How to Plan the Ultimate Birthday Surprise for Your Significant Other

It's never easy planning something as unique as a birthday for someone you really love, even when you've known them for years. While you can go through the motions and do all of the usual things that birthdays are made of, if you really know and love them, then it might be a time to think a little bit outside of the box and see if there's anything you can do that will turn the average birthday celebration into something utterly incredible and worthy of the person you love. This post will offer a few suggestions to get you started, but if you really want to make an impact, your best option is to take these ideas and personalize them for the person whose big day is approaching.

Understand Their Preferences And Interests

It makes sense first to take some time and figure out what it is they really enjoy. While this might seem like an obvious step at first, people do change over time, and what you might have thought would have been a great gift several years ago may no longer be relevant. Some things, like a set of happy birthday flowers, are great for almost anyone, but if you want to add extra gifts, then knowing their interests will go a long way. Maybe they enjoy motorsports and booking a track day, which could be a great choice. On the other hand, perhaps they aren't really that into material goods and would much prefer to take a nice walk amongst some beautiful scenery. Whatever it might be, the more time and effort you put into the job, the more the recipient will gain from the experience.  

Determine How Much You Can Afford To Spend Without Breaking The Bank

It's never much fun to think about money, but for most of us mere mortals, it's an unfortunate part of life. The thing about ensuring you budget for the right gift is that you're doing this for two reasons:

1. So you know you can afford the gift.

2. This is to avoid causing embarrassment to the recipient if it looks like you've overspent.

When it comes to the first point, it's obvious that you really don't want to spend more than you can afford, especially if you also have other obligations you need to tend to. Regarding the second point, an overly expensive gift can actually backfire, and if you spend too much, you could cause embarrassment and concert rather than elicit the responses that you might desire.  

Select A Day That Has Special Significance For Both Of You To Enhance The Surprise

Yes, of course, their actual birthday is going to be the special day, but for many people who work and are unable to simply take the day off, it's not always convenient to celebrate, particularly if it falls midweek. Instead, get together with your friends, choose a day that is most convenient or has some kind of special meaning, and plan around that. By choosing a day that works for everyone, you can make it more likely that everyone you invite will be able to attend, and the day will be significantly more memorable. Moreover, if it happens to land near a date like when you first met, you could make it even more intimate.

Compile A List Of Close Friends And Family To Include In The Celebration

Nothing quite makes a party like having all of the people you know and love in attendance. Most people will accumulate a heady mixture of friends and nuances throughout their lives, but only those with whom they create a genuine affinity will stick around for the long haul. You need to invite these people so that any party you throw goes off without a hitch. Try to set things up so that everyone knows well in advance and can ensure they have the time to make an appearance. If you leave things too late, you'll end up with only a few people who can come. Conversely, if the birthday boy or girl is somewhat of an introvert, then a big basah might not be preferable, and opting for something a little smaller and more intimate might be the correct course of action. 

Choose A Location That Aligns With Their Interests And Is Convenient For Guests

For some folks, a party at the local pub will suffice, while for others, or for those who are having a special day in terms of reaching a specific age (30s, 40s, 50s, etc.), something more prominent might be on the cards. Whatever you choose, remember to make the event as convenient as possible for you and your guests. There's no point booking a birthday party in the Bahamas if nobody is available or able to pay for a ticket.

Design An Invitation That Reflects Their Style And Sets The Tone For The Celebration

If you will be handing out invitations, make sure that they fit the party's tone. If the plan is to host a sophisticated event at a high-quality restaurant, then an invitation with lewd messaging may miss the mark, no matter how funny or relevant it might be to your friendship group. However, if you choose something a little less formal, then a simple WhatsApp group will probably suffice. As usual, it's up to you how you go about it, and it should be based on what you have planned. 

Hire A Photographer Or Designate A Friend To Document The Event For Lasting Memories

Again, as with all of the tips in this post thus far, this tip will be based on what type of party you have and who your friends are. For those creating a bigger event for a person reaching a significant milestone in their life, hiring a photographer or designating a friend for the job is a great way to immortalize the celebrations. Once the photos have been taken and edited, you can distribute them among your closest friends and even surprise the birthday patrons with a framed picture of the best of the bunch. 

Planning a birthday needn't be overly complex, and these ideas should give you some indication. However, just make sure to customize them based on your lifestyle and that of the birthday person.

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