There is no better way to show a loved one how much you care than to throw them a surprise party. The effort, planning and theatrics behind a well executed surprise party are unparalleled – not to mention the birthday person’s reaction! Although the outcome of a surprise party is smiles and laughter, the work that goes into planning it can be quite arduous. We’ve put together 7 tricks so your surprise party is kept a secret until the perfect moment!
- Keep it quiet
Clearly, this is an obvious one, but this trick goes deeper than you think. Ensure you lock your phone and computer, so the birthday person doesn’t find out any details that you don’t want them to know. It’s also key to make sure that the guest list and any related parties keep their mouths shut too! A surprise party won’t work if it’s not a surprise.
- Plan carefully
If you live with the loved one that you are planning the surprise birthday for, or spend lots of time with them, make sure that you choose careful moments for when you are going to plan the party. You don’t want them to be able to barge in on you when you’re on a phone call regarding the festivities! Choose evenings or lunch breaks to sort out the details; whenever you have a solid block of time away from the birthday person.
- Plan for an earlier time
In order for the most people to be present for the surprise, tell the guests an earlier time to arrive than planned. For example, if the birthday person is due to arrive at 7:30pm, tell guests to be there no later than 6:30pm. That way, you will have everyone well and truly inside the venue at the perfect time – even the latecomers!
- Choose a stealthy location
Choose a surprise location that the birthday person is not likely to think of or visit. If it’s going to be in their own home, make sure that they aren’t going to be there that day, and that there is no chance of them bursting through the door while you’re setting up. Find out the birthday person’s plans for that day and choose the venue accordingly.
- Distract the birthday person
A great way to make sure the birthday person doesn’t ruin the surprise plans is to make a distraction for before the surprise. Get their partner, friend or family to take them out for the day, so the surprise can be adequately executed.
- Capture the surprise
Don’t let all your hard work and planning go to waste! Make sure that you efficiently capture the surprise party by hiring a photographer or a photo booth from Barrel of Laughs. From the moment the birthday person walks in the door, to the unforgettable smiles and hugs, it is paramount that each and every moment of a surprise party can be remembered.
- Have fun
Although a surprise party may seem like a lot of effort, it’s important to have fun with it! Remember why you are organising the party: to celebrate your loved one’s birthday. So whilst organising all the details, remember to enjoy yourself and have the overall goal in mind: a good time!
Throwing a surprise party can be a daunting task. Although there are the rare exceptions, almost everyone loves a surprise party. Indeed the outcome can be one of the most enjoyable moments in your life, however surprise parties are contingent on lots of little things going your way. Take heed of these 7 tips to ensure that your next surprise party goes off without a hitch!