Have you ever had someone throw you a surprise party?

[Katieinwonderland]

I was thrown a surprise bridal shower. We live in Florida but the shower was in New York since that's where family lives. I thought we were going to NY for the weekend to meet our baby nephew, then DH told me he wanted to take me to brunch at a really nice hotel so to bring nice clothes. We got to the hotel, walked into the room and was totally blown away!

Now, I HATE surprises and not knowing things, and I can't stand being the center of attention - but the thought was so sweet and there was champagne to take the edge off!

 

[antmaril]

Yes, I've been surprised several times in my life -- 16th, 40th and 50th Birthday Parties, a surprise baby shower and a surprise retirement party.

I was totally surprised at all of these parties and enjoyed them very much!

 

[4nana]

Yes, I've had quite a few surprise parties over the years. The last was in DH & my 45th anniversary this May. We had just returned from a week cruise (compliments of our children) and next morn were due at a brunch for our out of town BIL. We honestly thought we were going to his brunch, arrived at the restaurant, were guided to a private room, and everyone yelled Surprise! We were both totally surprised and caught off guard!

Altho I don't like being the center of attention, could never get upset over something meant to be a fun celebration by those we love and respect.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I had a very small suprise 30th b-day party. Not too much of a suprise because I knew one was coming sometime. Around that time, I, also, became preggers with my youngest who was NOT planned. So, a little too much suprise, not enough party.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

My parents/friends threw me a surprise 16th birthday party. It was ALMOST a surprise until that day, in Gym class, a classmate said "hey ill see you tonight at your party" That got me thinking--then when I went to my then boyfriends house and my dad called and said I had to come home..then I knew what was going on!

 

[klacey1]

It is very well known amongst my friends/DBF that I would HATE if someone through me a surprise party. I love being the planner-- I enjoyed planning my Sweet 16 and Grad parties, etc, but I'm not one to enjoy being the center of attention.
I love PLANNING surprise parties, though! I threw one for my best friend and am seriously contemplating throwing one for DBF this year (his birthday is Dec 26!)
It's just not my thing to have "parties" in my honor. If DBF wants to arrange for us and a bunch of friends to go out to dinner for my birthday, fine. But no so much for the surprise. I'd appreciate the sentiment, but it's not for me.

 

[pjlla]

Well..... I hinted heavily for a "surprise" 40th b.day party and I got one!

What was really surprising was what a nice job DH did of organizing it and inviting everyone! He NEVER does that kind of thing. He had it at a nice country club in the next town.... brunch and lots of family.... plus an ongoing slide show of pictures of ME and a beautiful cake and pink balloons (my favorite color!).

DB and SIL were coming for a visit (from out of town), so the house got cleaned (by me!!) and DH had worked outside a bit mowing and such. When he came home from BJ's with about TRIPLE the amount of food that we needed for DB's visit, I really gave him a hard time.... but after the brunch at the country club everyone was invited to our house to continue the party!

DH and the kids got me to the country club dressed and looking decent ONLY because I suspected they were up to SOMETHING. Otherwise there was no WAY I would have stopped cleaning and such before I had overnight company!! I am alway FRANTIC before company comes. But an unexpected invitation for a nice lunch out mid-morning on a Saturday when we are expecting company really got me suspicious!

DH arranged for DB and SIL and my nephews to meet us in the lobby at the country club and say "surprise!" so that I would think that my nice lunch with them was the entire party.... but then we went into an "upstairs restaurant room" (I had never been there so I didn't know it was a function room and my entire extended family and such were there! It actually brought a tear to my eye! I was so impressed that DH was actually able to pull this off without me finding out!

So there you have it..............P

 

[Rora]

My mom threw me a surprise party but I knew about it and actually helped her plan it. I just pretended I was surprised.

 

[tazdev3225]

My wedding shower and baby showers were both surprises. In fact I was told my baby shower was my uncle's birthday and they had me make macaroni salad for it. I HATE macaroni salad. For my birthday 3 years ago my DH tried to give me a surprise party. The only trouble was he forgot to invite people and the only people there were my in-laws and some of my family. My DD's did try to make it better and planned a little more than he did. I appreciated the gesture though.

 

[2binak]

Yes I've had surprise parties thrown for me (birthday, wedding & baby showers) and I've thrown a few for other people and I loved them all!!!! I love parties! Getting everyone together to celebrate a special occassion is always so much fun and puts everyone in such a good mood!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes--I voted other though b/c neither answer fit.

