50th birthday party ideas & planning tips

Decorations, food and gifts for a 50th birthday

Your 50th birthday marks half a century on earth and is a milestone that should be honoured. 50 years of stories, experiences and achievements need to be celebrated in style. Whether you prefer a big and bold bash, an extravagant garden party or a sophisticated dinner: we’ll show you how to turn your 50th birthday into a day to remember. We’ll help you plan a party with eye-catching decorations, personal 50th birthday gifts and practical tips. We’ll also give you creative DIY ideas that you can easily make at home.

Planning a 50th birthday made easy

Anyone planning a 50th birthday, whether for themselves or someone else, has the chance to plan more than just a run-of-the-mill gathering. This milestone is the perfect occasion to think out the box and organise a fabulous celebration.

Planning a 50th birthday: things to consider ahead of time

• What setting is appropriate? Think about what size the event should be. Would the person celebrating prefer a big party or a sophisticated evening with a small circle of friends?

• Involve the celebrant or surprise them? Does he/she want to be involved in the planning or be surprised? Both options have their advantages. The important thing is to clarify this early on.

• Put together a well-curated guest list: in one’s 50s, one generally has a diverse circle of friends, from long-term companions to family and work colleagues. Plan a guest list that takes everyone into account.

• Define the setting and style: would the celebrant prefer an elegant evening, a laid-back garden gathering or a fun theme party? The style will dictate the decorations, food and activities.

• Set the date and location early, especially if family and friends are travelling from afar and may need overnight accommodation.

• Set a realistic budget: a 50th birthday is a special occasion, but you should define and stick to a set budget. To make the most out of your budget, think about what you can do yourself and what you can spend a little more on.

• Outsource tasks: you don’t have to do everything on your own. Ask your friends or family for help.

50th birthday: creative ideas for your celebration

• A musical journey through time with personal hits and little anecdotes about them

• A video guest book with congratulations and memories recorded during the party

• A ‘timeline’ or a journal with pictures, moments, career milestones and life events of the person celebrating

• A ‘bucket list’ with new goals for the next 10 years (collected by family and friends)

• ‘Time travel table’ with old magazines, music from their youth, retro objects and favourite snacks from the past for nostalgia and topics to talk about

• Party highlights such as a fire show, a live band or a DJ to keep guests entertained

• A camera for instant snapshots that you can put straight into the guest book

• A wishing tree on which each guest can hang a wish

• A quiz about the person celebrating, with questions about their childhood, youth, hobbies, etc.

Ideas for a 50th birthday: food & snacks

The food should reflect the ambience and style of the party. It should be good quality yet simple.

• A personalised buffet with ‘favourite dishes from 5 decades’ as a theme

• Live cooking or a food truck: hire a chef to prepare pasta, sushi or burgers on site

• Finger food deluxe: from mini quiches and skewers to tapas – perfect for laid-back garden parties

• Candlelight dinner for everyone: eat together at a long table under fairy lights, with a set menu (3 courses) or from platters as a modern alternative

• Brunch with bagels, fresh croissants, eggs, waffles and a sparkling wine bar for a morning/lunchtime gathering

• A coffee and cake bar with a selection of homemade cakes, tarts and coffee specialities

Inspiration for a design concept for your 50th birthday

• Colour scheme: the combination of fresh sprigs of eucalyptus, a warm and sunny bunch of yellow flowers and an elegant touch of gold brings a sense of jovial warmth to the table reflecting a cheerful yet stylish ambience.

• Table decorations: a linen or cotton table runner in warm, natural tones is the perfect basis for a sophisticated table setting. Wildflowers are a wonderful detail that incorporate a natural freshness and a touch of summer. Candles in empty wine bottles and a string of fairy lights provide an inviting and intimate light.

• Table setting: golden cutlery and neatly folded fabric napkins with simple napkin rings bring a touch of understated elegance to the table.

• Decorations: a number ‘50’ as a central decorative element (e.g. as a light box, balloons or flower arrangement) makes for a bold centrepiece on the buffet and gift table alike. Name cards or small wooden discs adorned with dried flowers are not only practical but are also a sweet memento for your guests to take home.

Practical tips for 50th birthday decorations

• Use the colour scheme you have chosen consistently for the table decorations, invitations, birthday cake and dress code. This will create a coherent overall look.

• Make sure you have warm lighting. Fairy lights, candles and small lanterns make the room cosy and inviting.

