When you were a kid, there was only one day out of the year that rivaled Christmas. It was a day so hotly anticipated that you could barely sleep the night before. For weeks leading up to it, you would plan, daydream, and secretly wonder what your friends were getting you. It was, of course, your birthday.
But as you get older, birthdays start to pile up. Sure, they were exciting when you’d only had seven of them in your whole life, but by the time you’ve had 32, the excitement loses a bit of its luster. Does that mean, therefore, that you shouldn’t have birthday parties at a certain age?
The short answer is: no. You’re never too old for a birthday party. You just might be too old for the kinds of birthday parties you had in your teens and early twenties.
In your twenties, birthday parties became about “partying”, about dancing and drinking and not much else. That type of party you might be too old for. To throw a birthday party befitting an adult, you want to center it on a fun activity, something beyond just drinking, dancing or generic “partying”. You want to plan in advance, and make it as low-stress as possible.
Here’s a quick couple tips for pulling off the perfect birthday party, regardless of how many candles you have on the cake!
Plan in Advance
The one critical disadvantage to planning a party with other adults is that you have to navigate the minefield-like schedules of everyone involved. When you were young, it was easy to gather everyone together, but as you get older, obligations – work, errands, spouses, children – get in the way.
This is all to say that it’s important to plan in advance. Propose a few possible dates well in advance, and see what works best for everyone. Polling apps work well for this. Just be sure to include the following:
- Location
- Possible dates
- Possible start times
- Food options
This gives everyone the opportunity to make arrangements for things like babysitters and carpooling (if coming from far), as well as dietary arrangements.
Get Creative When Choosing an Activity
Remember how you felt when you were a kid celebrating your birthday? To reclaim that same sense of excitement and wonder, choose an activity that’s unique and engrossing.
Instead of, for instance, going to a bar or restaurant, get your friends together and try axe throwing at an axe throwing facility. Chances are most people at the party haven’t tried axe throwing, so it’s something new. There’s also something undeniably thrilling about throwing a weapon at a wooden target. Finally, axe throwing makes for some great photo opportunities – you may be firmly into adulthood, but that doesn’t mean you’ll pass up the chance to take a spectacular Instagram pic.
That’s the long answer: no, you’re never too old for a birthday party, but just be sure to plan in advance and choose an exciting activity. With enough planning, and the right activity – like axe throwing – you’ll be set for a great party, whatever your age.
