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From long beach days to backyard BBQs, the summer season packs a ton of fun! So, if your birthday falls in these golden months, your birthday bash should be nothing short of amazing.
From different themes and things to do, to what to eat and what to have, and even who to use – we’ve got your summer birthday celebrations covered.
Keep on reading for some great party planning ideas that are sure to wow your guests and make this a truly memorable event.
How to celebrate the big day:
Whether you’re looking to plan a more intimate gathering or would like to do a big blow-out celebration, here are a few party/theme ideas that pair perfectly with warm weather!
Sunset Cruise:
Throw on your Captain’s hat and hit the sea! A sunset cruise is the perfect birthday bash for those warm summer nights. Whether you want to keep it small and intimate or pack a bigger boat with a good number of guests, nothing gets better than a birthday cruise at dusk with your besties. Step things up a notch with a DJ, bartender, and caterer to really blow your guests out of the water!
Wine Tasting:
Southern California is packed with amazing wineries! Take advantage of these sunny days and plan a birthday party outside at a winery. You can stay local and head to wineries in Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Paso Robles, or Temecula!
Picnic in a park:
If you’re looking to plan something more low-key, you can take advantage of all of the beautiful parks in Southern California and plan an outdoor picnic. You can bring all of your favorite foods, or work with an event company to set up a space to eat and drink, and deck it out with your favorite flowers, linens, food, and desserts!
Rooftop Celebration:
Does it get any better than rooftop views? With a variety of trendy rooftop bars and restaurants in town, you can’t go wrong with a rooftop birthday bash. Catch a sunset, listen to music, and sip on your favorite cocktails for an evening in the sky. You can deck the space out with beautiful flowers and a marquee sign to personalize the space.
Campfire party:
For those of you who just love to get outdoors, a campfire party is the way to go! Spend the night drinking your favorite adult beverages and roasting marshmellows. Bonus points if you have a few friends who can play any instruments!
Old Fashioned BBQ:
Nothing screams summertime like a good old cookout! Host your friends in your backyard for an afternoon of fun in the sun, cold drinks, and yummy food! Save yourself some trouble and ask your guests to bring a favorite dish! Pro tip: Hire a traveling bartender so you don’t have to man the bar yourself!
Beach Day:
A day at the beach is good for the soul! Invite all your pals to spend the day soaking in the sunshine and watching the waves with you. Bring good food, some music, volleyball, and a cooler of cold beverages, and you’ll have yourself a great little beach bash! If you want to plan something a bit more upscale, you can bring in some local vendors to set up a beautiful outdoor tablespace and hire a catering company to bring in some delicious eats and drinks.
Pool Party:
If you have a pool or know someone with a pool, a pool party is a summer classic! Bring out those colorful floaties, your best swimsuit, and plenty of SPF for a day in the sun sipping on Frose!
Summer Birthday Party Themes
Now, let’s get into the fun stuff – planning your summer birthday party theme! Whether you’re looking to plan a big bash or keep things a bit more intimate, a good theme is still a must for those memorable birthday photos. Check out a few of our favorite summer birthday party themes below!
Garden Party:
Fresh blooms and warm weather go hand in hand! Decorate your party with rustic elements and bright florals to create an unapologetically feminine and whimsical vibe.
Patriotic Party:
Memorial Day marks the start of summer and the 4th of July falls smack dab in the middle, so if you’re looking for a fun summer birthday party theme, you can’t go wrong with patriotic décor. Keep the vibe Americana with tasty BBQ, red-checkered tablecloths, white florals, and beers on ice! You can even encourage your pals to rock red, white, and blue for the day!
Boho Beachy:
Whether or not you’re having your birthday celebrations on the beach, you can’t go wrong with an elegant boho beach vibe. Think fun florals, candles, lanterns, a fabric canopy, a communal table, and a gorgeous selection of rugs, pillows, and poufs.
Pool Party:
Even as we get older, we’re all still big kids at heart. For an epic pool party, have some fun with the décor and bring out those giant, colorful floaties, bright balloons, and colorful beverages for a backyard bash that will have your inner child bursting with excitement!
Flamingo Themed:
If pink is your favorite color, go all out with a pink flamingo birthday bash! This retro décor gives you a ton of fun elements to play with from tropical flowers, flamingo-themed desserts, to vintage ensembles and more!
Luau Party:
You don’t have to be in Hawaii to enjoy a festive Luau! This is the perfect theme for your summer birthday bash because it’s a fun excuse to go all out with bright colors, gorgeous floral arrangements, feel-good music, festive cocktails (hello, Pina Colada!), and entertaining games!
Party Planning Timeline
Once you’ve locked down the type of party you’d like to have, now it’s time to get organized and get the goods! Here’s a party planning timeline to help keep things organized:
- 1+ months before: Finalize your venue, date, order invites, and pick a custom cake.
- 3-4 weeks before: Send out invites, plan the menu and/or book the caterer, order custom decorations and treats, and book any rentals.
- 2-3 weeks before: Order balloons, grab your party supplies, organize any fun photos or games, and get your kiddo’s birthday outfit.
- 1 week before: Lockdown your menu, finalize your guest count, and create the layout of the party (where to place tables, chairs, food, games, and gifts).
- 1-2 days before: Clean the house (if you’re hosting), prep the food, and decorate!
- Day of: Get ready to celebrate!
If you want your summer birthday bash to be the talk of the season, it has to stand out! How do you do that? Make it extra memorable with personalized décor and design elements!
How to personalize the party:
It’s all about the details when it comes to a memorable birthday party! From the balloons to the food, the desserts, and even your birthday cake, keeping things cohesive and on-theme will create the best photos and a great vibe.
Here are some ways to add a personal touch to your summer birthday celebrations:
A custom cake and desserts:
Whatever your birthday theme is, it should be reflected in the dessert in color and design!
Balloon numbers and garlands:
Every birthday bash should have a healthy number of balloons to mark the occasion. Spell out your name or your age in big foil balloon letters or incorporate a beautiful balloon garland for photos!
Floral centerpieces:
Flowers are a must for any adult birthday bash – utilize fresh blooms on tabletops to elevate the vibe of the party.
Photo station:
Create a designated space for fun photos! Whether you’re using a balloon garland or renting a special backdrop for the day, you’ll definitely want to create a space for photos when you can pose with family and friends!
Marquee sign:
Nothing screams birthday party like a giant marquee sign with your age spelled out in lights! This is a great addition to a balloon garland or photo backdrop and will really add an extra spectacle to the party.
At this point, we hope we’ve helped you come up with some great summer birthday ideas. BUT ideas don’t throw a great party – people do! Check out our list of amazing local vendors who can bring these party ideas to life!
At Festively, we’re all about women supporting women, so you can feel good knowing that when you work with these vendors you’re supporting a woman-owned small business!
