does look a bit funny. Could you get away with just girls?

Btw barefoot bowls is a great idea!

[roses]

Not a 30th but I threw my hubby his 40th at an inner city pub (private room) and I paid for everything for over 100 guests (i saved for months!!!) plus I hosted people at our house after the actual party for the 'After party' lol
IMHO - I think it's rude to ask people to pay. Can you do less people - close friends only and then pay for them?

[wysiwyg]

I don't think is rude to ask people to pay depending on the event, I have been to barefoot birthdays and they are great and I have paid - generally most birthdays have been to where have paid for activity, meal etc have said 'no presents' - so is like paying to go is the present. Far better to be able to invite all you want than have to leave people out because of money IMO.

[AliBaby]

Thanks so much for your replies. I really appreciate the feedback.

I am planning on paying for the bowls and dinner but wanted people to buy their own drinks. Is that ok?

As for the partners, if it is partners of people who I work with, do I need to invite them? Some of them I have never met before. The partners who would be invited would be friends who we are close to as a couple, not just individually iykwim.

[feeb]

DH I did a surprise party for him had about 60 people and I hired out a function room at a restaurant and we had finger food and kareoke. Everyone paid own drinks. Was a great night!!

My 30th I had a dinner with about 16 friends (some were partners) and we had a semi set menu (eg was 5 choices of main and 4 of desert) and everyone paid own way. Was so nice to have my closest friends all together!! DS1 was 8 months old at the time.

[~me~]

Had a 30th as it was my first ever milestone birthday celebation.

Had a party at home with great friends, probably around 20 people at our new home and didn't mind if they had partners I was not 100% familiar with. We paid for the lot, had a small speech and my DH purchased a CD with a special song he thought I would like and he was right. Still play it

No right or wrong when it comes to birthday celebrations as long as you enjoy yourself, sounds like you have a great night planned!

Happy Birthday....30 is a fantastic age, loved it

[Melbournemumma]

We're went to a local Thai restaurant and had about 30 people. Everyone paid for themselves and we all had a great night.

[Amity]

My 30th was in a local restaurant - about 80 guests. They paid a contribution (I think it was about $30 each) towards dinner and drinks were at bar prices. I was a single mum and couldn't afford much. Speeches was just me.

My 35th was at a different local restaurant. I hired an upstairs room with a DJ machine and supplied drinks. Each person was asked to contribute $25 for their dinner. I subsidized the rest and I think drinks too. A couple of speeches - my dad and myself plus one other. It was lovely.

Not sure what my 40th will hold!

[peanutter]

I had mine at a local Chinese restaurant which has karaoke on Friday nights. I had close to 100 people. Everyone paid for themselves. No speeches. Oodles of fun.

[surprised]

Ultimately it's your celebration and you can do what you want. I have happily paid to attend friends' dinners but didn't feel comfortable asking people to pay for my birthday. But I've also declined invites when I couldn't afford it or the cost was more than I wanted to pay.

If my husband was invited to something and I wasn't (but it wasn't men-only), he wouldn't go (and vice versa). But again, it's your thing and you can do what you want.