21 tips for planning the perfect surprise birthday party (shh!)

Throwing a successful surprise party is easier than you might think. With just a bit of careful consideration, stealthy surprise party invitations, and the right party décor, your event can be a memorable occasion any guest of honor will hold dear for the rest of their lives.

So how do you execute a surprise birthday party without showing your hand? In this guide, we’ll talk shop on birthday surprise ideas, help you plan a surprise party, and most importantly, give you tips on how to keep your main event hush-hush until the big reveal.

How to plan a surprise birthday party

 

The more details you finesse ahead of time, the better equipped you’ll be to keep your grand plan under wraps until the big day. Follow these tips to plan a surprise birthday party that’ll stay a secret from you-know-who.

• Make the “surprise” part of your party clear: Choose from our selection of online surprise party invitations that include the word “surprise” front and center.
• Organize on the DL: If you’re concerned about guests letting the surprise slip ahead of time, consider creating a group chat or email where everyone can see who is invited and discuss party details out of earshot. Or, allow invitees to view the guest list and toggle on the Comment Wall on your Paperless Post invitation.
• Be strict about RSVPs and party timing: Put an RSVP deadline on your invitation so you’re clear on who’s coming and who’s not. You can even add a child vs. adult headcount to organize the attendees. Add a Guest Question to your invitation to confirm who will be at the party in time for the surprise. Then, let guests know that if they’re going to be late or if they decide to attend at the last minute, they should show up after the surprise time. 
• Consider how they like to socialize: Does the guest of honor prefer a quiet dinner with close friends or a night-of-a-lifetime rager in a room full of strangers? Plan your guest list and venue around their preferred party style.
• Choose a theme you know they’ll love. Is your guest of honor a diehard fan of movies, TV shows, video games, or fantasy novels? Use that as a theme to enhance the party. 

Surprise birthday party ideas

​​Once you’ve assessed the type of environment and size of party your guest of honor will thrive in, it’s time to choose a theme that’ll strike their fancy. If you’re feeling stuck, here are a few tried-and-true birthday surprise ideas to consider.

1. Cocktail hour

 

Hosting a cocktail hour surprise party with your pal’s favorite spirits is always a top-shelf idea. Send an invitation like “Olive Surprises” to let guests know the theme right from the start. If you’re hosting at home, add some dinner and cocktail décor to make it a real party. 

For a personal touch, name some of your cocktails after the birthday celebrant, such as “Mary’s Martinis” or “Giovanni’s Gin and Tonic.”

2. Roaring ’20s

Who wouldn’t love being honored with a party as glitzy as Gatsby’s? A roaring ’20s party is especially great for someone in their 20s—or maybe someone celebrating their third 29th birthday in a row. Stack those coupe glasses, stock up on splashy metallic party supplies, and ask all your guests to dress up in their finest flapper attire using the Art Deco “Malachite” invitation.

3. Tea party

If the guest of honor enjoys a proper afternoon with cute little cakes—or just likes to go a little mad—a surprise tea party is the way to go. Send out a fanciful invitation like “Woven Wildflowers” and supply all types of tea on elegant platters for your guests to try. Don’t forget some tea-infused cocktails for those who like an adult beverage. 

4. Island-inspired party

Unless you live there, a surprise party in Hawaii is hard to pull off. Instead, treat them to a taste of the tropics with a luau-themed surprise party at home. Turn up the heat with a menu filled with Hawaiian barbecue and a party space dolled up in tropical decorations. Ask guests to wear Hawaiian-style shirts to the event as a final touch. 

5. Southern BBQ

Even if you live in Alaska, you can’t go wrong with a Southern barbecue surprise party. Get the party started with an invitation full of Southern charm, like “Asymmetric,” then put out some gingham tablecloths, fire up the grill (or order catering from a local restaurant), and provide plenty of napkins.

6. Pool party

Let the guest of honor moonlight as a mermaid at a surprise pool party. Fill the pool up with fun pool floats and provide plenty of cold drinks, sunblock, and ice water. Don’t forget to bring them a swimsuit and towel!

7. Seasonal party

From cider tasting in fall and ice skating in winter to the first picnic of the year in spring, let Mother Nature guide your surprise celebration theme! And if you’re sick of your current season or your guest of honor loves a certain holiday, use the surprise party to transport guests to another time of year. Then, add hanging decorations to your space to really hit the seasonal theme. Christmas in July, anyone?

Find the perfect surprise birthday party décor

 

The guest of honor should immediately notice two things at their surprise party: their guests shouting “Surprise!” and a gorgeously decorated party space. You don’t have to go to extreme lengths—or costs—to manifest the theme you’re envisioning. Instead, Paperless Post Party Shop has the supplies and décor you need to dress up any event.

8. Match the décor to the theme

You’ve picked your ideas for a surprise birthday party—now you need decorations to match. Browse Party Shop’s collection of birthday party décor by theme and style for tableware and supplies in different patterns and colors that’ll complement your chosen theme.

9. Hang decorations everywhere

Subtle decorations and bland décor aren’t what your surprise party needs. (It’s not what any party needs, but we digress.) 

For a surprise party, add lots of birthday decorations like garlands and banners to your space. The secret’s already out—don’t hide the celebration any longer!

10. Blow it up

Whether it’s dinosaur balloons at a kid’s party or an elegant balloon arch at an adult party, balloons belong at every surprise birthday. Find the right balloons and balloon arches for your venue—and if you’re getting dinosaur balloons for an adult party, please invite us too.

11. Dine in style

The decorations don’t stop there. Choose patterned or themed dinnerware from Party Shop for the refreshment table or dining area. Each design is pretty enough to dress up the party space and strong enough to carry Aunt Rita’s famous double-decker cheesecake.

