Tips for Throwing a Surprise 40th Birthday Party

First, you will need to determine where and how you will celebrate. Once you've figured out whether you will party at home, out on the town, or at a getaway destination, you can then concentrate on how to surprise the birthday boy or girl.

At Home

A party at home is an ideal choice of venue if going out or planning a getaway would prompt the birthday boy or girl to suspect that a surprise is in the works. If the party is at the home of the birthday boy or girl, you have two options for the surprise. The first scenario involves getting the birthday boy or girl out of the house for a long enough time to enable the guests to arrive. Scenario two involves a surprise arrival of guests. 

Either way, you will need to find a clever way to prepare the house and get the food and beverages ready. Plan the party to coincide with a routine house cleaning. Think of simple options for food, either by having the arriving guests bring everything (pot-luck style) or by having the event catered professionally. If you want to prepare your own food and can score some solo time in the kitchen, you can prepare food in advance and stash it in a neighbor’s fridge until it’s time to reheat and serve.

Turn the surprise into the party’s entertainment. Stage the guest arrivals in a way that honors the 40th birthday. Consider inviting guests that the birthday boy or girl may not have seen in a while. For special friends and family who will be unable to attend, consider soliciting a videotaped greeting to play at the party.

Night Out

To sell a surprise night out, you need to consider a decoy plan. However, be careful to manage expectations thoughtfully: if you spend a lot of energy selling the "fake" plans too much, you may find that your surprise is somewhat disappointing. Instead, lower the expectations for the night out, and then deliver above and beyond on the actual birthday plans. 

Also, be sure to tell guests to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to when the guest of honor will arrive and to arrange for covert communication to warn the crowd to get ready for the surprise. Make it clear to the guests what time you expect to arrive with the guest of honor, so that latecomers do not spoil the surprise. 

Getaway

A surprise 40th getaway is sure to impress, but the expense involved in organizing a group vacation can make it time-consuming and stressful to plan. To ensure that the getaway is as stress-free as possible, include the birthday boy or girl in the plans for the getaway, but make the destination the surprise. This way, the birthday boy or girl can decide with whom to celebrate, ensuring that he or she will have a wonderful time.