Ideas for decorating a hall for a surprise B-day party

[Jenn]

We are throwing a surprise B-day party for my step-Dad who is turning 60. Mom invited 80 people (yes, you read that right). My sisters and I are in charge of decorations.

So far we are thinking confetti thrown all over each table and a tall balloon bouquet with a weight to hold it down for the center of each table. I was also thinking of putting disposable cameras on each table for people to take pictures.

Any other ideas?

 

[Pam]

Those are all excellent ideas. Love the disposable camera idea!

When my FIL turned 60, DH and I also threw a surprise party. We had a color theme of red, yellow, and blue. We made a balloon archway, which was nice for photos. We also inflated hundreds of balloons (rented a helium tank) and had balloons dotted across the ceiling.

We had photo montages of FIL from younger years (baby photos were rare) to the present time. I had a wooden wishing well to put the B-day cards in. Our DD was in charge of the guest book.

For my Dad's 60th - we decorated in black and gold. Used fancy gold placemats, all black and gold balloons, black and gold crepe paper. Again, a photo montage - had more photos to use than for my FIL. I had chocolate sizzle sticks at each place setting.

For my Mom's the color scheme was mint green and peach. Since it was in the winter, right before Christmas, I hung white tissue snowflakes from the ceiling, and the mint green and peach crepe paper. I had gold luminaries along the floor. I used elegant gold photo frames for the photo montage. I also hung a dark blue sheet and took family photos for all in attendance. I had silk pale pink poinsettias on the tables. At each place setting I had gold and white boxes with glass tree ornaments inside. The guest book was placed on a pedestal, which was decorated with pine garland and ribbon.

Pam

 

[SplshMtn99]

Your idea is almost identical to what we did. Were you at our party? LOL

EACH TABLE:
3 helium balloons (3 different colors according to theme) tied to a HEAVY metal washer (from Home Depot). The washer was placed into a tall slender gift bag that so happen to co-ordinate colorwise & said "CELEBRATE" on it. Inside bag was that white grassy stuff.

Table had "50" confetti on it. Party horns & plastic toasting glasses.

These were MORE than enough decorations for the hall. We didn't need anything else.

We also did a LARGE card tacked to the wall for everyone to sign.

 

[MerryPoppins]

You could make plans to make him a scrapbook with all those pictures in it (if you do the camera thing). Maybe put some postcard-sized papers (in the colors you choose) on each table with a pen. People could write on them and leave them in a designated basket. Then putting the album together would be a breeze. Just crop the photos and add the cards, maybe do some titles and borders. He'd enjoy it for years to come.

I'm sure the folks in the recipe, craft and scrapbook forum would help you if you have any questions about this one. Or feel free to PM me. By the way, we put cameras on the table for my mother's birthday party and we got some really good shots that I would have missed for sure.

 

[jan/cape]

Everyones ideas are great!
maybe have people write a little story or antecdote about them with your stepdad and read them at the toast. Some will be funny, some will be touching. It's just a thought, but it sounds like fun.