Need Help Planning 70Th Birthday Party for My Mom....

I am not really sure how you would go about doing this, but what about a through the years party type thing? Like have different things from different aged parties but make them appropriate for what they would have had at the time she was that age?

You could also have something small that shows the time line of every thing she has seen in her life--
When "Mom" was
Born---
One---
Five---
10---
15---
ect

Asking guest to bring items or gifts for someone of a different age? Maybe have her celebrating her 30th (again) birthday instead of 70th?

Merely food for thought, I hope everything works out and I'm sure as long as it comes from the heart and you attempt to make it special it will all fall into place!

I can understand having some games but it will be hard to do with 100 people, won't it? Balloons, yes, someone to handle games for the children and prizes, yes. Maybe Karoke (sp) would be good. I would have each person write down a special memory as they come in to be read to the group and put into a book for her to take home and read over later as well.
As for a buffet for that many people relish trays, fruit trays (or boats), fried chicken, bisquits, cole slaw, baked beans, chips and dips, are the easiest to work with.
I would think it would be better to have Jugs or someone cater it in.

Hi M.,

I planned a party for my Mom and our theme was the music, etc of her youth. Find out what her favorite music was when she was young and start collecting it (libraries are a good resource). It was also a nice way for me to connect with my Mom and her interests when she was young.

I also attended a 60+ birthday party this summer and the theme was hawaiian. The person loved Hawaii and it gave her the feel of Hawaii at home. Everyone was asked to bring a Hawaiian themed buffet item to be judged for 2 cash prizes. One of the winners was a fruit flower bouquet and a volcano cake. It was fun.

Good Luck.

I have personally loved the "Remember When" theme for parties for us seniors. Guests can be asked to bring their favorite memory of something special with your Mom. If any guests were childhood friends they can share those memories and if they have pictures to add it is even more fun. Age does not have to be discussed-only special memories.

Earlier this year we had a combined birthday party for my parents who were turning 75 and 80. We went to a small local restaurant, had them just make a buffet style meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes & greenbeans. If anyone wanted something "special" to drink, they had to buy that on their own. The restaurant provided us a space at no cost, and the cost of the food was very reasonable. We just had guests & cake, they had fun just talking to everyone they hadn't seen in a while.

On their 50th wedding anniversary, a few years ago, they renewed their vows & we sent out cards for people to put down a memory, or picture - and then we put it together in a scrapbook for all to look at, and for my parents to keep. We also had a few things layed out from the years such as my Mom's wedding dress, my Dad's military uniform, etc. That time we spent a little more & rented a hall, had it catered, and had a family friend play music - just like they did for all of kids when we got married.

When it's a bunch of friends and family getting together, you don't have to plan anything - they love just talking and catching up with each other. Just don't forget to take pictures!

How about having all your guest bring a picture of themselves, hopefully with your mom in the photo. They can tell the tale of the pic and you get a scrapbook to put them in. Don't forget to take pics to add to the book. Its a great way to remember the party and your past.
L.

We too threw a 70th Birthday Party for my mom. Her party was a surprise and it really surprised her! We found a shirt at an embroidery shop that said "Perfect 10...times 7!" So we focused on the times 7! We didn't have as many guests as you but it was a backyard bbq. I had told her that we were having a party with our neighbors and she even offered to make her most loved dish for my friends!
The day of the party she asked my dad to go out to dinner but he said no, he wanted to go home (little did she know that there was a house full of people waiting for her)! She asked her friends to go out for dinner and they all had other plans! She was MAD! As they pullled into the driveway at home she saw all the people and thought that I had brought my friends to her place! She was really mad now! Then she noticed her sister and started to laugh! It was a great time and will remember it always!

Hi,

I think she would like a simple party, but with a few decortions. Be sure she likes surprises if it is a surprise party. At the very least tell her you are taking her to a really nice dinner. Arrange for her to have her hair done and dress nicely because of you taking her out.

Get her a coursage. She should love that!

I think one of the nicest things you can do is appoint someone to get a picture of each person there, even better if it is with the birthday girl. Later, put all the pictures in an album for your mother to enjoy over time and to share with others.

