This post is sponsored by La Crema but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
"Birthdays are a big deal. As you mark another year around the sun, your birthday is one of the only days the world rightfully gives you permission to unabashedly celebrate yourself—which is why you deserve a celebration that goes beyond simply grabbing dinner and drinks with friends. If you’re looking for something else to do on your birthday besides going out, allow us to introduce to you some of our favorite themed birthday party ideas.
These at-home celebrations are exactly what you need to shake things up and celebrate your day in style, and we’ve got ideas on everything from the food to the decorations to outfits and more. Plus, we tapped Emily Pickral, Master Sommelier for La Crema—a world-renowned wine brand and our go-to recommendation to elevate any gathering—for her best tips on choosing the perfect wine for every theme. Keep scrolling for all the inspiration you need to celebrate your birthday with a bang.
Meet the expert
Emily Pickral
Master Sommelier
For the past 20 years, Emily has held various sales roles in the wine industry, working for importers, distributors, and California wineries. Her passion for learning about wine encouraged her to embark upon the Master Sommelier diploma, which she earned in 2013. Emily is one of 256 Master Sommeliers worldwide and the 19th woman in the world to earn the title. She has worked for Jackson Family Wines since 2014 and currently serves as the Director of Sales for Jackson Family’s field marketing team.
1. DIY Wine Tasting
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Bring Sonoma County to you this year with a DIY wine-tasting birthday party. Start by selecting four to six bottles of wine you’d like to feature, aiming to incorporate a variety to accommodate different palates and preferences, Pickral suggested. A few of her go-to favorites are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a sparkling option. And since you’re ordering in bulk, check out La Crema’s wine club membership, which offers up to 25% off bottles and cases of wine along with other exclusive benefits.
For the best tasting experience, arrange your wines in order from light to dark. If you’re not a wine connoisseur yourself, La Crema’s website provides specific tasting notes and flavors to look for in each of their wines—feel free to use this info as a cheat sheet to help you lead the tasting. It’s also a good idea to serve a light snack to help cleanse the palate between sips, Pickral suggested. “A good cheese and charcuterie board will have a variety of complementary flavors to pair alongside different wines,” she said. Grab a selection of hard and soft cheeses, and splurge on fancy jams or honey to make your board feel extra special. To make cleanup even easier, line your tasting table with kraft paper, then wrap it up and toss it after the party is over.
Encourage all your guests to dress like they’re heading to wine country—think flowy sundresses and wide-brim sunhats. Set the vibe with a theme-appropriate playlist, vases of fresh flowers, candles for warm lighting, and plenty of clean wine glasses. You could even print out tasting mats (we’ve got a free printable!) so your guests can jot down notes for each pour.
Crate & Barrel
Etsy | DunjicaParty
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
2. Throwback Slumber Party
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Who says slumber parties are just for kids? Relive the sleepovers of your youth and invite your besties over for a slumber party replete with PJs, movies, and pillows galore. On the itinerary? Face masks, board games, and a marathon of your favorite movies from childhood. To guide your movie selection, pick a theme or a specific actor to feature—for example, a lineup of your favorite teen heartthrob flicks (à la She’s All That or A Cinderella Story) or a Lindsay Lohan double feature (Parent Trap and Freaky Friday, anyone?). Grab a few disposable cameras to document the night and pass out Lip Smackers for the ultimate throwback party favor.
No sleepover is complete without some junk food, so set up a snack station with plenty of popcorn, chips, and other snacks to last the night, and keep a few bottles of Chardonnay on deck. “Contrary to popular belief, Chardonnay is the number one selling varietal in the U.S., so it can likely please many palates—and is also a killer pairing for chips and popcorn!” Pickral said. Serve up chilled glasses of La Crema’s Sonoma Coast Chardonnay for the perfect complement to your spread of salty snacks.
Etsy | Cheeklo
Lip Smacker
3. Garden Party
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Break out your pastels and floral prints because this birthday party theme is all about living your cottagecore fantasy. Set the table outdoors with a dreamy tablescape of floral-themed tableware, linen napkins, and overflowing bouquets for centerpieces. Serve food that’s light, fresh, and seasonal, like a fruit-filled salad, a pesto pasta dish, or grilled chicken with plenty of veggies. For dessert, decorate a birthday cake with edible flowers, or opt for something light and fun like macarons. You could even add a floral touch to your ice by freezing edible flowers within the cubes.
And of course, you’ll need to perfect beverage to suit your garden setting. Pickral’s pick for the best wine to serve at a gathering surrounded by roses? “Rosé, of course!” Before the party starts, chill plenty of La Crema’s Monterey Rosé—Pickral typically plans on one bottle for every three to four guests. To keep the party going after sunset, string up outdoor lights and grab some yard games like croquet or bocce ball.
