Birthday Party Plans--Suggestions

[lilithd]

Hello, everyone. I just 'discovered' this site and thought I'd get some suggestions from you, if I may. I have just been handed the responsibility of planning/executing the monthly Birthday Party. So far, we haven't had this month's and time's growing short. Previously, we would have 2 dozen cupcakes with monthly themes on them, candles for the birthday people, and music for one hour. I want to do something different, but I have a limit of $25 per month to stick to. Any inexpensive ways that you may know of/have tried regarding this subject? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

[ozbound]

We have kind of a "brunch" here with veggies, fruit and assorted goodies purchased at Costco. With a $25 limit you might not be able to go all out but maybe you could have cake "alternatives," like pizza or chips and 3-layer dip, or you could even do a potluck, be creative and see what you can come up with.



Welcome to the boards!    

[goldenearring]

A $25 budget is pretty restrictive.  I would go wild and buy 5 pounds each of plain and peanut M&M's in the small snack size bags, blow up a couple balloons, and call it a party.  You might have enough left over for some HiC, or something.  I guess the good news, is that $25 and one hour keeps things under control for everybody **especially you**.

[lilithd]

So this is where everyone has disappeared to?   Thanks for the suggestions. Believe it or not, GE, that sounds like it would be right up our alley! We're a different, fun-loving bunch and it sounds like fun! It sure gives me more ideas along those lines. HMMM....games, balloons with little notes and funny sayings for the birthday people....or little gifts in them...hmmmm, balloons filled with M&M's ...   Thanks again to both of you and good to see you again.

 

[chris68]

Another suggestion, I used to do the same thing you are, with the once a month birthdays.  We had the luxury of working upstairs from a mall, and they had a place that made fresh baked cookies and they did pizza cookies.  They were always a nice break in the day.  About 2-3 pm we would have the cookie cake and make sure that folks were going to be in the office and have our  

[chris68]

Don't know what happend to my message, maybe I used the tab key when I shouldn't have.  Anyway...cookie cakes are a reasonable thing to have, and under the 25.00 budget.  If you wanted balloons and drinks, maybe you could sneak that in under the budget.



Chris68

 

[sungoddesslv]

Welcome, Lilith, to TAA.  We are glad that you found us.



Sounds like you have a relatively small office - perhaps 20 people?  In the past, we have bought a cake with names of that month's birthday people.  This office doesn't do anything else than that.



Others have had birthday cards for each person.  The card is kept at the reception desk and employees would sign them.



They also bought cute little, inexpensive trinkets (for instance, a little bucket and fill it with candy).  These items were bought at a craft store...probably could find things at the 99 cent store, too.



Have fun. It's nice to have you aboard.



sungoddess

[countrigal]

One of the best done in our office was a party where the hosts brought in "balloon people".  You blow up a balloon and there are differnt cardboard feet, hats, eyes, etc..  Kinda like the Mr. Potato Head except with balloons.  This was a big hit for everyone and were bought at a party place.  These don't normally cost much and we did ours in pairs so it cost even less, and made doing them a bit more fun.  Then after you've made them, you have to name them.  Ours sat around our offices till the balloons deflated with time. (we named them and said what their job would be for the next major survey we had coming through our office).

[lilithd]

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful ideas. Yes, we have a small "office" of 35 people. (Actually we are a small TV station.) I think we have decided to do a cake with the name of every person having a birthday that month and maybe some little trinkets. I greatly appreciate the ideas!

 

[andrea843]

aww you DON"T want to get me started on Birthdays,, I once hung an entire office in black crepe and carved tombstones out of styro foam for a 40th birthday, passing out black arm bands for the entire staff to wear and attaching a few hundred ballons to a bottle of prune juice and a flashing sign to the hapless recipients door, arranged the "mourners" outside the poor guy's office and had them wailing and crying, and whenpeople asked who the black arm bands were for, everyone had a very good time mustering their saddest face and stating quietly,, "oh Bob is 40 today,,sniffle sniffle:



My birthday celebrations were legend, because I treated each one individually, but it WAS the little things that counted, a group email to everyone BUT the birthday girl/boy reminding them to wish so and so a happy birthday, an organized effort by the office staff to "pitch in" and help the birthday person on their special day so they could leave early, and a small short Individual celebration for each birthday,, I mean come on, don't ya just HATE those,, "okay everyone amble to the breakroom it's time for this month's birthday cake", how much nicer to have a coworker addressed by everyone in the work group, (due to your well placed and easily advance scheduled email) with a cheery happy birthday.



I solicited a movie theater in our area for free passes,and got them, and each birthday celebrator got two tickets to the movie of his/her choice and also had a similar success with a florist who our corporate account was placed with, it was great advertising for him and besides we were a valued customer I had a magician come in one day and do a short demo show for one employee who's hobby was magic, (his angle was leaving behind cards for our very baby boomer group who had children JUST the right age for birthday parties.  I arranged a free limo ride home for a birthday celebrant who'd happened to mention that she'd never ridden in one and the limo guy was pleased as punch when that twenty minute ride turned into five bookings for proms and weddings because his involvment at the company was so well known.



Creativety and low maintenance is the key for me,,, The Group emails were advance scheduled for the entire year in about an hour, making me look like I never forgot anything and the deliveries made by the florist were up to him, relying on what he had in stock and were often very beautiful and interesting. (although there was that time the biggest brawniest guy in the place got that teacup of pink sweatheart roses, so oversight is still an issue ....

You'd be amazed at what you can get, from local people who know your business and are eager to do business with you!



In short, get zany with the thing, you'll be far more appreciated for it than you know....



My four pence



Andrea

[winkiebear]

GREAT response Andrea - you gave me some fab ideas - thx!

[lilithd]

Thanks for the wonderful ideas! Yes, its's that monthly drudge to the gas chamber, I mean conference room for poisoned cake and dull conversation.  

I very much love your ideas! I was trying to figure out how to make each one individual with just a little bit of money and time, but the number of people change from month to month. As for the riminders, I already have all birthdays in my calendar for reminders. Our next birthday falls on the 26th. Plenty of time. Again, Thanks!!!!!