12. Switch up the lighting

Lighting is a game-changer when you’re on a party planning budget. Candles transform a humdrum spare room into a palace of ambiance, and string lights provide a cheap, versatile electric alternative that adds to the ambiance and mood and won’t drip anywhere. 

For ultimate party vibes, switch out your usual white light bulbs for color-changing or black light bulbs. 

Surprise birthday party favors and food

 

If you think of your party theme, decorations, and guest list as the foundations of your party, then your menu and party favors are what provide the finishing touches to your truly special occasion. Follow these food tips for a delicious party that lasts long after the initial surprise.

13. Rule out allergens

Add a Guest Survey to your Paperless Post invitation to learn more about guests’ allergies or dietary restrictions. Remember your guest of honor too—if you’re unsure about any allergies they may have, crowd-source your guest list for intel on what ingredients are off the menu.

14. Design your menu with a cuisine in mind

Everyone loves a theme, and that extends to the refreshment table. If you’re throwing a surprise party at a restaurant or bar, you may have already designed your menu around their offerings and your guest of honor’s favorite foods. 

If you’re hosting on the home front, consider having your theme dictate the celebratory eats. 

15. Make it a potluck

Encouraging guests to bring their own dishes adds versatility to your menu and allows those with dietary restrictions to bring something they like to eat. If you’re worried about food getting cold or melting, put the oven on preheat and clear some space in your fridge before guests arrive.

16. Birthday cake alternatives

Surprise parties are all about getting creative! Sidestep the typical birthday cake with alternative desserts, such as a tower of eclairs, a throwback Jell-O mold, or even a flight of sweet cocktails to close out the meal with something special. 

Just make sure whatever confection you choose has room for a candle so the guest of honor can make their wish.

How to keep a surprise birthday party secret

 

Once you’ve prepped, primped, and ironed out every last detail of the planning, it’s time to put on your spy gear and set the event in motion. 

There are three components to pulling off a surprise party with finesse: Sending the birthday invitations, keeping the secret, and creating the diversion.

17. Choose an easy location

Find a venue that won’t raise any suspicions. It’s usually best to choose a place the guest of honor goes to often, like their house, a friend’s place, or a favorite restaurant.

Think about the parking options when choosing your venue, as well. Having 20 cars packed into a parking lot may be a dead giveaway. If the party is at your home, ask guests to park one street over so their cars won’t ruin the surprise. Ideally, the location you settle on will make for smooth sailing for everyone.

18. Be clear in your invitation wording

Your invitation wording is especially important for a surprise party, as guests need to know that they can’t tell the guest of honor about any of the plans. Send invitations out early enough for guests to put it on their calendar—around 4 weeks before the event—but not so early that they have more time to blow the secret. Add timing for the event like, “Please arrive no later than 6:45; [Name] will arrive at 7:00.” 

Use Paperless Post’s messaging feature to chat with guests before the party and remind them about the secret nature of the event. For a fun treat, ask guests to write their favorite memories of the guest of honor on the Comment Wall and then share them after the surprise is revealed. 

19. Determine the best hiding spots in advance

Once you’ve selected your location, find the best places for guests to remain concealed until the exact right moment. Bear in mind that not everyone will enjoy an ambush from behind curtains, couches, and door thresholds. 

If your guest of honor isn’t an adrenaline junkie, pick a less jarring hiding spot, like a knoll in the park or the cellar room of a favorite restaurant.

20. Plan the entrance

Some venues have multiple entryways, making it harder to plan where the guest of honor may enter from. If you’re hosting your surprise birthday party in a restaurant, bar, or ballroom, pay them a visit ahead of time to check out the floor plan and make the most of its surprise potential.

21. Set up a distraction

To keep your guest of honor none the wiser until the time is right, set up the perfect distraction to keep the surprise under wraps. Try enlisting a close friend—and a surprise party ally—to treat them to a pre-event hangout that seamlessly transitions into the main event. 

For instance, if your friend is a beer connoisseur, see if a pal is up to taking them for a pre-party tasting at a nearby brewery. 

How to spice up surprise party invitations—with caution

To send your invitations stealthily—and to avoid anyone accidentally seeing a paper invitation hanging on a refrigerator— keep them digital. Paperless Post’s range of on-theme surprise birthday invitations arrive in guests’ inboxes, keeping headcounts and guest messaging all in one place. For some extra special touches, try one of these invitation ideas below for your next surprise party: 

• Use a photo card: Add a funny or sweet picture of the guest of honor. For a milestone birthday, a baby or childhood picture adds an always-appreciated element of adorability.
• Provide super-secret spy instructions for guests about the surprise: For example, add explicit wording like, “Please be advised this is a SURPRISE. Do not speak to [Name] about this invitation for any reason. Code name for the party is “the grocery store.” 
• Get a fun video birthday gift going: Attach a link for a video message service to the invitation. During the party, everyone can watch the video together—and the guest of honor can get a glimpse at how much excitement went into the surprise party planning. 

Psst! Pass it on with Paperless Post

 

Planning a surprise party takes some careful thought—not to mention the ability to keep a secret. When it comes to getting the word out, your top priority is to send out invitations as seamlessly—and stealthily—as possible. 

That’s where Paperless Post comes in. Learn how to plan a birthday party—surprise or not—and use our invitation features like Guest Tags and messaging to keep the party management and guest list as organized as possible. 

When it’s time to get started on your invitation, check out our guide on birthday invitation wording for kids and adults. Then, sit back and watch the RSVPs roll in!