What I Learned from My 50th Birthday Party
It will Surprise You
I’ve always been “over the top”. I’ve always loved “making a big production.” I don’t know why I’m this way, but I like to make things nice, especially when it comes to a party. There has to be a theme. Decorations that go with. Sometimes a dress code that adds to it. It’s just who I am. My friends expect this out of me. I like to create memorable experiences. (Yes, I’ve considered it for a career).
When we got married two years ago, I had to create a vibe. We had brunch stations with a made to order omelet station along with pancakes and waffles, biscuits and gravy, and a cereal bar. The decor was DIY and aligned with the them of Enchantment by the Sea. The colors were inspired by a picture I found of a bouquet. I recreated the bouquet then wove them into the bridal party dresses and decorations. It was a beautiful experience for all curated by me.
Fast forward two years to my 50th birthday. I researched themes all over Pinterest and Google. I wanted something unique. I did not want to do what everyone else did. I came up with “Golden Decade Time Capsule Party.” We were going to travel through the last 50 years with food. I also found the quote: “Antiques are just old things with really good stories.” I wanted to collect memories and stories from my friends. I made a mood board, chose decor to go with the time travel theme, and planned the menu with the help of a chef. I ordered cookies that would represent pop culture from the last 5 decades.
The menu…. I asked a chef friend of mine about popular appetizers from each decade of the last 50 years. He gave me a list, and I chose things I would like from the list. Then we proceeded to do ALL the food.
Long story short, we ran out of time. We did not serve all the food we bought. Balloons didn’t get blown up. All the decor didn’t make it out. It was stressful and disappointing. I had over shot, and there was no way my husband and I would be able to properly execute this.
When my friends showed up we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off. It was embarrassing. It was stressful and meltdown worthy. Lucky for me some of my friends saved the day with some final finishing touches.
What did I learn? It’s time to create experiences for me. It’s not about everyone enjoying the vibe and being in awe of the small details. It’s not about the guests being blown away by the thoughtfulness of the food. It’s about what vibe will I enjoy? We could have ordered some pizzas, served some alcohol, had some cookies (from the different decades because they were fun and tasted good), and I could have spent more time with my guests.
I was so fixated on being over the top party with a unique theme and less focused on making my own memories. Don’t get me wrong, when everything calmed down, I had fun. It was great to see so many of my friends in one room. It was fun to talk to people.
The over the top productions need to end. If I want to be over the top, I can buy an over the top outfit, but I need to keep things simple. I know to keep things simple when it comes to my daily and weekly planning and productivity tools. I need to apply that to other parts of my life.
This was a big lesson for me. It was a little difficult to swallow, but I don’t always need to be the overachiever. I like chill parties. Do I regret trying to pull this off? Not at all. I wouldn’t have learned the lesson. As I age (even though I’m still young), I need to keep it simple and do what makes me happy. I don’t need to create the biggest and best experience for my guests. I need to make sure we all have a fun time whatever that may look like.