Planning a Birthday Party for a Large Group? Here’s How!

Planning a birthday with a handful of your closest friends is relatively simple. Getting four or five people in the same room isn’t that difficult, nor is it difficult to please that small group. The more people you add, however, the more of a logistical nightmare it becomes. 

“Oh, the 15th doesn’t work for Dave, but it’s the only day that works for Michelle”. “Lily is on a strictly keto diet, whereas Mike is on a strictly vegan diet”. “Most people want to go to a bar, but a few people don’t drink”. 

These are the kind of problems that arise the more people you include, as you juggle everyone’s needs and wants to create a party everyone’s going to love. But they can be solved. You can plan a birthday party with a large group that’s fun for everyone. Here’s how!

Plan in Advance

The single biggest piece of advice you can take away from this article is that it’s infinitely easier to plan a big birthday party a few weeks in advance than it is a few days in advance. Adults have busy schedules, between work lives, social lives and familial obligations; if you’re asking people to clear an evening for your (or a friend’s) birthday, you have to give them enough time to make the space. 

Weeks before the birthday party (or even months, ideally) send a message to everyone asking them to save the date. Alternatively, send your friends a scheduling poll, asking them what date works best for them, and choose your date according to the responses. 

Choose a Crowd-Pleasing Activity Suited to Large Groups

When you’re dealing with the large group, you have to consider both the venue and activity. With larger groups, restaurants and bars tend not to work very well. A long table, or cluster of tables, isn’t conducive to intermingling, and most people just end up fraternizing with those in their immediate proximity. 

If you want to encourage mingling and socialization, book your party somewhere open – somewhere centred on an activity that doesn’t confine everyone to a seating plan. In the past, that activity would have been bowling, but nowadays the de rigueur group sport is axe throwing. 

You get your friends together in an open space, take turns throwing axes, chat with others while awaiting your turn and snap a few badass pictures holding an axe. Plus, most of them serve food and alcohol, so those that want a drink or snack have the option. 

Take Note of the Various Dietary Restrictions

Before you go catering a big birthday party, do your due diligence on dietary preferences. A lot of people nowadays are gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian or vegan, to name a few restrictions. Discretely reach out to everyone (i.e. don’t do it over group chat) and ask people to list their restrictions, then either plan a menu around those restrictions, or choose a venue that accommodates them. 

Finally, as a last piece of advice, if planning is starting to feel exhausting, don’t be afraid to delegate. Your friends are probably more than happy to help you put together a fantastic birthday party puerto vallarta. With some early planning, a fun activity, an inclusive menu and some help from friends, you can absolutely pull off a big birthday this year!