Through the decades party

What it is

A big birthday where every guest picks a decade (the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or 2000s) and dresses for it. A slideshow tells the birthday person’s life story, a music quiz moves through the years, and the dance floor plays each era in turn. Ideal for 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays.

Plan ahead

• Four weeks before: send invitations so guests have time to plan costumes. Suggest each decade or assign them to mix it up.
• Two weeks before: collect photos of the birthday person from friends and family for the slideshow.
• One week before: make a playlist with 20 minutes per decade, plus the quiz (20 song intros, 4 from each decade).
• The day before: put up the photo wall and decorations.

Set the scene

Give each corner of the room a decade: lava lamps and flower stickers (60s/70s), neon and cassette tapes (80s), CDs and a “Friends”-style sofa corner (90s), and early mobile phones and glitter (2000s). Make a photo wall with photos of the guest of honour from each decade and a frame for selfies.

Activities

Music quiz

Play the first 10 seconds of each song. Teams write the song, artist and year. One point for each, bonus for the exact year.

Slideshow

5-10 minutes of photos set to music, played on a TV or projector just before the cake.

Costume awards

Award “best 70s”, “best 80s” and so on, voted for by applause.

Food and drink

• A buffet with a dish from each decade: prawn cocktail (70s), mini quiches (80s), sushi (2000s), and a chocolate fondue
• A cocktail per decade: Harvey Wallbanger, Sex on the Beach, Cosmopolitan, Mojito
• A cake with photos printed on edible paper

Tips

• Ask a friend to be in charge of the slideshow and music so you can enjoy the party.
• Keep a box of spare props (wigs, sunglasses, scarves) for guests who forgot.