DH's 30th birthday is in early August, and since we now won't be sitting on a beach in Greece, I don't know what to do. Since it's a big birthday, I was thinking of maybe a surprise party, but I can't really afford anything big, so I don't know what to do.
I was thinking of having my parents get a permit for their local beach's pavilion, it's only $25, I know because we had my sister's 16th there. Then we can bring food and have it be kind of low key. Only issue is if it rains it will be ruined. It's covered, yeah, but then you can't go outside on to the beach and who wants to be trapped there on a rainy day. And I can't really afford all the food for everyone that would potentially be there, but I don't want to get ILs involved because then I fear they would want to pay for most if not all of it, and that's not my intention.
So would it be better to try to plan a big party out of my means (and probably short on time to plan at this point, if the pavilion is available at all anymore), or just take him out to dinner, call it a night, and have him probably think his bday was a bust?
DnJ0809
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When DH turned 30 in March I gave him a surprise NY Yankees themed party. We had it at my parents' house, my parents bought the supplies and food and I just gave them the money. I told them to keep it simple because I didn't have a lot of money to spend. Baked ziti, hotdogs, sausages & peppers. I don't know how many people you plan to have though. We only had about 35 for DH. Small but it went well.
As for the beach idea, I don't know what to suggest since you're always risking the weather. But just wanted to share that a small gathering at someone's house can be affordable and it doesn't have to be someplace catered.
Good luck!
Rosalind_75
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how much can you swing? i had a budget of $300 for dh surprise 30th at our house butttttttttt his mom and sis contributed too.
we rented tables chairs and a bar(a friend of sil bartended for us for like $100). i had a tent and my mil brought hers over too. all the food was cooked by me or my mil. sil got a bunch of stuff from bjs. so many came over to help plus they came with food and booze. dh had went fishing the night before with his friends. soooo his bm took all the fish to our local sushi place and made us a buttload of sushi!!!! the fee was they got to keep some of the fish.lol it was a big hit
he was so surprised!!! he said it was the best party he ever been to
btw, it took me two freakin days to clean my house
coldasice217
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I'd probably rather do it at an outside venue than his parent's house, because he'd know something was up at his parents. I'd probably only like to spend 300 as well tops, but if we're not having people bring pot luck I don't know if I can swing the food? Especially because our IMMEDIATE family is like 30 people, let alone friends, coworkers, extended family, etc. Trays of food get expensive! Hmm...I might need to give this more thought.
Dreemer107
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could you possibly just do a night/weekend away to celebrate...or would he prefer to have a party?
grkbarbie
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i had a surprise party for my dh's 30th.
i just told every1 to go to a bar.
every1 paid for their own drinks.. just like we d when we go to ppls functions at bars.
and at the end of the night, whoever was still around, i took out for drunk pizza.
entire night cost me 50$ tops?
grkbarbie
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if you're going to end up spending 300$ and money is tight.. just take him to medieval times for his bday. im so DONEEEEE spending money to feed ppl. past 4 yrs we had a gazzillion parties, and im just over it.
take that money and spend it on him and yourself.
Iluvpoodles
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I would just take him out to dinner. Then again, I'm not a throwing party type of person.
gina409
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im all for a big party ..im already plotting dh's30th birthday and its not until march..
but bottom line if u cant afford it u cant afford it...im sure he will love just going out to dinner with you and romise to take him to a isles game come hockey season
MrsDtoBe09
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Maybe you can have it at a later time so people don't think they're getting dinner? I did DH's birthday party at a bar - it was like $30 a person and they had trays of bar food - not dinner but something to munch on. Could you do it cocktail party style and just have some trays of cold cuts and cut up veggies and dips? And you could probably also cut costs but just having beer and a champagne punch or something like that.
PROBM
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we had a huge party at a bowling party everyoen paid for thier own games and i bought a ton of beers and food
KerriJohnS
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I think you should do the beach thing. What about getting a big hero for food? That usually comes with salads too... like potato and macaroni salads etc. That's a nice cheap way to feed a lot of people... and you know most people will eat hero's!! Then get a cake and call it a day. If you need booze... then get a keg or half a keg. And make a sangria drink. I think it can be done for just a few hundred at most.
You have over a month.. I think you have plenty of time! I've thrown parties together in days!!
coldasice217
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Thanks everyone...I'm going to talk to my parents about it tomorrow and see what they think, since they're the ones that would have to get the town permit. Maybe I can swing a big hero and a few trays of food. Bugger better appreciate it.
grkbarbie
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3ft hero at bjs is 26.99
tri colored pasta with sundried tomatos and grilled chicken ... feed 20 ppl... 10$ TOPS
