Transport guests back with a buffet of food that could have been served in the 1950s.
Adding a theme to a surprise party adds an extra level of excitement to the occasion as it prevents the party from fizzling once the anticipated moment of surprising the guest-of-honor passes. While a generic 1950s theme party can include almost any icon from the decade for food, decorations and entertainment, selecting a specific year, such as 1955, allows a more focused theme. Incorporate music and movies from 1955 into the event for a guest who was born that year, or a guest of honor simply nostalgic for the decade.
Instructions
1. Send out invitations to guests that emphasize the element of surprise and the 1955 theme. Give explicit instructions that all guests must arrive 30 minutes prior to the expected arrival of the guest of honor, such as 7:30 p.m. if the guest of honor is set to arrive at 8 p.m. Include a blackout window of approximately 60 minutes, with the arrival of the guest of honor slotted in the middle of it, during which guests may not arrive, to ensure secrecy. For example, if the guest of honor is set to arrive at 8 p.m., inform guests running late that they may not arrive anywhere in between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., in case the guest of honor is running early or late. Also inform guests not to park too close to the event location to prevent an abundance of cars from signaling that a special event is taking place inside.
2. Include a list of 1950s slang and a fact sheet about 1955 in the invitation. Use the information to encourage guests to come in costume, talk in the style of the period and to purchase gifts inspired by the era, such as CDs or DVDs of music, movies and television programs from 1955, or books published during that year.
3. Decorate the event space with movie posters from 1955 and a few generic 1950s-themed decorations, such as cutouts of bobby-soxers, jukeboxes and pink Cadillacs. Set up the record player and the vinyl records from 1955 in a cleared space to serve as a dance floor. Create a separate space with seating and a television to play the movies from 1955, such as "Rebel Without a Cause," "Oklahoma!" and "The Seven Year Itch."
4. Serve a selection of 1950s-themed food, such as hamburgers, milkshakes and parfaits from a bar or table decorated to look like a 1950s soda fountain. Consider incorporating less traditional cuisine and beverages from the era as well, including a cocktail hour, such as those portrayed on the AMC series "Mad Men," or casseroles and ambrosia salads similar to those served on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet."
5. Turn out all of the lights just prior to the arrival of the guest of honor. Use the remote controlled DVD or music player to turn on a 1955 movie or song when the guest of honor opens the door. After the guest of honor responds to the movie or song playing in the dark, turn on the lights, signaling guests to jump out and yell surprise.
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