Your mom is turning 80 this year, and it’s a significant milestone to celebrate. She’s had 80 incredible years filled with memories, and now it’s time to create a party that everyone will remember. Throwing a party takes planning and preparation, so you’ll want to be fully prepared in order to throw a special 80th birthday. We’ve given a few different 80th birthday party theme ideas as well as everything you’ll need to do to plan ahead of time.
What You Need to Throw an 80th Birthday Party
If you want to throw the ultimate 80th birthday party, you’ll want to get to planning early. Ensuring that all plans are made in advance will allow things to go smoothly. You don’t have to have it all figured out immediately, but there are a few basics you’ll want to start brainstorming in advance.
Here are a few things to consider when throwing an 80th birthday party for mom:
- Theme: Choosing a theme is a fun way to add to the celebration. We’ve given a few different theme ideas below that just about every mom would love on her 80th birthday.
- Location: Think about where mom will want to celebrate her big day. Would she want to spend it at home, her favorite restaurant, or outdoors someplace?
- Time and Date: Talk with mom as well as friends and family to determine the best date and time that works for everyone ahead of time. Make any necessary reservations in advance to avoid any issues as the big day approaches.
- Guest List: Mom’s 80th birthday is a big milestone, and everyone who knows and loves her will want to be a part of the fun. However, consider whether she’d want a huge party with everyone or if she’d want a more intimate gathering and create your guest list accordingly.
- 80th Birthday Invitations: Creating the 80th birthday invitations can be a huge part of the planning fun. When you know what your theme is going to be, think about how to incorporate it into the invitations. For example, you could use a newspaper-style invitation dated with her birthday an an “article” with the party details.
- Decorations: Based on your theme, decide on 2 or 3 colors that will match and go from there. Think balloons, paper plates, napkins, drinking glasses, and any other decor you want to have. As before, choose decorations that compliment the theme of the party. (are you sensing a theme here?)
- Party Food Menu: What’s mom’s favorite food? Does she have a favorite restaurant or are there family recipes she adores? You could have each party guest bring one of her favorite dishes or order from her favorite place to dine at.
- Music Playlist: Music will add a lot to the vibe of the party. If you’re doing an 80s themed party, then obviously you’ll want 80s music. You could also ask friends and family to give ideas to create a playlist of her favorite songs from the time she was born through now.
- Itinerary: You don’t necessarily need a very strict itinerary, but knowing the order of events ahead of time will decrease the chance of anything going off track (especially if you want it to be a surprise party)! Consider the best time for the guests to arrive, any activities you have planned, when to serve food, and when she’ll open gifts.
- Birthday Gifts: You don’t want to give mom any ordinary gift this year. It is her 80th birthday after all, and that’s a big deal. Below we have some activities that also double as meaningful gifts she’ll treasure forever.
Celebrate Mom
Although planning an 80th birthday can seem like there is a lot of focus on the decade, you want to make the main focus, of course, mom. Keep her at the forefront of your mind when making the plans. Make everything as personal as possible by including nostalgic elements unique to her, special memories, and other sentimental tributes.
By putting mom at the focus rather than the celebration itself, you’ll be able to give her a special day. The last thing you want is to throw a generic party that solely focuses on the fact that she’s 80. She has a whole lifetime of memories and accomplishments, and it’s time to reminisce.
As we age, especially as women, birthdays can be an emotional time. Keep the tone of the party positive, keep her in the forefront of your mind throughout all of the planning, and she’s sure to love her 80th birthday party.
Putting Everything Together
First, consider the theme you want to go with. Below we’ve given you a few different 80th birthday party theme ideas for mom to help get you started. From there, you can choose the location, decor, and activities accordingly.
We’ve also given you some additional ideas that will fit well with just about any theme you choose to do. The 80th birthday party activity ideas all include personal touches that are sure to make mom feel special on her birthday.
80th Birthday Party Theme Ideas for Mom
1. Cheers to 80 Years
Having a “Cheers to 80 Years” celebration is a classic theme for an 80-year-old who has a specific drink preference. Whether mom likes to indulge in a glass of wine, an ice-cold beer, or a signature cocktail, you can make it the featured detail for the party. You can even find decorations to match the drink of choice. For the invitations, thinking of a clever pun add to the humor. For example “Another beer older”, “Aging like fine wine”, or even a simple “Cheers to 80 years” can work!
