Have you ever thrown yourself a party?

[gracie1]

I will be turning 30 in March and would like to have a birthday party. It would just be something low key probably at my house since I couldn't afford to take people out to a restaurant, but do you think it would be wierd to send invitations inviting them to my birthday thrown by me?

Has anyone done that?

 

[dfchelbay]

I will be turning 30 in March and would like to have a birthday party. It would just be something low key probably at my house since I couldn't afford to take people out to a restaurant, but do you think it would be wierd to send invitations inviting them to my birthday thrown by me?

Has anyone done that?

Not weird at all. If I got an invitation in the mail from you for your birthday party, I would think nothing of it being thrown by you. No different than you having a housewarming party, Christmas Party, Fourth of July Party, etc. at your house. However, I would probably put in the invitation that gifts are not necessary. Like, in lieu of gifts, bring some wine, or make a donation to a charity, or something like that.

 

[java]

I have not done it- but my friend does it all the time. And I always have a great time! Do it! In fact her 40th birthday she said "her husband" was throwing her the party- but nope she planned the whole stinking thing. And who cares? A party is a party!

Happy Birthday! And have fun.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks everyone! I am really considering doing it. Just wanted to know if it would be wierd or not!!

 

[TaraPA]

I would only think it was odd if you were expecting gifts, then I'd see it as tacky. I like what someone else said - either write no gifts on the invitation or in leiu of gifts....xyz.....

 

[dis75ney]

I have two friends that recently threw themselves surprise birthday parties...which was really just an excuse to get together and have a good time. Some people brought gifts, but they were more of the gag variety (since one of the parties was celebrating a 50th birthday)...we had a blast at both!

 

[Fyrefly]

Some people will probably see it as tacky no matter what, sort of a "I want a party for myself and don't trust anybody else to do it up to my standards."

Personally, I attend really awesome parties a friend throws for himself annually and nobody knows how to throw a party like him. As long as its clear you aren't doing it as a gift grab but just a fun "Let's have a party and reconnect and it's also on my birthday" I don't think anyone should have a problem.

 

[pearlieq]

As long as you're hosting and not expecting anything of the guests other than their fun company, go for it!

I do disagree about mentioning gifts on the invitation. Any mention of gifts, even if it's to say you don't want them, implies that gifts would otherwise have been expected and that you were thinking about them.

Friends who want to give you gifts will not be deterred by a "no gifts, please" on the invitation. People who would have been irritated by feeling obligated to get you a gift because you invited them to a party aren't the kind of people you need to bother with anyway.

I think the best way to handle the gift issue is just to make no mention of it. If someone asks you directly what you would like, you can mention that you'd prefer no gifts if that's what you really want. Otherwise, when people arrive with gifts, thank them, set the gift aside out of view, and get on with the party. After the party you can open them and send thank you notes.

Hope you have a great celebration!

 

[Mrs.Malone]

Not weird at all. I wouldn't mention gifts one way or the other.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Oh totally do it. Happy Birthday, fellow 30 year old!!

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

The best birthday party I ever had, I threw for myself. My friends kept asking what I wanted to do for my birthday, and I said, "Have a "rock" party". I had just dug a huge Koi pond and needed TEN truckloads of rocks for landscaping my pond(s) and the creek that joined them together. It so happened that my birthday fell on Super Bowl Sunday that year, so I put some ribs and a brisket on the smoker, cooked a bunch of BBQ side dishes, then my friends and I took five pickup trucks and headed for the mountains to collect landscaping rocks. I got half the rocks needed for landscaping my ponds and yard that day, Everyone had a blast on a gorgeous, sunny February day collecting rocks in the mountains. Then we came home and ate BBQ and birthday cake and watched the Super Bowl game. I know everyone had a great time because they still talk about it, and my friends got to sit outside around my Koi ponds for years afterwards and know they helped make my yard so beautiful.

 

[anotherdismom]

One fo my dearest friends hosted her own 40th bday party. She invited maybe a 10-20 couples and it was a great time. She had it catered in the party room at a restaurant. (I hate to know the cost, but it was lovely.) She kind of even did her own toast... thanked everyone for coming, explained how she wanted to do this and celebrate her day with people who had impacted her life. It was a great party...

