Six tips for a virtual birthday you’ll never forget

A virtual birthday seems to be the solution for a celebration during the pandemic. For someone who doesn’t know where to start or what is needed to make it a big success, all that it takes is to follow these six simple steps and friends will definitely be thankful. Luckily, it’s not necessary to be an experienced party planner to pull this off. 

Pick a virtual platform

Which platform can be best used for a surprise party idea? Each platform has their pros and cons. It’s possible to choose between multiple platforms like Google Hangout, Zoom or Skype.

Have other people attend the party

It’s necessary to get some more people involved to pull this off. A possibility would be asking family and friends who they think would want to attend, and build the guestlist from there. From here it’s possible to decide if it is going to be a big virtual party with friends and family, or just a smaller party with friends.

Select the right theme or scheme

Pick a theme that the birthday girl/boy will enjoy, after all it’s their party. Has he/she for instance been binge watching Grey’s Anatomy lately? Then everyone could dress up as a doctor or nurse. Is the birthday boy or girl totally into princesses? Have a Disney themed party. This way, every attendee dresses up with a princess dress (add some trivia too – not many know that the Dutch word for it is prinsessenjurk) More into adventures? Dress up as pirates, arrghhh! All is needed is a bandana and a pirate costume. But it’s also possible to just choose a colour scheme or something else.

The proper party accessories

Send everyone who’ll be attending the party an invitation by sending a party box. What should be put in this party box is entirely up to the host. Think about candy, confetti, balloons or other party decorations, which they can use as background decorations during the virtual party. Create a personal party box for the birthday girl/boy, with special cards from everyone and maybe even a cake. Does one of the invited friends live close to the birthday boy/girl? Let them deliver the box to their doorstep and record their reaction. 

Slideshow of memories

Ask all the attendees if they can send pictures of the birthday boy/girl and make a Powerpoint presentation/slide show. Show the slide show during the whole virtual party. These can vary between childhood pictures to embarrassing drunk pictures. 

Personal pub quiz

When it’s someone’s birthday, they’re the man/woman of the hour. Everything is about them. Seeing all the people in the Zoom or Skype meeting would probably be a surprise of itself. To even surprise the birthday boy or girl even more, create a pub quiz purely about them. Ask everyone to send in questions regarding the birthday girl/boy. These questions can be about everything, from childhood to holidays. 

With these tips, the birthday person will have the best virtual party they could ever wish for.

The editorial unit