40th Birthday Party Idea: Oh No! The Big 4-0

Well, it’s better than OVER THE HILL…no?  I’ve always hated that theme… must be my age.  In any event, this could be a really fun party with everything being BIG BIG BIG or big, bigger and biggest!

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Invitations
Take the graphic and blow it up to make an 11x17” invitation that you fold down to fit in a standard size envelope. Add who, when and where plus an RSVP in BIG PRINT, and you have ONE BIG INVITATION…

Or you can use our Oh No! invitations that coordinate with the paper goods from this theme.  How about one of our custom caricature invitation that is designed especially around this theme?  Have the guest of honor standing on top of a BIG "40", with a "39" running away.  Play on the big theme with BIG versions of some of the celebrant's favorites.  Do they like skiing, have them holding a huge pair of skis.  Are they into books?  They can be holding a BIG book.  You get the idea.  Have fun with it!

Here is sample wording that you can use on a BIG invitation for this special THE BIG 4-0 celebration:

Here’s the BIG picture…
You’re invited to
ONE BIG PARTY
in honor of Wanda’s
BIG BIRTHDAY!
Bring a BIG grin, a BIG appetite
and some BIG IDEAS

for ways Wanda can celebrate!

 

RSVP
___What’s the BIG IDEA?  I’m/we’re busy that day.

___The BIG NEWS is I/we can come!

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Decorations
Enlarge photos of the guest of honor through the years and have them mounted on foamcore.  Put them on easels around the room as another fun BIG way to highlight the guest of honor!  You can also hang them from the ceiling.  Along with the photos, add cutouts of large 40s around the room.  You can make them yourself out of different colors of poster board or hire an event company to make your large signs.

From the ceiling in the foyer or at the entrance (or wherever you would like for that matter), hang more BIG 40’s so no one forgets what milestone you’re celebrating.  We also have glitter swirls and cascades plus happy birthday dangles if you’d rather—that all match this theme.

Scatter “40” confetti on all flat surfaces (don’t forget the bathroom). And to really make a BIG SPLASH…use “40” candles that come on picks to put in plants and whatever else will hold them.  Everyone will get a kick out of finding them around the room.

If you want BIG impact, and it's in your budget, hire a company to light up your party.  They can spotlight tables, up-light the walls in different colors and even project the guest of honor's name or big 40s on the wall and onto ceiling.

Hand out jumbo sunglasses (that means BIG) for some more great photo opportunities.

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Table Decorations and menu
For fast and easy clean up, choose Over the Hill theme paper goods or choose another birthday design - as long as it features a 40!  If you're having a more formal party, you may want to choose linen and cloth napkins, along with real silverware. (If you're hosting the party at an event center, they'll be able to get you everything you need.)  But, you may still want to choose a fun 40th birthday theme cocktail napkin to use during cocktails and for dessert. Imprinted cocktail napkins are another great choice for cocktails and dessert.

Create fun balloon bouquets with birthday latex balloons mixed with the BIG "40" Mylar balloons as bright and fun centerpieces for your party. The bigger, the better for this party! Remember, always use an odd number when creating a balloon bouquet!  At the base of the balloons, place framed photos of the celebrant through the years.

Having a lot of tables?  Then make OH NO…BIG 40 cakes for each as a centerpiece and have the balloons we mentioned above coming out of the center.  Balloon weights for the cake are available at any balloon store in your neighborhood.  A small tiered cake would look fabulous on the tables or a larger version works on the buffet.  Here is a fun 40th birthday cake from About The Cake in Cleveland.

Giant “40” confetti is available at many craft or party stores or you can cut them out yourself.  As well, you probably can find chocolate 40’s (or any age) at your local candy store.  At each place put out a custom cookie with a photo of birthday boy or girl and "Oh No!  The Big 4-0!"  - they make a great personalized party favor.

And, instead of plain votive candles choose personalized mini tabletop lanterns with a photo of the birthday boy or girl on all four sides.  Consider using LED candles because they are safer and look great surrounding a centerpiece.   

Big glasses are in order at the bar, no?  Go to a local craft store and look for giant beer mugs and giant martini glasses.  You can use the martini glasses as decoration on the bar or as oversized serving dishes.  Try serving shrimp cocktail in a giant martini glass - fun! The giant-sized beer mugs can be filled with water with a touch of yellow food coloring and soda (for bubbles) to look like beer.

Make a BIG impression by serving drinks in light up beer mugs or one of our customized beer mugs with words or logo of choice!  Personalize your party with custom wine and beer bottle labels celebrating the big day.

Martinis can be served in light up martini glasses and wine can be served in light up wine glasses or light up champagne glasses.  There are even light up coasters to make the entire room light up!

On the dessert buffet, consider a multi-tier cake with a giant 40 on the top and a 5 pound Hershey Bar to serve to one and all…now that’s BIG!

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Party Favors