They’ll Never See It Coming: 6 Tips for Planning a Sensational Surprise Party

Successfully pulling off a surprise party can be one of the best feelings in the world! Not only are you celebrating one of your favorite people, but adding in the element of surprise can feel extra exciting. 

However, planning a stellar surprise party for adults is no small feat. From figuring out how to get your special someone to their own surprise party to picking the perfect location, there are several party planning tasks that can make or break a surprise party. Before you start scheming your surprise party, consider the following tips to plan a thoughtful event that everyone will enjoy.

1. Choose the right venue.

Where you host is one of the most important aspects of a surprise party. The task at hand: find a venue that is accessible to party attendees and in alignment with the person you’re celebrating. Does your guest of honor love art? Host a painting party at your local paint and sip studio. Do they love video games? Find an arcade that can accommodate all of your guests. Are they into the outdoors? Host a picnic outdoors in a nearby park. By considering their personality, likes, and dislikes, you can settle on a venue that feels personal to them. 

2. Create an inclusive and thoughtful guest list.

One thing hosts often forget when planning a surprise party: this party is for your guest of honor (not you). So be sure to think through who the person you’re celebrating would want to include! Since you can’t outright ask them, spend some time thinking about who’s important to the person. The guest list can include a mix of family members, friends, and coworkers. Don’t forget to consider any new friends that your guest of honor has made! Make sure you know who the person wants to be there and, more importantly, who they don’t. Don’t make the critical error of inviting someone who may not be welcomed with open arms by your guest of honor.

3. Discreetly deliver invitations.

When it comes to invitations, consider how you’ll deliver them. Electronically through email? Via text? By mail? Whatever you do, do not give away the surprise to the person you’re celebrating. Make sure you tell guests that this party is meant to be a surprise so they don’t spill the beans. In addition to important details, like what time to arrive and the location of the party, you could also include any dress code requirements and what they should (or should) not bring, including food, drinks, and a gift.

4. Plan a fun activity for your party!

One of the best ways to bring a crowd together is an activity (or a few!). Make sure that your party has an on-theme activity that everyone can participate in. For example, if your guest of honor loves art, then having everyone participate in a guided canvas paint class can allow guests to unleash their inner artist! 

Whether you decide to hire a DJ or coordinate a scavenger hunt, create an activity that everyone can participate in. Centering your party around a core activity that honors the person you’re celebrating can bring guests close together and ensure everyone has a memorable time!

5. Don’t forget to include bites and sips!

Food and drinks are essential to any party. After all, you don’t want your guests to participate in party activities on an empty stomach. To pull together the perfect menu, consider the time of your party to determine whether you’ll need a meal or just appetizers. Then, choose food and drinks based on the surprise party guest of honor’s personal preferences. Be sure to include options for guests with dietary restrictions.

Bonus tip: if you are planning the party at a restaurant, you can pre-order the food and drinks so that everything is ready when the guests arrive. 

6. Determine how to get someone to a surprise party. 

When it comes to how to plan a surprise birthday party for adults, one of the hardest challenges is getting your special person to their very special party without giving away the surprise! Here are a few ways you can get your guest of honor to their own surprise party:

• Plan an activity with the person that leads them to the party location. 
• Enlist the help of a close friend or family member of the guest of honor to bring them to the party without arousing suspicion.
• Arrange for a fake event or meeting in the same location as the surprise party and have the guest of honor attend it.
• Create a decoy event at a different location and have the guest of honor attend it, then have someone bring them to the surprise party location.
• Have the guest of honor meet you at a specific location and tell them that you need to make a quick stop before going to the actual destination, which is the surprise party.
• Have a backup plan in case the guest of honor figures out what’s going on, like pretending that the party was actually for someone else.

Getting your guest of honor to the surprise party is part of the fun, so have a blast coordinating this sneaky part of your surprise! 

Let Painting with a Twist Help You Plan Your Surprise!

Surprise parties can be a blast for everyone involved, but if they’re not planned out well, they can quickly become a headache — or worse, the surprise can get spoiled! Before you start questioning yourself by asking, “Are surprise parties a good idea?” rest assured, they ARE a great idea! Better yet, Painting with a Twist is here to help bring your brilliant idea to life! When you organize your surprise party with the help of Painting with a Twist, you’re sure to take away the stress of keeping the party on the right track! It’s as simple as making a reservation at one of our studios and bringing the people, snacks, and drinks. We’ve even got the clean-up covered! Get in touch with your local Painting with a Twist studio to start planning a special surprise party for your favorite friend.