Fifty Looks Good on You
Back in January, my husband of ten years turned 50. And for a milestone like that, I really wanted to do something special for him.
My first instinct was a surprise party, but I quickly realized that might not actually be the best idea. I wasn’t sure how to reach all of his friends without tipping him off, and more importantly, both of us are introverts. Big social situations aren’t always our favorite. I found myself torn between keeping it a surprise or making sure the people he would really want there could actually be there.
So I told him.
And honestly, that ended up being the best decision. His face lit up when I asked if he’d want a party. Whew. Relief. While I didn’t get to surprise him with the idea, there were still plenty of things he wouldn’t see coming. And he got to help decide who to celebrate with. A total win-win.
Planning the Party (Without Really Knowing How)
Party planning was new territory for me. I’ve hosted plenty of Thanksgivings, but I’d never planned an actual birthday party. Instead of reading guides or overthinking it, which I’m fully capable of, I focused on one simple question:
How can I delight all five senses?
Sight with decorations, lighting, and color.
Taste and smell with good food and treats.
Sound with a playlist that set the mood.
Touch with something interactive to do.
Being a designer definitely helped. I designed the invitations myself, created the signage, and decorated the house instead of hiring help. It saved money while still making everything feel intentional.
The invitation I designed, minus some details that I left off for privacy
I made a checklist, because of course I did. I joke that I’m Monica from Friends. I love a clean house, a good list to check off, and obsessed-level of organization. Without realizing it, I had told Mark I love hosting parties because I get to control the fun. 😬 Very Monica. I broke the checklist into timeframes so things could be done in advance, and I’m sharing it here in case it helps with your own future gatherings. Any of the items are optional, of course. I left a few of the checklist items blank in case you wanted to add additional tasks.
Creating a Party at Home
One of my favorite memories from a friend’s 50th birthday the year before was a Polaroid photo guestbook. Guests took photos, left messages, and everyone had something tangible to take home. I knew I wanted to do something similar.
We also decided to host the party at our house. Budget-wise, it made the most sense. Luckily, our kitchen, dining, and living spaces all flow together, which made mingling easy.
As the party got closer, I kept Mark out of the details. This was my version of a surprise. I ordered a lot of balloons and blew them all up in my office, which quickly became overtaken by balloons and off-limits to the party honoree.
My balloon-filled office
Party Day Chaos (the Good Kind)
On the day of the party, Mark was gone pretty much all day. Errands, time with family, whatever it took to keep him completely out of the house. That was very intentional. I wanted the reveal to happen only once everything was finished.
While he was out, my mom and sisters came over to help decorate. I built the balloon arch, which turned out to be way easier than I expected, added a gold glitter backdrop, a neon “Let’s Party” sign, and a disco ball light that synced to music.
Most of the decor and supplies (balloon arch kit, variety of balloons, balloon stands, glittery backdrop, electric balloon pump, and the “Let’s Party” neon sign) came from SHEIN because I was on a very tight budget, and honestly, it worked really well. Plus, it was a fraction of the price from anywhere else. If you’ve ever wanted to try a balloon arch yourself, here are the details of what I used. Also, find a YouTube video tutorial because it takes the guesswork out and becomes way less intimidating. Anyone can do it, you don’t need to hire a party planner! (Or just hire ME lol…)
For the balloon arch, I used 125 balloons total:
16 small (5-9”) balloons
90 medium (10-12”) balloons
4 large (16-24”) balloons
4 small disco balloons
5 regular disco balloons
2 large disco balloons
4 starburst balloons
I also added 3 large and 2 small disco balloons hanging from the ceiling above and slightly in front of the arch to give the photos more dimension. Around the house, I used balloon stands so I didn’t need helium for everything. I did stop by a party supply store for a few helium-filled balloons, which I placed outside and near the arch that people could interact with in pictures if they wanted.
I also set up other areas of decor around the house, including a desk next to our kitchen table where I put together a photo album of all of Mark’s pictures. He had random photo albums, and many pictures weren’t in an album, so I combined them all as a birthday present. I added some of the very good ones, maybe some awkward ones too, in frames.
The Final Setup (and the Reveal)
Right before guests were set to arrive, I sent Mark to Costco to pick up the food and ice. At this point, he still hadn’t seen a single thing. The house was fully decorated, the music was queued up, and I was putting the final touches on everything while he was gone.
We had ordered sandwich platters ahead of time, and my mom and sisters helped by bringing cookies and cake for dessert. I reimbursed them for ingredients, which ended up being far more affordable than ordering from a bakery and still felt homemade and special.
When Mark finally walked back into the house with the food, that was the moment. He got to see the space completely transformed all at once. That was his surprise. Seeing his reaction made every bit of planning worth it.
Sandwiches from Costco that I ordered ahead of time
The Night Itself
Once the music started and the doorbell rang, the house quickly filled with friends and family. The photo booth and guestbook were a huge hit. The only rule was simple. Keep a Polaroid or two for yourself, and leave one in the book with a message if you felt like it.
Watching Mark laugh, pose for photos, and soak it all in, including appearances from the cats, was my favorite part of the night.
I also made sure to take lots of photos and videos using Live Photos on my phone. It’s such an easy way to turn still moments into short clips later, especially for video compilations or sharing memories online.
Looking Back
My first big party was a success. While it took a lot of planning, that was honestly part of the fun for me. Creating something thoughtful, giving people a way to connect, and watching Mark feel celebrated made it all worth it. Check out the video I made of the party on Instagram
Mark, I couldn’t do any of this without you. Literally. Thank you for being my husband, my best friend, my soulmate, and my favorite person to celebrate. I love you.