Updated on: Oct 05, 2024
Looking to plan a surprise party but don't know where to start? We have got you covered! This article is filled with the best surprise party ideas. From the decorations to the invitations and everything in between, we have put together a list of ideas, tips, and suggestions on how to make the event special. We even have a surprise party budget worksheet for you to use and fun teen tween party ideas!
Surprise Party Decorations
The first step to making a surprise party a big surprise is to fill up the space with festive decorations!
1. Birthday Surprise
Get a bundle of balloons, lights, and all the festive decorations that you can simply position according to what you see in the photos, or use them in combination according to your new idea. All venue layouts, living rooms, rooms, apartments, schools, hotels.
2. LED Curtain Light
Want a slightly more subtle and romantic option? Here is an LED light from Etsy that you can put by your bedroom's curtain by the window.
3. Heart Theme Surprise
If you're into making a very romantic surprise, these heart balloons are just the perfect decor that you can fill up the space with.
4. "The Man The Myth The Legend" Balloon
A bit of humor never hurts right? If you're looking for a good surprise and laugh, this "the man the myth the legend" balloon is just one of the greatest things on earth.
5. Pastel Decorations
Here is a pastel-themed decor option from Etsy.
Surprise Party Favors
6. Whoopee Cushion
A practical joke device involving flatulence humor won't make you a party pooper (pun intended). Here is a whoopee cushion for your guests to bring home!
1. Birthday Surprise
Get a bundle of balloons, lights, and all the festive decorations that you can simply position according to what you see in the photos, or use them in combination according to your new idea. All venue layouts, living rooms, rooms, apartments, schools, hotels.
2. LED Curtain Light
Want a slightly more subtle and romantic option? Here is an LED light from Etsy that you can put by your bedroom's curtain by the window.
3. Heart Theme Surprise
If you're into making a very romantic surprise, these heart balloons are just the perfect decor that you can fill up the space with.
4. "The Man The Myth The Legend" Balloon
A bit of humor never hurts right? If you're looking for a good surprise and laugh, this "the man the myth the legend" balloon is just one of the greatest things on earth.
5. Pastel Decorations
Here is a pastel-themed decor option from Etsy.
Surprise Party Favors
6. Whoopee Cushion
A practical joke device involving flatulence humor won't make you a party pooper (pun intended). Here is a whoopee cushion for your guests to bring home!
7. Prank Kit
Who lives a life without pulling any pranks? A whole prank kit is a great gift for your guest to bring home, they're definitely using them!
8. Personalized Mini Wine Bottle Labels
For adult surprise parties, your guests would definitely want some wine! Who doesn't want one mini-bottle to bring home? You can even personalize it with these cute labels.
9. Surprise Balls
Why not pull a surprise on the guests too? You could get surprise balls for your guests to bring home.
10. Fidget Toys
Hosting a surprise party for kids? This fidget toy bundle would be a great party favor
11. Make a Homemade Digital Video
A homemade video is perfect for someone who prefers wholesome gifts over extravagant ones. It’s a gift to cherish forever, literally, it's a permanent space for all your memories! The best part is that it can be viewed whenever and wherever. Trust me, the person you’re throwing a party for will definitely appreciate all the love and hard work you put into this surprise. It’s easy and inexpensive to create a video.
There are so many free editing software that can be found on your phone or computer. You can easily share videos on websites like YouTube or Vimeo. To create the video, you will want to search through your digital and physical photo collections and pick out the most memorable and visually pleasing photos. You can include photos from previous birthday parties, vacations, holidays, and childhood photos.
If your editor allows it, you can also add some fun effects to make the video pop. To finalize the video, add in their favorite song or a fun, upbeat tune to throw everything together. Then, viola! You have an amazing birthday video. Hand it out on a flash drive for your guests to cherish forever.
Surprise Party Food Ideas
12. Chocolate Lava Cake
One of the most delicious desserts with a surprise in the middle, a warm chocolate lava cake.
Who doesn't love care packages? Especially when they're filled with everyone's favorite snack of all time!
14. Fondue
Whether chocolate, cheese, or both, get a fondue set and complement it with your favorite sides.
15. Breakable Chocolate Heart
The breakable chocolate heart won't go breaking your heart as it would be filled with all sorts of surprises you want it to have.
16. Homemade Ice Cream
Surprise your guests by making ice cream from scratch by purchasing an ice cream maker. Customize flavors, ingredients, and textures to make it more personalized. Aside from that, all you will need is sugar, salt, milk, heavy whipping cream, and additional ingredients of your choice to make your recipe unique.
Surprise Party Games and Activities
Check out these fun and creative surprise party game and activity ideas on how to spend the day!
