You’ve done it – your child has reached the milestone age of 18 or 21. Well done. All that is left now is to provide a fantastic 18th or 21st birthday party to celebrate the passing of those years. This is a real milestone and should be marked in style with a terrific get together of family and friends. As you have organised many kids’ parties over the years, think of this as an extension of your party planning skills. Browsing through the party businesses listed in this directory will give you many party ideas for 18th birthday parties and 21st birthday parties ranging from party supplies to costume hire for themed birthday parties.
Deciding upon a date is the first task. This can be difficult as many friends will also be that age, so grab your date early to avoid clashes. Next up is to pick the perfect venue. The party venue will be parallel to your budget. Great parties can be held in your back yard, at a local park, or at the snazziest nightclub in town. A huge party isn’t for everyone, and not all of us want to be the centre of attention. Bear in mind the birthday boy/girl’s wishes before booking the Crown Palladium! A great way to start the party planning is to research what other friends and family have done and go with what was enjoyable for you. Heed any party ideas or tips they have advised.
Send out the invitations well in advance with an RSVP date. The invitation style should highlight the ensuing party. Include maps, and a local accommodation guide if necessary.
18th & 21st parties often evolve around a party theme which adds to the fun. It is a great ice breaker to see people in costume and also allows for a general party theme to flow on with the whole party planning.
Some suggested party themes are:
- Black and white (and the birthday boy/girl comes in red)
- Pimps and Prostitutes
- UV night (Everyone wears white and the lighting does wonders)
- Gender bender (guys come in dresses and girls in suits)
- Super heroes
- Rubik’s cube (everyone comes in op-shop clothes and need to be a single colour by the end of the night)
- Colour party (select the birthday boy/girl’s favorite colour)
- Letter party (everybody dresses up in something starting with a certain letter)
- Fancy dress
- Hollywood
- Cowboy & Indians
- Disney Characters
- James Bond Casino Royale (incorporating casino games)
The list is infinite. If you want people to get into theme send out costume hire shop details with the invitation, this may inspire them to see how easy and fun it is.
Cakes are one of the centre pieces of any party. Cake designers can work wonders with flour, eggs and icing, and create the best cake to top of the party. Ensure your cake is big enough for the number of guests! Decorations are easy. All party supply shops have an array of party supplies which can make any venue. Be sure to remember the obligatory “key” for a 21st birthday party. Jumping Castle’s are generally the domain of kid’s parties, but many party hire businesses have the adult version of fun, such as Sumo wrestling, bucking broncos, inflatable slides and so on. Check in our entertainment and party hire section for more party ideas.
Finally remember the camera and camcorder. The birthday girl/boy is never going to be 18 or 21 again, so don’t miss a minute.