If you can get people to bring or write letters, they can also be put in an album for later. Asking them to share a memory of a time with your mother would be fantastic. It may be easier for people to send an email, which you can print out. Again, something she can enjoy over time.

Simplest foods ever include going to somewhere like GFS or even a deli and ordering things like slaw, green bean salad, potato salad, etc. Whatever you like. It is less expensive than you think if you buy in gallon containers. When I do this I arrange for taste test amounts at my local deli and a couple in a very nearby town. I choose the one I like best and go with it.

For meat, I once went to my grocery during the day and talked to the butcher. He told me what ready-coked meats he had served at his own wedding, and that is what I got. A butcher would know, right? And the price was WAY better than the deli meat!

Prsents: Your mother probably does not need or want things. Be sure to specify no gifts. Even better, ask them to share the joy of the occaision by bring food for a food pantry as a gift to honor your mother.

You might ask them to bring extra copies of old photos or videos, etc. if they have any or could make copies.

So there are my ideas. Hope it gets your juices going!
Charliegirl

I've heard that most places will give you better pricing if you have a "set menu" vs. a buffet because with a "set menu", they are better able to "control the portions". That might be something to consider if the cost starts getting higher than imagined.

Ask people to bring (or scan and email) favorite pictures to you. If people can hand-write a note about a memorable occasion with your mom, that's usually a hit too. If you're into scrapbooking at all, you can put them all into one big book. You can either have it like a roast (paying tribute to your mom) or even a "This is your life!" style thing too.

Just a few thoughts.....good luck!

Hi M.

What you are doing is wonderful and it will be remembered by your mom for along time. I did this for my hubby when he turned 50. I don't know if you are in Indy or not, but I catered it with Johnathon Bryds. It was pretty cheap, and they bring in the food, set it up, have someone serve it for you and everything, I didn't have to worry about a thing. It was great, if you can't afford that, then do pasta or something you can make, and keep warm in crockpots. I'd call around and check prices, with the economy, it might be cheaper now to have it catered.

You could make her the queen for the day girl. That doesn't make any reference to age at all.

I would definately recommend that you buy disposable cameras and put them on all the tables. I did this and the pics we developed afterwards were a hoot!!!! People used the camera's and had alot of fun.

I would suggest music from Moms time and maybe let them dance a bit if there is enough room.

Get speakers to come up and talk about your mom, how they met, fun stories. Reliving the past is good when it involves good times.

I agree with the pictures. I made my husband a scrapbook of the party after we had all the pics done, and he still looks through it off and on and smiles. So anything you can put together before the party and then leave pages for after the party would be a special memento for her.

How about cards? Does your mom and friends play cards? Board games? Set up and area if you can and let them play. Try to make it games that don't take alot of time, but are still fun. Talk to your Mom about what her and her friends do now, that might help you with what to do.

Make sure you get a big enough cake, I didn't.....I was not happy about that, but everyone else didn't seem to mind......I had family flying in from all over the states, so it was nice to spend the time together and seeing my husbands face when he saw his brothers from out of state. He thought he saw wrong, the picture from that is the best. Video taping it is also a very good idea if you have a couple of people willing to do that for you, that would be great.

I'm sure it will all go just fine and be a great day to remember for everyone. Being together with friends and family is the best.

D.

We are currently planning a 50th for my dad and his twin with the whole "Sock Hop" theme. I have been to many themed parties. You don't have to focus on the number but what about the era. Or favorite music/tv show. For my aunt's 50th we had a Hollywood themed party. My parents were the Howell's from Gilligan's Island and my brothers and I dressed up as Alfalfa, Spanky and I was Darla, from Little Rascals. Lot's of fun and great memories. With the picture collage idea, you can make your own dvd (with pics and music) if you have a burner and are (or know someone who is) computer savy, to play during the party. Regarding food- could go along with your theme. For my dad's we are planning on making floats and having drive in style foods (burgers, dogs, fries) Good Luck!

There are books for every year that tell the price of eggs, the average income, price of a home, car, etc. I think these are GREAT...for ALL ages. Might "present" some info for each YEAR of her life. Use some pics if you can. It will make it more fun and interesting for everyone.

