40 is the new 20, a sentence I now feel like I hear weekly. Is it true, or is it just because I am getting closer to that “new 20”? I do believe that by age 40, women have more confidence and have gotten to the point in their lives that they don’t care what other people think about them. This in itself should be celebrated. So what better way to do this than by having a fun and fabulous 40th Birthday Party bash with your best girlfriends? You deserve to celebrate you. Your life. Your accomplishments. With the women who love you most. Let’s get to it, Charlotte. #40isfabulous.
The Theme
Celebration, of course. We love Girls’ Night Out for this particular birthday party, and highly recommend you save the couples events for your 30s and your 50s. We also recommend you go all out glam for this occasion, as there’s nothing casual about this milestone.
The Party Invitations
Of course, parties of all kinds should start with a festive invitation. It sets the mood and the theme of your party, and is best tailored to the person(s) you are celebrating.
- TresCutiesDesign on Etsy
- 2birdstudios on etsy
- giant confetti balloons from swoozies
- CynDetails on etsy
- nanapartysimplified on etsy
- confetti mama party
- personalized confetti poppers
- colorsandpixels 40th birthday flutes
Great resources for invites are: online = Paper Source, tinyprints, and ETSY (which can really be your one stop shop for all things unique and fabulous, but be forewarned, you may get lost down a rabbit-hole of ideas) . And here in Charlotte, we love The Buttercup, Swoozies and Paper Twist.
The Decorations
Your decorations and attention to details will be the first thing people notice. Fun paper products, oversized confetti balloons, streamers, banners, cake toppers, champagne and of course, a fun “Welcome to The Party” cocktail will really make your guests feel special.
Party City also has many options for the 40th Bday Decor, although Black & Gold and brights seem to be their motto.
One good thing about our plan to just include the Girls in this party, most of the “girlfriends”, bff and even Bachelorette party decor supplies work for this occasion as well.
Confetti Jars like these from Rock Scissor Paper are a perfect place setting – make your own or order personalized poppers (stealing ideas from the bridal industry is fine)
What to Drink
A celebration is hardly a celebration without some bubbly. Whether it’s on a mimosa bar, topped with cotton candy or served all by itself, pop that cork for this special birthday.
Mimosa Bar
Mimosas aren’t just champagne and orange juice any more. Here’s how to build a party-worthy Mimosa Bar.
- Many bottles of the champagne of your choice. I don’t pick my favorite champagne because once you add all of the toppings and juices it wouldn’t taste like your favorite anyway.
- 3-5 kinds of Fresh juices (orange, cranberry, pineapple, peach nectar, watermelon, passionfruit, pink grapefruit)
- Toppings and garnishes in small glass bowl so your guest can see everything plus it looks pretty too.
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Lime/ Lemon/ Orange Slices
- Pomegranate Seeds
- Mint leaves
- Homemade Simple Syrups
Plenty of glasses for each guest to have more than one and try different creations
Some fun birthday drink stirrers… like these personalized ones
Here are some fun cocktail recipes that would be delicious for welcoming 40.
Blackberry Thyme Sparkler (Makes 4 cocktails)
- 1 cup Blackberries plus 8 more for garnish
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of gin
- 1 cup of water
- 1 bottle of champagne
- 4 sprigs of thyme
- Gold sparkling sugar
In a small saucepan, bring blackberries, water, and sugar to a boil.Reduce heat a simmer for 10 minutes or until blackberries are soft and simple syrup has become a bright pink. Remove from heat and strain blackberries out of syrup. Allow to cool. Prepare your glasses. Rub a small amount of butter around the rim and them dip in a shallow bowl of the sparkling sugar. Then add 1 oz of gin to each glass and 2 blackberries to each glass. . Next add 2 oz of blackberry simple syrup to each glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with champagne of choice. Top with a sprig of thyme.
The Perfect Dirty Martini (Makes one cocktail)
- 1.5 oz good quality vodka(Grey Goose, Ketel One)
- 1 oz. olive juice
- splash of vermouth
- Blue cheese stuffed olives
In a martini glass, pour just a splash of vermouth. Put crushed ice, vodka and olive juice in your cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain into martini glass and add skewered blue cheese stuffed olives.
Beautiful details
Depending on your preference, you could throw anything from a boozy brunch to a cocktail party to a seated dinner party, at home or in one of Charlotte’s beautiful party rooms. Wherever you decide, this is one to splurge on the setting. Here are a few beautiful table settings that would suit anyone’s taste – from boho chic to classic and elegant.
The Cake and Sweets, of course.
Of course you must end the celebration with a sweet treat. Unique cakes and confections would really be the icing on the cake. These scrumptious cakes from Drip Cake Bar in Charlotte are not only beautiful but delicious! We think these REIGN supreme as the best option for your 40th Birthday celebration and no cake-topper needed!
These are some examples of cookies that would be great party favors for your girls to take with them when they leave your fabulous bash. You can have them completely customized to your theme her in Charlotte at Suarez Bakery.
Your life has just begun. Be a little selfish. Make your party all about you from the invitations to the cake to the cocktails. It’s about your style, your taste and in Charlotte the sky’s the limit. Give yourself a pat on the back for getting to 40 and kick your heels up with your girlfriends because after all….” Girls just wanna have fun”.
