40th birthday party????? 10 points :D?

Well outfits could be big hair and afro wigs... BRIGHT vivid colours, shirts with loads of frills, bign long flared trousers or big long floaty maxi dresses... flowers in hair, headbands, big sunglasses etc!

OH.. and the biggest platform shoes you can find... (without injuring yourselves in them :)

Decorations... lava lamps... bright volours again... banners with brightly coloured 'psychadellic' lettering on them... black lights were very popular in the 70s too... look into them! Lots of stars and just basically anything totally OTT tacky and bright! Disco balls!

A good idea for invites would be (if you give them out in person, or can send out in a little box..) like buy loads of miniature disco balls (like xmas tree baubles.. you can usually buy ones like disco balls)... and then attach a tag to them with the party details on there.. would be kind of novel!

Music could be absolutely ALL SORTS... too much to mention here and it depends on taste.. obviously ABBA would be a good choice as they have lots of good party songs but theres a whole world of good 70s party music... you can buy 70s compolation albums... try ebay?

For food i'd just do general buffet party food really, but maybe find things that are really bright in colour, or interesting shapes!

have fun :)

It's my 40th next year! the last thing id want is a suprise party reminding me of this fact haha!

An 80's theme would be better because that would be her 'era' so to speak!

Music has to be the 80's new romantics like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Modern Romance, OMD, New Order, Tears for Fears, Adam & the Ants etc etc...

Big hair, blue eyeshadow, shoulder pads & leg warmers, polka dots and everything yukkie that was the hideous 80's

Prawn cocktails were the yuppie 80's choice,

Gonna shut up now because I am remembering too much id rather forget!

There are some great retro sites that can help you.... !

A definite 1970's buffet has to include a hedgehog - a stale/hardcrust loaf with cocktail sticks all over it with blocks of cheese, pickles, olives and pineapples on the sticks.

Any good costume shop will sell 70's fancy dress or you could look in speciality shops or ebay for the genuine thing.

How about making the invites in the style of records?

Also any good DJ will have plenty 70's music - disco was very much in. there are also site on the internet where you can find lots of interesting things that have happened through the last 40 years on your mum's birthday etc which you could incorporate into posters etc.

For special birthdays my family always throw a party and around the room/hall we have blown up posters of the birthday girl/boy when they were younger - the more embarrassing the better!

An 80's theme would be better because that would be her 'era' .

Get an 80's song like "Hollywood Swingin'" by Cool and the gang.

Order a jubox and lights and if your lucky

Get a smoke machine so the floor is smokey.

Also, order a disco ball.

Buy a punch machine and make your own punch for it."find it on the net"

Everyone could be in either hippy outfits or pimp outfits. ect.

Your invitaion card dosnt need to be too fancy. Heres an invitaion i found :

http://www.party411.com/invite-80s01.jpg

If you had food, dont go over the top. Just basic stuff,

Chips, snacks ect.

Also, it depends were you having the party. If its in the backyard

set up tables chairs, have evrything neat.

You could also order a D-J if you wanted. you find them pretty cheap.

look them up in the phone book.

WARNING-

Sometimes people hate suprise party's.

If your party goes on late at night. Turn down the music after 10:00

becuase the neighbours might call the police.

Give out wrist bands so that everyone gets one. Just

incase of party crashers.

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Have a great time,

have a drink for me.

-

Michael McElligott