Planning a 40th birthday party doesn't have to mean hanging depressing black decorations and "over the hill" signs. Turning 40 can be celebrated with fun and lively ideas that commemorate this milestone birthday with positive and youthful energy. Whether you're planning a party for yourself or someone special to you, here are some themes for 40th birthday parties that the birthday man or woman is sure to remember and appreciate. Does this Spark an idea?
This Is Your Life
Host a party that celebrates each decade of the birthday honoree's life. Have guests bring pictures and memorabilia from years past, leading up to the big 4-0. Present all the items in a slide show or live presentation and have the birthday guy or gal comment on each as he or she remembers it. For the 40th year, have guests take pictures with disposable cameras at the party and give the guest of honor a 40th birthday scrapbook after the celebration to mark this special year.
Dress for the Era
Celebrate 40 years by dressing in the clothes that were worn the year you were born. For example, if you were born in the 1970s, ask your guests to wear hot pants, bell bottoms, platform shoes and mini-skirts. Hair should be worn long and parted in the center or in feathered styles.
The Roaring '40s
Celebrate a 40th birthday by dressing in garb from the 1940s. Encourage guests to wear dresses, hats and double-breasted suits. They can even dress as characters such as Groucho Marx, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosie the Riveter or Albert Einstein. Play jazz music and serve foods with post-war names like "victory cakes" and pair them with instant coffee drinks.
Forty Item Scavenger Hunt
Make a 40th celebration memorable with a scavenger hunt that lists 40 items or questions relevant to the birthday celebrant's life and personality. You can hide them around the party location or all over town at various people's homes. The last location should always lead you back to the party, though, where guests can enjoy personalized food items named after the special guest of honor, like "Betty's Brownies" "Fran's Funky Fajitas" and "Willy's Wild West Burgers."
Tags: 40th birthday, guest honor, guests wear, were born