Then.......make up a sheet of paper - with a border if you want of balloons, confetti, etc. and have as many attendees as are willing, to write something about her that means the most to them. Then, put them in a binder for her to keep and read......over and over and over.

My name is J. and I've got 10 brothers and sisters so you can figure that it would be impossible to throw a party for our mother for her 80th birthday. We kept it a secret for one whole year and it was put together by having every one of the kid's family put together pictures that include her and them. We put them altogether in a short movie of her life from when she was born thru school then to marriage and life with each child that came along. The movie was made by her grandson and put to music. It turned out great and she loved it and the party. She also had never had a birthday party of her. I hope this will give you some ideas. J. W.

I've already started planning a surprise birthday party for my Grandma next year. She'll be 84 and has never had any type of party either!

We're disguising it as my son's first birthday party so she should have no idea what's going on until she gets there :) I'm only planning on inviting her kids/grandkids/siblings as we are all scattered around the country now so it's literally been decades since we've all been together.

It's not until next June so I've got tons of time to come up with things, but so far what I'm planning is to make it a potluck and have everyone bring any old pictures of her to add to a couple of collages. I like the idea of mailing note cards for people to write memories on, too... may have to include that in the invitation. My cousin's want to do a scrapbook or video collage, but no one is stepping up to the plate to take that project over. I figure it'd be easier just to have everyone bring copies their photos and add them to the collage as they arrive.

And we're doing a tiki party theme because I've got tons of tiki decorations from my husband's getting out of the Navy party... and so want to see who I can get to wear the coconut bra over their clothes!

I know you have had lots of responses - but I have to say that photos and music make the most impact after the food. I can help you organize the photos (that is what I do for a living) so that they can be enjoyed for years to come. You can scrapbook, or slide them into sleeves or scan the best ones in for an awesome digital Storybook (present to her). Please reply to my email and/or check out my website at www.mycmsite.com/mindynemoff
When we have more than 20 people, we do buffet style. Roast beef or meatloaf, mashed potatos and green beans/corn are easy with bread or rolls and dessert. Biggs has great price for ready to serve fried chicken if you prefer that. GFS Marketplace is great on helping you plan a menu and get everything you need. I've planned more parties than I can count!

When my mother-in-law turned 70 we had a wonderful party for her. There were lots of picture collages made up and put out for people to see her through the years. Many of her friends enjoyed seeing themselves in some of the pictures too.
We also asked for friends and relatives to write down a special memory of Anne. At the party I was surprised at how many people stood up and shared both funny and just special stories about her. Of course, we had to videotape that part of the party.
There was a table where we displayed some of Anne's things...an old pair of glasses, her old doll crib and some doll clothes, etc.
Hope your party is an enjoyable time for all!

Hello!
Have a surprise Sadie Hawkins dance, or somthing pertaining to the 60's. Have the music from that era, or make it a 60's, 70's music. Ask her friends and family what she liked about that era (including food dishes), and her favorite songs from that time. Remeber it is a surprise, so tell her your taking her to a queit dinner or show to totally get her off track. Find out what her favorite outfit was at that time, and make a present tree out of it. You can pin cards an the outfit, and put presents under it. Of course put the outfit on a maniquin! Find out what her favorite games and dances were. That party would be really fun! just brainstroming it is great! Don't forget the kareokee machine! a community center or park recreation center would be inexpensive also.

My family just celebrated my Grandmother's 70th birthday. Some of the things we did was to ask each guest to bring any photos of events that were shared with my grandma throughout her life. That was a really big hit. Everyone passed around the photos and I think she actually cried with happy tears a few times at memories being brought back. One of the things that my mom did which I am sure was expensive, but my grandmother loved was she received 70 roses. I know that my mom got a discount for buying a quantity of 100. We used the other roses to decorate and at the end of the evening my grandmother gave some of them away to her friends. That made everyone else happy too. Who doesn't enjoy flowers? lol I am not sure if any of these ideas were what you were looking for, but I wanted to share our experience with you.