I need your opinions please!

I am so undecided about something and thought maybe you could help! I have been posting about having a surprise 30th bday party for my DH. So I found a place (thanks to someones post) and was ready to book it, but I am having doubts. It would be a 4 hour dinner in a private party room in a restuarant, with open bar and a dj. Is this too much and over the top for a 30th bday party? It would cost about $3000. It's a great price, but a lot of money for me. And we are looking to buy a house too. The money would be coming from my summer job, so I wouldn't have to touch our savings. What should I do!?! Have the party, it's a once in a lifetime thing. or do something on a smaller scale. Please help!! I have to decide today b/c I am going away on vaca this weekend and it needs to be booked. Thanks in advance!!

Re: I need your opinions please!

honestly,if you can afford it, I don't think it's too much BUT a backyard party with food catered in buffet-style with decorations, plates etc will cost you a third of that and they'll be no time limit. You can even get his family/friends involved by making a dessert or bringing beer/wine, HTH

eta: sometimes, the restuarant you get the food from offers a waitress to come and help pass out appetizers, put things in the oven and clear dirty plates

Message edited 6/29/2007 4:16:17 PM.

Re: I need your opinions please!

Personally I wouldn't do it. Men tend to not like things like that as much as women and be more practical (I know not ALL men, I’m just generalizing). I'm NOT saying he wouldn't enjoy it but I am guessing if you said to him, “I am spending $3,000 on your birthday, would you like a big party or a new plasma TV for the new house..." I am guessing he'd rather have something that would last for years than a party that lasts a few hours. You could still have a nice surprise party on a small scale and also give him a really WOW gift. Again, this is just my opinion knowing my personality and my DH, this may be totally opposite for you and your DH, but if it is, then it could also help you decide!

Re: I need your opinions please!

I agree with both of the above posts COMPLETELY.

I think it is wonderful of you to consider this idea. But with the house hunt and all.. that 3k could really be better applied somewhere else.

Wait. In another 10 years he will be 40 and you will own a gorgeous house and probably be in an even BETTER position financially. Then you can throw him a 40th like no other if you still want to do a big party.

Re: I need your opinions please!

i threw my husband a 30th and it was cheaper than $3K. but we had a semi-private room, buffet w/open bar and no DJ. he was happy to have his friend and family together, have some food and drink. maybe you could scale it back? do they offer a buffet option? is a DJ needed, maybe set up an ipod thru their speaker system?

Re: I need your opinions please!

I was in a similar situation in December. DH was turning 30 and I wanted to throw him a big party at a bar in the city. However, we had recently purchased our co-op, along with a lot of furniture, and we were going to Hawaii 2 weeks before his birthday.

I decided that with all of those expenses, that a big party was going to be another unnecessary one. Instead, I decided to have a nice party at our apartment. We wound up having about 35 people and I had it catered by Iavarone. I bought a bunch of beer and wine. It cost about a third of what I would have paid if I had it out. Honestly, it was so much fun and DH was soooooooo happy I didn't spend the extra money on a big party out.

Is there anyway you can do something like that? Or maybe just have a cocktail party at a bar (without paying for a DJ and full diner?

Re: I need your opinions please!

try just cocktails and appetizers and then cake

make the party 8-11 - 3 hours
you will save $ there