Yes, I had one (well 2 actually).

One went well (b/c was surprsed)

The other did not. I had found out by accident the week prior and the cirumstances around the whole thing was ridiculous.

The shower was thrown by someone who was on the outs with me and got po'd b/c I didn't "perform" to her expectations.

I was afraid to be caught--so I tried to be surprised and it went over by a lead balloon.

I was also chatted about during my own party and afterwards folks were spreading lies about how greedily I opened gifts. (which it didnt' occur to them that we videotaped and very clearly wasn't greedy at all.) Evidently I was expected to be a teary eyed sap googling over all the cuteness--and I don't ever do that anyway.

It was very disappointng when I found out that my conduct was not only horrible--but that I would lose a friend over it.

A complete disaster.

Oh--and I had to pee when I Got home and that was considered rude for an 8 month pregnant woman to do.


I say know whom you are surprising and create somethng you might enjoy--but the moment you set up a level of expectations that the guest of honor couldn't possibily meet...then you might reconsider the idea of a surprise party.

My other shower was not like that at all. It was thrown by my SIL and was a total surprise. I didn't cry or get sappy over gifts...and I was permitted to pee even without getting in trouble.

That shower was held first--so the fact that I got raked over the coals for the same conduct in my own home was too much to take.

To this day, I don't like baby showers held for me at all. Another friend insisted I have one for my second and it was very uncomfortable b/c I just don't know what people expect and refuse to be lied about again.

I'm also intimidated by going to baby showers of others and find that I'm studying all of the actions of the mom-to-be to see what I did wrong. And thus far, I haven't found too many women who act differently from me and yet they all manage to not be judged so harshly.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I have been surprised with three wedding showers and two baby showers. One wedding shower was held by my husbands late aunt. That might have been the most intimidating because it was DH's side of the family and I wasn't quite sure of who everybody was. In fact, a few people got invited that weren't originally on my wedding invite list. I thought it was really sweet of her to hold a shower for me though, and thought it was a great welcome to the family. The second shower was held by my bridesmaids and I thought I was going to a fair and was dressed accordingly. LOL. I was surprised right up to the point that my then H2B drove me there and we passed my father and brothers hanging out waiting for him on the side of the road. The third shower was held by my co-workers.

With my first baby shower, it was friends and family. I had figured if there were a shower it would be that month. Any weekend days that my husband wasn't working I would get up and dress up and put on all my make-up just in case. I even spied on my friend next door to see if she left the house with a present in hand. Then, one weekend, my mother told me she was going away and asked me to feed her cat. I figured nobody was going to hold a shower that weekend because my mother wasn't around so I wore denim overalls and no makeup. I don't even know if I washed my hair that morning. I looked like a total grub who was ready to pop. Sure enough, my mother was home the whole weekend and it was a setup for a baby shower. The third shower was my co-workers. I tend to be very quiet and to myself at work so I was really surprised that there was a shower and that so many people came.

Overall, I think somebody honoring me and going to that bother was a nice, thoughtful gesture. I am not generally a party girl but I guess the situations behind these gatherings mainly meant I was with people with whom I am comfortable so I was ok.

 

[EMom]

Can you imagine how awkward it would have been though if it turned from an engagement/she accepted the proposal party to a pity/she said no party.

My guess is....There would have been a LOT more drinking involved at the "party" had things gone south when he proposed.

 

[Kae]

I surprised DH for his 40th with a trip to Vegas with some friends. And he threw a huge surprise party for on my 40th. Flew my BFF in, had my favorite band at our favorite bar. Both times they were great.

Kae

 

[HsvTeacher]

I voted "Another reply."


Someone threw a surprise party for me, and I hated every minute of it! I hate to be the center of attention and would rather just blend in with the crowd. Of course, I never let the hostess know how uncomfortable I was during the party.

 

[sug78]

My husband threw me a surprise birthday party. Im pretty much a control freak so I was not so happy...But the worst thing was I hadn't even gotten a shower that day and everyone else was all dressed up.

 

[CajunDixie]

We need a box that say Yes and HATED IT!!!!!!!!

My Ex SIL threw the first one and invited people I can't stand, while MY friends weren't invited to MY party. It was awful and I left early.

Second time I didn't like because friends decided to combine 3 peoples bday into one surprise party. Again their friends not mine...... It's MY day and I want to spend it where, how and with whom I want.