A Mystery Birthday Party

Last year was a monumental birthday. One of those decades you are certainly in shock when it arrives. How could that number now appear on my cake? Months prior to this became the idea of a mystery luncheon birthday party from a close dear friend.

Now, you see, my sister, Vickie, who tells you she isn’t a creative, shared this mystery dinner idea with us years ago. Her idea was such a hit here that we hosted many of them.

One of those birthday celebrations was for my dear friend, Ro. The instigator of the big time birthday party.

How does a mystery birthday party happen, you ask?

Well, it begins with a special friend, a creative husband, sisters and others who try and keep everything from you, if you are making it a surprise. It really works best with a team effort.

We have always created mystery dinners, and usually to celebrate birthdays. But, you could actually create a mystery party for retirements, holidays, graduations, etc.

For this birthday celebration, a mystery birthday luncheon was planned.

First, the guest list is the true compass for the event.

• it determines number to comfortably seat.
• location to seat that list of guests and it’s availability to set a date is next. We have served a mystery birthday party in homes, church fellowship halls and event centers. Choose what works best for you based on your guest list.
• keep in mind the location has to have a separate kitchen for organizing and serving.
• the number of guests affects the budget- from location, food, decorations, favors, etc.
• a small and intimate guest list works best for a mystery dinner, or luncheon in this case. Just a note: we have never hosted more than 30 seated guests for an event.
• remember that those who are working in the kitchen/servers need to eat, too, when making and preparing your menu which adds more to the food budget.

Next on to the decorations.

A few weeks before, my husband caved and brought me into “some” of the planning. I could help with

Flowers, Centerpieces, Linens and Favors…

We love to add favors as part of the celebration. For this one, houses were selected and filled with homemade marshmallows. You can find how to create them here.

We used cloth linens because those were available and ready to go.

Flowers were simple roses and flowers from Aldi and Sam’s Club added to the swan planter and bud vases that we had. Candle holders were Dollar Tree that were added to hurricanes that can be bought there, too.

Just a tip: Trader Joe’s carries the BEST dripless candles during the holidays which are the BEST to add to those candleholders.

Click here for swan filled planter that was the was the true greeter.

Selecting the menu is a big part of the planning.

Now, to begin the mystery birthday luncheon–or dinner– you begin creating the menu, with as many items as you like.

NOTE: When you are creating the menu, choose if you want to be thoughtful for guests to eat with or without utensils…such as Kabobs…

OR items that require silverware, such as, mashed potatoes, casseroles, or meat that needs to be cut.

You choose!

The planning committee had the original menus and plans from the many mystery dinners that have been hosted in the past. Happily, that group began the creation of name place cards, seat numbers, menus, and programs.

That secretive group ticked off details of servers (husbands of the women coming), organization, menu items, invitations, location, slide show, music, and you name it.

There were hushed conversations, texts, and phone calls even after I was clued in “a little” into the conversation.

So, how does a mystery birthday dinner –or luncheon in this case–work?

Everything is a mystery.

And to a tablescape, decorating lover? It truly is a nightmare.

Because…

You see…

EVERYTHING is secretive.

Everything for the course items are renamed items for everything you NEED to eat or WILL have to use to eat for the meal.

So, silverware, napkin, food items, drinks, ALL of it is part of the mystery dinner or luncheon event.

As guests enter, they only had a name place card and number of where to sit.

That’s it.

Guests are clueless of what the items listed are.

Back to that menu you select. That’s where the mystery begins.

Be creative when assigning menu names…for fun, these were simply birthday party words. No connection with the menu item which made it even more fun.

The mystery is that guests have no clue what each item is: when their napkin, silverware, drink, dessert, or food items appear…in what order.

They have a sheet to fill out with with what items they want for each course.

Guests simply transfer the number of the menu item to their order form. To help the servers, since they may not know the guest’s name, numbers were added to each guest’s place setting next to their name card.

But, filling out that form?

The guesswork is hilarious! Some people will try to figure each out item on the menu.

You choose the number of courses to be served…for this event they chose 4.

To ensure which drink each guest preferred, they listed it at the bottom of the menu. Genius.

The servers have to be on their game…

Guests’ completed menus with their name and number are assigned to each server.

With instructions in the kitchen where all of the items on the menu are listed in numerical order.

And when the servers bring out the first course? and the rest of the courses?

They begin to understand the mystery…

They may not have a fork to use until the last course.

Dessert may come first…a needed knife may come last…a drink may not arrive until the end…now do you understand the fun of the mystery?

And in true fun…each time a cupcake with a candle is delivered, everyone has to sing happy birthday to the birthday person!

It gets a little slap happy after a few of those all throughout the dinner or luncheon…

The kitchen is a secret, too.

No one is allowed in except servers…and servers are given instructions on who they are serving. With their guests menus grouped to an area for each server…the server focuses on what comes out for each course for their guests.

Food is kept warm on warming trays, in the oven or on the stove.

EVERY item is numbered on the serving piece or wall above.

THEN the mystery luncheon begins to unfold…

You see, guests see that everyone begins to get different things for each course…

Some are singing Happy Birthday with a lit candle delivered to them for a course…

While you hear someone tell their server they don’t have a knife to cut their meat…

Or they need a drink..

You get the drift.

Laughter ensues…people try and figure out what items they ordered for each course and what is coming next.

The food menu begins to unfold as it’s delivered among guests.

Favors begin to be delivered.

Songs are sung, laughter is loud and contagious, and food and drinks in random order and with or without needed silverware arrives.

It’s TRULY the most fun AND work you can have for planning a meal.

A Saturday afternoon luncheon proved best for this birthday surprise. A request for no gifts.

A slide show set to music of the birthday girl in ALL stages of life softly was played in the background during the meal.

Students, some student teachers from miles around appeared around the table.

People drove for hours and from states away to celebrate this big one. Best friends…

Family, new friends, old friends, church friends, work friends…all with feet under our table.

Not sure how all of the details got pulled off…but, people I had worked with years ago arrived. Family members flew in. Joy overflowed.

And for that? I was truly thankful.

A beautiful and memorable celebration that made me thankful for that crazy planning committee…those who served…and helped set up and clean up.

Thanks to all of you who joined us! Helped us laugh! and celebrate.

Now, WHO will you pull off this celebration for? I’ll be waiting in the comments!

Love to all.