How to Throw a Surprise Party
Find out if you are sneaky enough to pull off these top 5 tips for planning a surprise party.
It's your friend's birthday or they have something big to celebrate; obviously, you want to make it a special occasion for them. With our helpful tips and tricks on How to Throw a Surprise Party, it will be a night that they will never forget. Planning a surprise party is an intricate process. You need a lot of little things to go your way and you may need the help of other people in order to pull off this endeavor. Only include people you can trust with the top secret information and you're going to throw the best surprise party ever!
Surprise parties are so much fun and very memorable for everyone involved. There's a lot to keep in mind when you're throwing one, like where, when, who to invite, how to keep it all secret, and how to reveal the surprise! If you don't want to clean up or cook, then you can host it at a restaurant or a bar. If you want a little more control over the process, then hosting it at a private home will be best. If you're thinking of planning a surprise party, then read on for our best surprise party ideas.
Maybe your surprise party should be a cocktail party! Check out our tips for throwing a cocktail party here:Â How to Mix Cocktails and Cocktail Party Ideas
Surprise Party Ideas
Throwing a Surprise Party with Ease
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Before you start planning anything, you need to find out, first and foremost, whether the guest of honor likes surprises. If they don't like to be surprised, going to parties, or being the center of attention, then just stop reading this article. They might appreciate the sentiment and the effort you put into making them happy, but there might be better ways to make their day special for them.
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Pick people to help that you can trust. The guest of honor's spouse or partner might find it difficult to keep secrets for a couple of weeks. You can let them know that you're planning a surprise party, but they might not be the best helper in terms of details.Â
You will also need someone who can ensure that the honoree shows up at the right place at the right time without arousing suspicion. -
When you send out invitations, stress that it's a surprise party. You don't want your guests to accidentally spill the beans that they're "so excited about the big party on Saturday." And when the dumbfounded honoree asks "What party?" then the surprise is completely blown.Â
Send out the invitations so your guests have adequate warning, but not so early that they have more opportunity to spill the secret. -
Picking a venue can be tricky. It might be easier to coordinate details in the privacy of a home, but outdoor venues, bars, and restaurants are also great venue options (no clean up after!).Â
If you choose a bar or restaurant, make sure it's a place that your honoree likes so they'll be willing to go there.
When you need your honoree to show up, make sure you have an accomplice who can reliably without causing suspicion or giving away the surprise. -
You can do the *big reveal* in a few different ways.
When you know that your guest of honor is close by, have your guests start chanting, clapping, or singing. The noise will reveal the surprise more slowly, giving your special guest some time to realize what's going on and wonder what's happening without being startled by a big group of people yelling "SURPRISE!"
You could also do a "reverse" surprise party. Have your guests walk in on the guest of honor instead of the other way around. Watch their smile grow bigger and bigger as more of their loved ones arrive.
Have the party already in progress. It'll be much less of a shock to walk in on a party already in progress rather than one that hasn't begun. You don't have to have anyone hide and have people shout "surprise!" because the guest of honor will already be surprised to see all of their loved ones in one place.
Make your home look party ready with our budget decorating tips! How to Decorate on a Budget
What's your favorite way to spend your birthday?
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flowergirl
Feb 19, 2018
Reading this article has made me realize why I have never thrown a surprise party. Most of my friends are introverts so they could really use this information too and honestly finding a venue on a budget can be a bummer. I really appreciate the tips though.

FrasierFan1901
Jun 19, 2017
I could not agree more with the first tip! While I get that the party planner wants to hold a big event, the guest of honor's needs and personality should definitely decide if the party even happens.

Mistress of All Ev il
Mar 11, 2016
Such an informative article, and I totally agree with number 1. I typically like spending my birthday in a totally chill space with 2-3 of my closest friends. I'm not really one for the big parties and what not (even though I plan them for others constantly).

Sara R
Mar 07, 2016
One of my best friends and I have the same birthday, so it actually makes it even more special to celebrate our birthday together!

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