What are your thoughts on surprise parties?

I think they sound like a horrible thing. I think it someone surprised me that way, I’d turn around and walk right back out. Well, I’d want to. Later on, I’d drop some cyanide in the glass of the person who organized it!

Different people have different reactions; most people are very pleased, but some people feel like a dope. My husband is one of the most reticent of men, but I threw him a big surprise 60th brithday pool party with all his sailing firends there and he was gobsmacked and absolutely delighted. One thing that I think made the party such a success was that he knew he was going to a party and was dressed appropriately and in the right frame of mind. It just took him a while to catch on that it was for him, even after we sang Happy Birthday!

Just make sure whatever lie you tell to get him there will influence him to dress appropriately. Probably women worry about that more than men I guess?

Does he have an SO? You can get him/her in on it for ideas and ensure he gets there.

Or, A small group of you can tell him you want to take him out and then surprise him that everyone is there.

I do not like surprise parties, or surprises of any kind. Where I live surprises can kill you.

I have no surprise party experience, but I just wanted to say that I would love one. Like, it’s one of my life’s dreams, to have one thrown for me.

I never saw the point. Better to just do away with all the extra pretense and prep for a “surprise”. I’d rather let everyone know ahead of time. Less confusing for everyone.

Anything with party in the title has got to be a fun time.

I hate surprise parties when they’re for me. I have trouble expressing myself with expressions and body language, so it ends up being a chore. I also dread gift-giving holidays unless I know what I’m getting beforehand, for the same reason.

When they’re for people who appreciate them, though, they’re fun! The most fun, IMO, is when the party is something like a baby shower or a wedding shower that the person knows is coming. You have to get really creative to keep it a surprise.

I have only been involved in one. We used the “A few people want to celebrate” to get them there. But it was much bigger. They were expecting a small gathering and found a big party. That way they were dressed up a bit and they kinda knew what they were walking into. But they didn’t know the scale.

@johnpowell: Excellent method. I might be able to deal with that.

Most surprise parties are more for the folks that are throwing them than they are for the recipients.

Perhaps a hearty handshake/hug and a heartfelt, “Good luck!”, would be more appropriate.

I have PTSD. People jumping out and screaming freaks me out!!!! But everyone that knows me knows that. As long as it was a very gentle “surprise” I might not jump out of my skin. lol.

@Blondesjon That is one response but you never know. My husband was so pleased with his and I wasn’t sure he would be.

My friend and I had a pact for years that we would never let each other get sandbagged with a surprise party at work. We would try to discourage such a thing if it came up, and if we couldn’t, we would surely give discreet warning in advance. We kept that pact working together for more than 10 years, to the relief of both of us.

My husband and I also both know never to do such a thing to each other.

I do know some people love them and have been thrilled to be the guest of honor at one. I have been willing to participate when I was certain the person would be pleased.

@janbb . . . So long as the booze is flowing, feel free to throw me a surprise party any ‘ol time you like. :)

You busy on May 10th?

I don’t wish to ever be suprised that way.I have warned my friends and family.If they are ever mad at me,they know what to do.As for suprises for other people,I have seen different reactions,most of them amusing.

I like going to them. I hate having one, or any party for me for that matter. I do not like the feeling of being the center of attention. Like I am special or something.

For others, great, I’m more than happy to cook, donate time to planning, organization, etc.
For me though, hell no, not my thing, no way, no how. I love parties, just so long as they’re not for me.

@ChazMaz couldn’t agree more.

I loved mine. It was completely unexpected, it had all the right people and seeing that I am almost always the one hosting things in my circle of friends, it was great to be able to go to a party for once where I had to do nothing for it! Funnily, I almost didn’t go to my own surprise birthday party (it was a week before my birthday) . They lured me there under the pretense of watching a movie. So it was just supposed to be me and two other girls. But they were telling me to show up around 10 am, and it was winter break and I didn’t want to wake up that early!! So I argued that we should move it and when they resisted, I said I’ll just watch the movie later on. One hour later, they had persuaded me. It was ridiculous. I got a lot of crap for being so difficult once the party was over though haha :)

Have fun at your party!

I love parties of every kind, surprise, planned spontaneous or what ever.

@ChazMaz & @wonderingwhy: Totally with you on hating to be the center of attention. As a kid, when my family would have birthday parties for me, I had to be chased around the house, captured, and held down in a chair while people sang Happy Birthday to me as I cried and tried to get away. I really hated my birthday until I was old enough to be taken seriously when I said I didn’t want a party…

Party was a success. Our victim was totally surprised and thrilled. Much alcohol was consumed.

@niki Cool!