18th birthday: ideas & tips for planning your 18th birthday

Your 18th birthday is not just any old birthday. It's the moment in your life when you officially become an adult and such a momentous occasion needs to be celebrated! You might be asking yourself how to plan your celebration. There are many questions that need answering, such as how much time you will need to prepare and what your budget is. In our guide, we’ll take you step by step from the initial idea to the final details. With our clever tips and a little preparation, your 18th birthday will be an unforgettable experience. Let us inspire you!

18th birthday party: costs & guest list

To begin with, you need to consider what costs you may have at your 18th birthday party. These include, for example:

• The venue

• Food & drinks

• Decorations

• Entertainment (e.g. DJ or activities)

• Invitations

• Your 18th birthday outfit

The cost of your party will also depend on how many guests you invite. So, think about who you want to have with you early on. Are you having a big party with all your friends? Or would you prefer a smaller, more personal gathering? Both have their appeal. The important thing is that you feel comfortable with your decision and that the size of the party suits your ideas and your budget.

Ideas for your 18th birthday party: venue & catering

Depending on how you want to celebrate, popular party venues for an 18th birthday include a cosy restaurant, a stylish rooftop bar, a bowling alley or a hired party room. When it comes to food you can either organise catering or let your guests order from a menu.

Tip: You can also celebrate your 18th birthday at home (in the garden, for example) and organise a bring & share buffet. Each guest brings something for the buffet, e.g. a salad, finger foods or a dessert. This way, you can save on extra costs and still have a great time with your guests.

18th birthday: choose a theme for your party

Theme parties are a popular idea for an 18th birthday and add a touch of fun to any celebration. You can let your imagination run wild and choose a theme that brings you joy.

Popular 18th birthday themes include, for example:

• A cocktail party: chic evening looks

• '80s: cool retro outfits

• Black and white party: black and white clothing

• Bad Taste Party: outfit combinations that are as crazy as possible

• Coachella: summery festival looks

Tip: Want more inspiration for festival looks? In our guide ‘Festival outfits for women: inspiration & outfit ideas‘ you will find great outfit ideas and styling tips.

18th birthday planning: date, time & invitations

Once you have your guest list ready, you can think about when you want to celebrate. If your birthday falls on a weekend, that's perfect. You can celebrate with your guests in the evening and stay up late with music and dancing until your birthday the next morning. If your birthday is during the week, the following weekend is ideal for your party. This way, your guests can take time to celebrate with you and sleep in the next morning.

As soon as you have set the date for your 18th birthday party, you can start organising the invitations. If you want to organise it quickly and easily, you can create a chat group, for example, and add all the guests to the group. Write all the important information about your party in the group:

• The venue

• Date & time

• Information about the theme, if applicable

• Information about what food to bring, if applicable

• Info on gift requests, if applicable

Don't forget to ask your guests to RSVP by a certain date. This will help you plan better.

Alternatively, you can send a handmade or printed invitation to your guests by post. The nice thing about this is that you can give the invitations a personal touch and, for example, design them to match the theme of your party. What's more, all your guests will have a souvenir of your 18th birthday party.

18th birthday party: organise entertainment

Plan some activities to make your party entertaining and fun. Think about what you and your guests will enjoy: would you like to include fun games, creative activities or special events? You could also hand over the planning to friends or family members if you would like to be surprised.

Some great activities for an 18th birthday:

• Small ice-breaker games: perfect if not all the guests know each other

• A photo corner with props for fun snapshots

• Games or activities to match the theme of your party

• Karaoke for music fans

• A magic show

• A dance competition

You can also plan a special experience with your guests on your 18th birthday that will make your birthday particularly special. Such events and activities need to be planned or booked in advance. Don't forget to inform your guests about (outdoor) events so that they can prepare accordingly (e.g. pack weatherproof clothing or a change of clothes). You can find some exciting ideas here:

• Solving puzzles in an escape room

• A race on a go-kart track

• Climbing in a climbing forest

• A canoe tour together

• Paintball or laser tag

• A creative painting course

• A scavenger hunt

• A pottery or ceramic painting class

• A songwriting workshop

In the following articles you will find more ideas and tips for your 18th birthday, from stylish party outfits and suitable decorations to great gift ideas. The celebrant as well as friends and family can find tips and ideas here.

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The image sources in this text are in chronological order

Cover photo: New Africa – stock.adobe.com
1st image in text: Mix and Match Studio – stock.adobe.com
3rd to 5th image in text: C&A