30th birthday questions

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

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

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 :birthday2:

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

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!

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.



:D

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.