17. Invite All Your Friends For a Game Night
Do you know someone who’s introverted and isn’t big on grand gestures? Surprise them with an exciting game night with a couple of close friends! You might have an old monopoly board collecting dust on a shelf, or maybe you have a classic game like Mario Kart that everyone can play. You can make it festive by hanging a happy birthday banner and decorating the place with colorful balloons, party hats, streamers, and confetti.
Also, don’t forget the snacks! Pizza and cheese platters are classic and simple. And to spice it up, even more, throw in some karaoke. You can easily play songs on Spotify or YouTube.
This is a great, low-budget idea that is filled with fun and laughter. An introverted person or someone who doesn’t enjoy big celebrations will definitely appreciate this one!
18. Rent a Limo or Party Bus
It’s not every day that you can party in a limo and what a better time than your birthday? It’s a sweet surprise to go out with some friends and family and head somewhere fun. You can request the limo to take them to a lavish restaurant, a concert, the club, the beach, and so much more. The limo has to be decorated of course! You will want to add festive birthday decorations inside the limo. It can be pricey but it's totally worth it to surprise someone you care about.
19. Host a Luau Party
A luau party would be a fantastic surprise idea if you live near a beautiful beach. If you don't live near the beach then you can still host a party in your backyard. All you need is some fun decorations like inflatable balloons, garland, and tropical flower décor. You can consider purchasing a nice scenic backdrop as well.
A luau-themed backdrop would be great for photos. You don’t wanna forget some classic items like leis, pineapples, coconuts, and ukuleles either. A Tiki bar can also add an extra flair to your party.
If you’re opting for a backyard occasion then a BBQ luau can be a fun idea as well. Don’t forget the music! You can bring live entertainment or play luau music in the background. This party can take some effort but I’m sure it will turn out as a great surprise!
20. Take Them on a Helicopter Ride
Want to really catch someone off guard? Book a private helicopter ride that tours the city! This type of surprise is great for someone who is adventurous and likes to try new things. It’s expensive yet easy to plan. All you need to do is invite a small group of people. Then everybody can enjoy the beautiful scenery together. It’s definitely a wonderful and thrilling experience they will love!
Surprise Party Supplies
21. Light Show
Provide your guests with some exciting accessories that light up! Many party stores sell flashing LED eyeglasses, wine glasses, bracelets, and necklaces that you can hand out to guests. Set these on the tables and let them twinkle all night! Also incorporating string lights or candles could help add a little sparkle throughout the room.
Another idea for lighting is purchasing paper lanterns and hanging them around the room or setting them on tabletops. Be sure to choose lots of different colors or stick with one particular color if you have a color theme.
22. Paper Mache Piñata
You can make your own pinata with these simple steps. Purchase a mylar balloon in a fun shape then fill the balloon with pieces of candy before inflating it. Cover the balloon with instant papier mache. After it dries, paint the balloon with fun colors and soon you will have made your own unique pinata! When the time comes to break it open, have a bandana ready, and start walking!
23. Balloon Bundle
If you’re looking for a fun display to accent the room, a balloon bundle is perfect. Grab some thick wire and twist it into your desired shape. This shape could be a heart or a spiral. Blow up colored balloons and tie them to the wire with ribbon. Once it’s filled, you will have a wonderful centerpiece for the party. It can be great for photo-ops too.
24. Confetti Bombs
Confetti Bombs shoot confetti around the room. These come in small, handheld sizes for an enclosed environment. These will also be used when the guest of honor arrives. Shoot the confetti into the air to add to the surprise!
25. Decorative Paper Chains
Purchase construction paper in colors that match the theme. Slice the paper into one-inch strips. Intertwine the strips to create chain links and attach the ends with a stapler or tape. These make cute decorations for the entryway, down a staircase, on a mantel, or even around the edge of the table.
Surprise Party Invitation
Now that you have your plan in place, you need to invite the guests! Whether you’re having a surprise birthday party for your child, your spouse, your sibling, or even a close friend or family member, you want to make sure that the invitations are as special and well thought out as the event itself. Making your own invitations is a tedious job, it takes a lot of work and dedication but it is worth it in the long run. Check out this list of tips we have put together, to make the process a little easier for you!
The first thing you must decide is if you want to make the invitations yourself or order them through a business. This decision depends upon the theme, type of event, and how many guests are coming. If you a throwing a formal party with many guests, it may be in your best interest to order them. On the other hand, if it is more personal and smaller, homemade may be an excellent way to cut costs and give the party a personal touch.
Every good party invitation gives guests an easy-to-follow breakdown of the event. The invitation should include the exact location and time. It should also be clear who the party is for and why it is being held. Inform guests on what to bring or wear, depending on the theme and location. Most importantly, be sure to stress that it is a surprise!