• Plan the decorations so that they are easy to prepare or can be set up the day before.

50th birthday gifts: ideas for creative presents

By the time you reach 50, you’ve certainly received many gifts in life. That’s why a 50th birthday present should be something particularly meaningful. You can honour this milestone with a gift you have made yourself to show how much the celebrant means to you. With these 50th birthday gift ideas, you’re sure to be on target and bring joy to the person celebrating.

Materials for your 50th birthday money gift

• Paper with a pretty design

• Fine-tipped pen or printer

• Crafting knife

• Banknotes

• Adhesive tape

How to make a 50th birthday money present

1. First, either draw the cake design for the birthday card by hand or create it on your computer and print it on the design paper.

2. Next, place your card on a cutting board and cut out the cake design with a crafting knife.

3. Place the banknotes inside the card so that they fill out the inside of the cake. Carefully secure the money with adhesive tape.

4. Now cut out a rectangle that generously covers the money and stick it on with adhesive tape. Voilà, your 50th birthday gift card is ready to go!

Materials for your 50th birthday faux cake gift

• 3 round gift boxes (large, medium and small)

• A selection of the celebrant’s favourite sweets

• A bottle of wine or sparkling wine

• Some decorative ribbons

• A golden number 50

• Fresh or faux flowers

• Floral foam

• A hot glue gun & a pair of scissors or crafting knife

How to make a 50th birthday faux cake gift

1. Take the three gift boxes and cut a hole in the lid of the largest box so that the bottle fits inside. To do this, place the bottle in the centre of the lid, draw a generous circle around it and cut it out.

2. Repeat this step for the medium and small gift boxes. In the end, you should be able to stack all three boxes on top of each other and place the bottle inside. Note that you don’t need to cut a hole in the lid of the small box.

3. Now you can fill the individual tiers with sweets and attach them to the gift box with a little hot glue.

4. Decorate your faux cake with ribbons and bows, which you can also attach with hot glue.

5. Cut the floral foam to size and fill the smallest box. Now stick the fresh or faux flowers between the ribbons, sweets and into the top of the floral foam. Place a golden number 50 on the top tier. Your special 50th birthday gift is now ready to go!

More creative 50th birthday gift ideas

• A personalised memory box filled with photos, letters from friends and family and/or memorabilia from the past five decades

• A joint experience as a gift: whether it’s concert tickets, a cooking course, a wellness day or a trip to the countryside, time spent together is always a special gift.

• Origami butterflies made from banknotes placed in a bouquet of flowers

• A bottle of wine or whisky with a good vintage, such as the birth year of the person celebrating

• Plant a tree in the name of the celebrant in a reforestation project or symbolically in their garden

• A donation for a good cause in the name of the celebrant. This is especially useful if someone already ‘has everything’.

• A high-quality cashmere scarf or jumper is a beautiful memento for a birthday

Find your style: how to put together the perfect outfit for your 50th birthday

The outfit you pick for your 50th birthday should be something special, but it shouldn’t be over the top. Focus on dressing for the occasion, emphasising your individual style and feeling comfortable. In the following, we’ll give you some ideas for stylish outfits suitable for a 50th birthday party:

A 50th birthday outfit for women

• An elegant summer dress in a midi length is a safe bet, especially one made of linen, viscose or silk. Floral patterns or delicate colours such as mint green, rosé or cream are subtle and fresh.

• If you prefer a classic look, go for a jumpsuit with a belt or a trouser suit, combined with simple sandals or ballerinas.

• Accessories include discreet jewellery, a clutch and a silk scarf.

A 50th birthday outfit for men

• A well-fitting shirt (light blue, white or with a subtle print) combined with a pair of chinos looks smart but laid-back.

• For a more elegant look, opt for a blazer and shirt, paired with leather loafers or high-quality trainers, depending on the type of event.

• Linen shirts or polo shirts are ideal for summer garden parties.

Conclusion: your 50th birthday – a very special occasion to celebrate

A 50th birthday marks a milestone and a life full of experiences, stories and new perspectives. By planning ahead of time, with carefully curated decorations, little highlights and heartfelt gifts, you can throw a party that the celebrant and all their guests are sure to remember for years to come!

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The image sources in this text are in chronological order

Cover photo: Agnieszka Komuńska – stock.adobe.com
1st image in text: Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
2nd - 3rd image in text: C&A