2. Vintage Birthday Party
What better way to celebrate old memories than a vintage themed birthday party? Think sepia tones, nostalgic games, old photos of mom, and vintage decor such as glass mason jars. If you go this route, tie in as many personal touches to mom as possible. Ask around to find what her favorite games, candies, etc. were and use them for the party. For invitations, you could use a newspaper or polaroid design.
3. Still Rock’n It Party
Did mom love rock ‘n’ roll? Maybe she still loves to rock out and wants to party like it’s 1950. For this party, you’ll want to make a rock’n playlist, decorate with some old rock ‘n’ roll posters, and maybe even have a rockstar dress code. If mom is young at heart, then this is the perfect party to celebrate her.
4. 1980’S Party
Similarly to the rock’n party, a 1980s party is a fun era themed party for a mom who’s still young at heart. Create some tye-dye invitations to set the tone of the party and fill the party room with groovy colors. Tell the guests to come dressed in 80s fashion and provide foods and drinks that were popular in the 80s. And of course, you can’t forget to make a playlist filled with songs she danced to back then.
5. Glam and Golden Year Party
For a glam mama, she is going to feel like royalty at her party with this theme. Decorate the home or venue with gold decor. If you’re wanting to go the extra mile, add in a photo booth and bring props like feather boas and beaded necklaces. Pop a bottle of champagne or have a few bottles of sparkling wine. All that’s left is creating some glamorous and gold invitations and you’re ready to go!
6. 80 Years Young Party
An 80 years young party is also a great opportunity to celebrate mom’s life so far with lots of memories. Find out all of the things she loved during childhood, and center the theme around it. Fill the room with decorations of famous movie posters and other memorabilia from her younger days. Use a childhood photo for the invitations to add a personal touch.
7. Favorite Foods Potluck
Why do all of the cooking yourself when you can have everyone pitch in and make mom’s favorite dishes? Have mom make a list of her favorite dishes and have everyone choose what they’ll bring. Not only will this take some stress off of the party planning, but everyone will have a great time tasting a variety of different foods.
Other 80th Birthday Party Ideas for Mom
1. Memory Book
Giving mom a memory book is something she’ll cherish for life. Have everyone who’s near and dear to her to make a page of memories to create a big memory book for her to reminisce on. Add stories from her past and photos taken throughout the decades. She’ll be so touched when she sees what everyone came together to create for her.
2. Thoughtful Messages
Head to the store and grab a plain white tablecloth and a handful of colored sharpies. Either hang it on the wall or lay it across a table and have all of the guests write a thoughtful message once they arrive. They can use it to write how much she means to them or a memory from the past and leave the signature. She’ll love pulling out the tablecloth to read everyone’s message for years to come.
3. Newspaper From the Day She Was Born
Find a newspaper from the day mom was born and have it as apart of the decor for her party. You should be able to find varies websites online that are able to track the vintage newspapers. Seeing different advertisements and news stories from those days will bring a flood of old memories, like when gas was just 15 cents a gallon.
4. 80 Things We Love
This could be a personalized gift just from you or you could work with her friends and family to create it together. Either way, the project is simple – write down 80 things you love about her. This could be special qualities, the way she cooks, memories, etc. It’s a simple and priceless gift that will make her feel incredibly loved.
5. 80 Years of Pictures
Create a personalized photo book that shows 80 years of mom’s life. Contact friends and family to see if they can dig up any photos throughout her life. Add in memories about each photo that can be summed up in a few sentences. You’ll want to have plenty of room to fill the book with photos. For additional writing, you could have everyone write out all of their favorite memories to add to the book.
In Conclusion
Mom is turning 80 this year, and it’s time to make her the guest of honor to celebrate her 8th decade. Although 80 is a big milestone age, you want to put more focus on her than her age. Adding nostalgic touches that are personalized to her will make her feel special and loved at her big birthday celebration. Think of a theme that she’ll love and plan accordingly!
If you need some gift ideas for mom’s big day, check out this article.