26. Black Gold Glitter Invitation
If black and gold is your surprise party decor theme, here's the perfect invitation to match it and give a taste of what the surprise will look like for your guests.
27. Electronic Invitation
An electronic invitation may be an easier option to get the word around without the person your surprising know. Here's a great option for that.
28. Simply White Invitation
If you're looking for a more elegant and simple option for an invitation, here is the perfect one.
29. Retro Invitation
For a more retro option, here's a great option!
30. Electronic Luxury Invitation
If luxury is the theme you're going for the surprise, here's an electronic invitation option that would match it perfectly!
Surprise Party Ideas: How to Plan
Once you have the idea, time to start planning! Surprise parties take a lot of effort that you may need some help with. You can’t keep it a secret, pick a location, pay for food and drinks and decorations, arrange transportation, and get all the guests together by yourself! Follow these steps to keep your surprise party a surprise for your guest of honor as well as everyone else.
31. Timing
Odds are that your relative or friend is expecting something, so you need to make sure that you time your party perfectly. Most people expect something in the evening, so even planning a brunch bash or afternoon fiesta is better than a nighttime party. You can also plan your event a day before or after. Make sure the guests also have the timing down by having them arrive at least fifteen minutes early. Nothing gives the game away like running into someone you know at the front doors.
If they miss the deadline, instruct the guest to wait until ten or so minutes after the party start time to come to avoid the scenario mentioned above. A good way to make sure nobody is late is to make a meeting time an hour before the actual party. This ensures that everyone is there on time and if anything goes wrong someone can offer a quick fix before your guest of honor arrives.
32. Accomplices
Planning a party is a lot of work and is usually a multi-person job. If you try to take that all onto yourself, odds are you are going to slip up. Maybe something will fall through the cracks or maybe the person you are trying to surprise will notice your unusual activity. You obviously don’t want that, so find a small cadre of trusted individuals who can assist you (and who, preferably, doesn’t see the guest of honor very often). Not only can they help you plan everything, but they can store decorations and other items for you. They can also make reservations for the party halls or birthday party locations you choose so they are not in your name.
Another way to use accomplices is to have them there with you when decorating. Make it hours before the party and show up with those who are helping you. Have the decorations and check-in already been done? This way you can get in quick when it’s time and this leaves another task done. Have someone stay with your guest of honor. If you see your guest of honor often like living with them or in best friends they might call you to hang out that day. Have someone “babysit” them with a day of activities. Have them hang out at their house, out to eat, run extra long errands, and any other way to stall them.
Don’t forget to give everyone a task. You should have people to help with decorations and watch over your guest of honor. Someone should bring the food and make sure to pick up the cake. The birthday cake is the next most important part! Someone should get extra stuff needed like coolers or ice boxes for drinks, candles, napkins, utensils, and anything else needed for the food.
33. Secret RSVP
You’ll want to know how many people are coming, so send out invitations that ask guests to RSVP. Let them know that this is secret and request that, even if they are unable to make it to the party, they keep quiet. Make sure that they understand that this is a surprise party that you don’t want spoiled because someone only skimmed their invitation. There is another area where your accomplices can come in handy. Have one of them send out the invitations and receive the RSVPs to ensure that an inconvenient text message doesn't ruin the fun.
Depending on when you came up with the idea of a surprise party you’ll want to make this part at least 3 weeks in advance. This gives people enough time for requesting off work, finding babysitters, and moving their calendar around their busy schedules so they know what’s to come. An efficient way to invite people is to use a group message so everyone is in one place and communication between you, the planner, and the guests, are all on the same page at all times.
34. Decoy
You may need a decoy to throw your guest of honor off the scent. One way to do this is to just pick private party rooms or baby shower places that they already go to like a restaurant or the gym. You can even have a small gathering before the party that they believe is the true celebration hours or even days in advance. Don’t go overboard pretending like nothing is going to happen.
Don’t say weird things to bring up a surprise party or hint at it. It might be hard if you’re bad at keeping secrets. They most likely know there will be some sort of celebration at some point so acting weird all the time will only arouse their suspicion. It’s okay to even act as you forgot about their special day. They most likely won’t mention it if you don’t! They’ll hope you’ll remember on your own. This sounds a little mean but once they see how much work and effort you put into making them feel special they’ll see why you never mentioned it.
Surprise Party Ideas: Conclusion
Hopefully, you found these surprise party ideas helpful and can use these ideas as inspiration for your party. You will be sure to shock and amaze all the party guests with these fun events. Remember, be sure to plan and time everything perfectly. Most importantly, make sure everyone stays quiet! Good luck!
Written by Deesha Mohan; Contributors: Libbie Davison and Devin Delgado