Surprise 30th Murder Mystery Birthday Party...HELP!!!

[renee_anthony]

Update: The party theme is going to be a murder mystery (like the game Clue) which I have never gone to before. I am going to be using Google a lot, hope they appreciate it.

I hope this is the right place to put this, if not please move the thread to the appropriate location! Thanks.

So this year marks my step-sister's 30th birthday. She and I are really close and I am going to throw her a surprise birthday party. I have Google'd stuff here and there to get some ideas, but I wanted to see if any of the members here have participated in, thrown one, been to one or just like party planning in general and can give me some tips. Especially how to do this on a budget. I am not sure who all is going to contribute for the party, so as of right now I'm planning on just me.

Here is what I have or done so far:

• Making a gift suggestion list of things she wants but can't afford to buy (like mani/pedi, massage, clothes, etc) so that way guests can have an idea of what to get her instead of giving her money because the money will go to bills.
• I am trying to come up with a list of her favorites foods (which isn't easy b/c this girl is picky).
• Started the guest list to ensure I don't miss anyone and I have recruited the help of her husband and her best friend as well.

Some of the areas that I would like suggestions on are:

• Games (I have a few suggestions, but would like an array to choose from. I also want to have a kids area so they don't become bored with what the adults are doing)
• Invitations - what to include and where to get nice, but cheap ones made
• Party favors (Again I have some in mind related to the games that I have thought of or that have been suggested to me so far.)

Any help, advice, prayers, positive thoughts, etc would be appreciated. I have never done something this big and I don't want the party to be a wash. I want her to remember this day forever. Oh and the date for the party is May 1, 2010.

[jen276here]

Making a gift suggestion list of things she wants but can't afford to buy (like mani/pedi, massage, clothes, etc) so that way guests can have an idea of what to get her instead of giving her money because the money will go to bills. I am, however, going to put on the invites that gifts aren't required, but would be appreciated.

Please don't reference gifts in the invitation. With any invite, it is already assumed that gifts are appreciated, not required. If folks ask you what she would like then I would refer to your list, but I would not include the list - it sounds like you are telling them they have to bring a gift.

What are her favorite things? Maybe you can pick something she really likes to theme the party around?

How many people are you looking at inviting? That should be determined before you decide on most things. If you are having 100 people, cooking the food yourself could be difficult, but for 30 it is more manageable. Where do you plan on having the party? A hall, your house, a restaurant? Location will determine what you may or may not be able to do as far as having space for kids to run around, etc.

Also you need to predetermine a budget amount to help you with planning the location and the ins and outs of it all.

[renee_anthony]

Please don't reference gifts in the invitation. With any invite, it is already assumed that gifts are appreciated, not required. If folks ask you what she would like then I would refer to your list, but I would not include the list - it sounds like you are telling them they have to bring a gift.

What are her favorite things? Maybe you can pick something she really likes to theme the party around?

How many people are you looking at inviting? That should be determined before you decide on most things. If you are having 100 people, cooking the food yourself could be difficult, but for 30 it is more manageable. Where do you plan on having the party? A hall, your house, a restaurant? Location will determine what you may or may not be able to do as far as having space for kids to run around, etc.

Also you need to predetermine a budget amount to help you with planning the location and the ins and outs of it all.

jen276here thank you so much. I read somewhere in my research to mention on the invitation gifts weren't required but appreciated. I wasn't sure b/c this is my first event like this.

The party will take place at someone's home. Her best friend has offered for us to use her house (assuming my parents haven't already moved down, which in that case the party would be at their house). I would imagine the guests list will range near 100.

I don't plan on doing the cooking myself (though the hospitals might appreciate the business....). After I compile a list I planned on recruiting those who would be willing to help prepare some of the food items for the party.

I don't think that I mentioned this in my OP, but I do want to have a professional cake made for the party (something you would see on Ace of Cakes - any bakers in the Raleigh/Wake Forest, NC area please send me a private message...wink wink).

Finding a theme is difficult for her b/c she has lived in 3 different places growing up so she doesn't have any real roots for her childhood. As far as themes as an adult, she's just not the average person that you can pick out something she would enjoy. I'm trying to find out things through conversation and her husband is too (which you would think he would know after being together for 12 years).