How To Plan A Surprise Party

Learn how to plan a surprise party to make the next big occasion memorable. One way to make a friend or family member's next birthday or retirement or whatever big event a special day is to throw a surprise party. Making sure to keep all of the details a secret from the guest of honor is key to a successful surprise party.

To plan a surprise party, you will need:

• Invitations
• A location for the surprise party
• Food and drinks
• Decorations

1. Keep it a secret. This may seem like a given, but when you're planning a surprise party, don't say much about the birthday or retirement or whatever the occasion is other than that you know it's coming up. It's better to acknowledge the occasion than to ignore it completely. But be sure to keep all of the details of the surprise party itself quiet.
2. Find a location. If possible, pick a location where you will have plenty of time, at least several hours, to decorate and prepare for the party without the guest of honor present.
3. Send invitations. List the important facts of the surprise party, such as where, when and other important details. Make it crystal clear in the invitations that the event is a surprise and that the guests should not mention the party to the guest of honor. Also include instructions for when to arrive, where to park and any other secret details.
4. Pick the food and beverages. Decide what food and drinks you'll serve. If possible, enlist the help of friends to make or at least bring food to the event to free you up for other tasks, like getting the guest of honor to the party on time.
5. Decorate for the occasion. Make the party fun and festive with at least a few decorations. Clusters of balloons or a nice bouquet centerpiece will add a festive air to the surprise party.