Not gonna lie—when my best friend hit 30 last month, we kinda stared at each other like, “Okay so... are we supposed to feel old now or what?” But truthfully, it was a blast. And planning the whole thing wasn’t nearly as stressful as we made it out to be at the beginning.

So, if you're poking around for 30th birthday party ideas, I’ll just spill what worked for us, what didn’t 30th birthday party ideas, and a few side notes from other parties we’ve been to. No filters. No overly poetic nonsense. Just normal, fun stuff.

Don’t Overthink the Theme—But Also, Don’t Skip It

Themes help. Not in a cheesy Pinterest-y way (unless you like that vibe, no shade), but in a "What are people wearing and what kind of food are we eating?" kind of way. Ours? 90s/early 2000s throwback. People dug it. Baggy jeans, butterfly clips, old school hip-hop. Someone brought Dunkaroos. Wild.

You don't need a theme. But if you're someone who doesn’t wanna make 500 decisions, just pick one early. It narrows down venue, dress code, food, everything.

Home Party or Out? Depends on Your Chaos Tolerance

We did it at a friend’s house. Big backyard, enough space inside in case the weather flipped. Honestly, it saved us money. We used that extra cash to rent a karaoke setup and a few heaters for outside. Easy.

But I’ve seen people rent rooftops, lounges, even an Airbnb with a pool. That’s great too, just remember—more formal = more money and more things to clean up, even if you don’t stay the night. Sometimes having it at a bar where people just show up, drink, toast, bounce—that’s ideal if you’re not trying to play host all night.

Activities People Actually Like (Spoiler: Not Everyone Loves Games)

Games? Hit or miss. If your crew is into stuff like trivia, “most likely to” games, or even drunken Uno—it’ll fly. We had a few chill things like “write a message to your future self” cards. People actually did it. But don’t force it. Some people just wanna sip, eat, and talk. Respect that.

We did set up a little photo wall with dumb props, though. And that? Big hit. People love taking pics when the lighting’s right and the drinks are flowing. Doesn’t have to be fancy—some string lights, a backdrop, couple random wigs and glasses. Done.

Food Situation—Skip the Fancy Stuff Unless You’re a Chef

Nobody expects a five-course dinner at a birthday bash. We ordered trays of tacos, chips, wings. Kept it simple. Honestly, half the food gets ignored once the drinks start flowing, so don’t drop $$$ on gourmet whatever. If you do like cooking, though, doing a cookout or themed potluck can work. One party I went to did a full-on ramen night. Wildly good idea. Bit messy, though.

Drinks? If you’re supplying everything, prep in bulk. Sangria pitchers, pre-mixed cocktails in big dispensers. People will appreciate not having to play bartender all night.

Vibe Check—Lights and Sound Matter More Than You Think

You can have okay decorations and people won’t care. But if the music sucks or the lights are too bright? People notice. Get a decent playlist. Let it move from chill to hype as the night goes on. Ask a friend to DJ or just steal a Spotify set from someone who knows their stuff.

Lighting? Keep it warm. Candles, string lights, lamps. Kill the overheads. It changes everything.

Gifts—Optional, But Maybe Do a Twist

We didn’t want anyone bringing actual gifts. So instead, we told everyone: “Bring something small that reminds you of turning 30—or what you wish you knew when you were 20.” Some people brought books, shot glasses, old photos. One guy brought a notebook and wrote, “Start writing now.” Kinda hit deep.

One Thing We’d Do Differently