What should I do for my 18th birthday party?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I have not had a Birthday Party in several years, mainly because I was shy and awkward and didn’t have many friends when I was in elementry and middle school. In high school, I made more friends, so for my 18th birthday, I want to have an actual party. I am planning on inviting about 20 people, a few close friends and many friendly acquaintances. I am wondering what I should do for an actual party. Some ideas i’ve had are:

  1. A house/pool party: This would just be a party at my house. Many guests would probably go in the pool. Some of my friends also like Super Smash Bros, so some might play that. I have a barbecue, so we could possibly barbecue. There wouldn’t be drugs or alcohol however. I’m a little concerned people’s parents might worry about alcohol there as some of my friends have overprotective parents.
  2. A Restersunt Party: Basically just have everyone meet for dinner at a restaurant.
  3. A beach party: Everyone would meet at the beach. We could possibly barbecue.

    So which of these ideas sounds best? If you have any other ideas please let me know.
2

I’m assuming your birthday will be during a time when the pool/beach are weather appropriate

I think you should do a house party, since restaurants would be more expensive. A beach party could be fun too, but I’m not a huge fan of the beach and I’d think everybody could have fun at your house

3

Well well my birthday is October 12th, so it would be around then. Also do you mean a restaurant would be more expensive for me, or for the guests? Cost is not really an issue for me.

4

I live in NY so it would be far too cold for the beach/pool in October but I’m assuming you live in a warmer state. You’d know better than I would but I’d make sure it would be hot enough to want to go to the beach if that’s what you decide

Were you planning on paying for the whole restaurant bill of 20 people? Either way, I wouldn’t do it because going out to dinner is usually better in a smaller setting, so you get the chance to talk to everybody

5

Yea true. I live in San Diego and it’s fairly warm here in October.

6

How about an escape room party? Although if money is an issue, the pool party sounds fun.

7

@Groundwork2022 An escape room sounds like a great idea. Do you think it would work with 21 people?

8

You’d probably have to get two rooms (most places have multiple rooms, although different scenarios or storylines) or pare your guest list.

My sister did one on a corporate retreat and they had like 4-6 rooms going at the same time.

9

My daughter and her friends did an escape room party and had a blast. You just need to find a place that has multiple rooms that you can use simultaneously. They did the escape room and then went to dinner afterwards.

10

Backyard pool party

11

@momofsenior1 Ya there is an escape room by my house that said they could put us in two rooms simultaneously.

12

My DD had a birthday party at a restaurant/coffee house that caters to young people. She invited people from different friend groups…at first they were all sitting around looking at their phones. At some point she grabbed everyone’s phones and put them in a pile…then they started talking to each other.

So I would recommend something with activities…either the pool party or the escape room so people will get more focused on doing things and not looking at their phones.

And then after the escape room, you could go get ice cream/go back to your house for the pool/food.

13

@bopper Yea I agree a restaurant might not be a good idea for that reason. I know of an escape room by my house where we can do an escape room and then have dinner there afterwards.