There was no mention of gifts, though some folks did bring them. I can't remember if I did or not - maybe some Sensaria lotion. I agree that if you do receive gifts - hide them as far out of view as possible (under a table covered by a tablecloth?) I always feel so dumb/weird/awkward/foolish if others bring a gift and I haven't. I don't really think of a grown-up really wanting gifts anymore... but I might be alone in that one.

(TheBigBadWolf - love the "Rock" party - you have awesome friends!!!)

 

[pixiewings71]

I plan all my own birthday parties....lol Who else will do it? Normally it's just going out for dinner with friends and then going dancing after but this year I want to do go wine tasting, with a limo!!! I never ask people to chip in gifts or to help pay for dinner or drinks, I just ask friends to come and hang out. It's always tons of fun. If you want to throw a party do it!!

 

[mykidsand_i]

a friend of mine does it once and a while (she did for her 30th bday, just two years ago- and she threw a house warming party just last summer for her and her hubby)...

I feel that is EXTREMELY tacky to expect gifts if you're throwing yourself a party. I would put "no gifts please" on the invite. I have known a group of my friends to actually go for over a YEAR with out speaking to eachother over the issue.

The fact is that SOME people in every group believe it to be tacky, some DO NOT believe that it is. In order to 'not cause ripples' with ANYONE you're inviting, it's just easier to say 'no gifts'...OOOOOORRRR that they could bring something for the party (such as a previous poster said). Like if you have wine drinkers, ask them to bring a bottle of wine for everyone to share. Or another fun thing (also keeps money down for the party thrower) is to have a 'wine and cheeses party'. I've known people to do that before. Ask them to bring a wine and a cheese, for all to share. Then, you can supply the crackers, a few deli meats, some other snacks.

 

[mrsklamc]

The best birthday party I ever had, I threw for myself. My friends kept asking what I wanted to do for my birthday, and I said, "Have a "rock" party". I had just dug a huge Koi pond and needed TEN truckloads of rocks for landscaping my pond(s) and the creek that joined them together. It so happened that my birthday fell on Super Bowl Sunday that year, so I put some ribs and a brisket on the smoker, cooked a bunch of BBQ side dishes, then my friends and I took five pickup trucks and headed for the mountains to collect landscaping rocks. I got half the rocks needed for landscaping my ponds and yard that day, Everyone had a blast on a gorgeous, sunny February day collecting rocks in the mountains. Then we came home and ate BBQ and birthday cake and watched the Super Bowl game. I know everyone had a great time because they still talk about it, and my friends got to sit outside around my Koi ponds for years afterwards and know they helped make my yard so beautiful.

Can we have pics? Sounds gorgeous!

 

[SOnotLayuh]

I see no problem with it at all

 

[Katy Belle]

One of my MILs friends has a Birthday Party for herself every year She has her friends over for lunch, and then their husbands join them for dinner out, so they spend the whole day with her!

I've been to other parties that friends have had to celelbrate their Birthdays. I think its great!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I thought everyone threw their own birthday party lol. It's not weird at all. You could ask your friends if they wouldn't mind splitting the costs if you were to go out to eat or do something else. Last year my friend had her birthday at a karaoke restaurant. It was open bar and a 3 course meal. We each paid for ourselves. Another year my friend set up open bar for everyone at a bar and we just had to mention her name at the door and paid the cover price. 2 years ago for my birthday, I rented a limo ( I got an amazing deal since my brother in law owns a limo company) and we went wine tasting. We all split the cost of the limo and paid for our own wines. Perhaps you could find something fun to do where everyone will pay their own way. Or If you have a party, maybe you can supply the food and ask your guests to supply the drinks. I threw my hubby a surprise 30th birthday party 3 weeks ago. I wrote on the invite no gifts please as your presence is the present. You might want to include something like that so no one thinks you are looking for gifts as other posters have mentioned. Almost everyone brought bottles of alcohol to my hubby's party. Although I had plenty of my own and food.

 

[roscoepc1]

I don't see an issue, as long as you're not "trolling for gifts"....

 

[lajones81]

I will be turning 30 in March and would like to have a birthday party. It would just be something low key probably at my house since I couldn't afford to take people out to a restaurant, but do you think it would be wierd to send invitations inviting them to my birthday thrown by me?

Has anyone done that?

I throw myself a birthday party every year! I'm turning 30 in March, too! Happy birthday to us!