Parterre
Etsy | Stickearte
Pottery Barn
Crate & Barrel
Amazon
Target | Hearth & Hand with Magnolia
Etsy | PostDesignCollective
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
4. Murder Mystery Night
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Travel back in time to the roaring ’20s with an elegant murder mystery night. To make planning easy, purchase a kit that includes everything you need to host your own murder mystery party, including clues, props, and character cards. When you send out your invitations, include each guest’s player card so they know their role. Have everyone dress elegantly in flapper attire and tuxedos, and set the scene by turning on some smooth jazz and dimming the lights.
For your refreshments table, break out some vintage-style serving pieces and light some candles to create an appropriately eerie glow. Keep the fare classy (and easy to eat while sleuthing) with cocktail party appetizers like stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs, and canapés. And don’t forget the coupe glasses full of sparkling wine, which Pickral calls THE drink of the time. Saralee’s Blanc de Blancs from La Crema is a fantastic pick that’s sure to elevate the evening.
Etsy | BadgerAndOwl
Uncommon Goods
Amazon
Etsy | AdornSupplyCo
Wayfair
Amazon
Pottery Barn
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
5. Flower Arranging Party
Source: Kirra Wallace
Take the time to stop and smell the flowers this year with a flower-arranging birthday party. To set up a build-your-own-bouquet station, you’ll want to purchase several different types of flowers in various shapes and colors. As you shop for flowers, you can think of them in four different categories: statement blooms, filler flowers, texture flowers, and greenery. Aim for about two to three different flowers in each category. Your local grocery store is a great spot to source flowers, or you can find kits online that include several different types of blooms and can be shipped to your door.
Before the party starts, fill some buckets with water and place each flower type in a different one. Set out all the necessary supplies including pruning shears, floral tape, and a variety of vases so each guest can create their own arrangement. For food, opt for light bites like mini quiches, finger sandwiches, and tarts, which are great for a quick nibble in between arranging stems, Pickral said. “To match the aromas in the air, open a bottle of La Crema Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, which has beautiful aromas of tropical fruits,” she suggested.
The Bouqs Co.
Zazzle
Amazon
Amazon
Michaels
Pottery Barn
6. Picnic Brunch
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Grab your girls and get outside for a dreamy picnic brunch birthday party. For a more elevated take on the classic blanket-in-the-grass setup, set up a low table with floor pillows for each guest to sit on. To make your life easier, build your menu around items that don’t require heating or refrigeration. Classic brunch staples like bagels, pastries, and fruit are crowd-pleasing options that are easy to transport and serve. You could even compile everything into a giant grazing board for the whole table to share.
For beverages, Pickral recommended serving a variety of wines to suit everything on the menu. “Depending on how varied the brunch items are, the more wines the merrier!” she said. “Rosé, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot—all are deserving of a spot at the table.” Be sure to chill your whites and rosés ahead of time, and uncork your reds before you set them out on the table.
Etsy | woodencamptables
Amazon
Hearth & Hand with Magnolia
Crate & Barrel
Etsy | NumberSixtyTwo
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
7. Adult Prom
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Throw it all the way back to high school this birthday with an adult prom party. Make it authentic by asking guests to show up in formal dresses and tuxedos—this is a great opportunity to re-wear that old prom dress that’s been collecting dust in your closet! To capture those classic awkward prom photos, set up a photo booth using a phone and an inexpensive tripod stand, or task someone with snapping Polaroids so guests can take their photos home with them. For your backdrop, string together balloons into an arch and add streamers and cliché props to complete the setup.
It’s not prom without dancing, of course, so move aside your furniture to create space for a dance floor, dim the lights, and turn up a nostalgic playlist of throwback dance hits. If you really want to make the night interesting, have everyone vote on senior superlative-style awards based on each guest’s personality (think: biggest flirt, most likely to become famous, etc.). For refreshments, arrange a snack table with finger foods, desserts, and a self-serve bar. Make sure to stock several different types of wine (including reds, whites, and rosés) to please multiple preferences. Pickral recommended selecting two options in each category, and be sure to set out plenty of wine glasses, wine openers, napkins, and small dishes for snacks.
Etsy | Justpartyboutique
If You Say I Do
Wayfair
Etsy | BigDotOfHappiness
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
8. Astrology Party
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
What better way to celebrate another year around the sun than with an astrology-themed birthday party?! Have each guest dress up as their respective zodiac sign, and take inspiration from the stars for your decor, food, and games. Get creative with star- and moon-shaped cookie cutters to add a celestial spin to your hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and serve up sparkling wine for an appropriately shimmery beverage. Hot tip: If you need help planning the menu, Pickral said that fried foods tend to pair well with sparking wine because the acid in the wine helps cut through the fat in the food. That means classic appetizers like jalapeno poppers, crab rangoons, or fried ravioli would make a great complement to your drink of choice.
For an added touch, purchase wine charms for all the zodiac signs planning to attend so guests can mark their glass and take home a fun party favor. To set the scene, opt for star-themed decorations and tableware, and grab a set of tarot cards to keep guests entertained all night.
Etsy | Printerette
Amazon
Anthropologie
Etsy | CharmsByKarlene
Amazon
Etsy | MysticalUniverseLV
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
La Crema
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping when you buy four or more bottles!
This post is sponsored by La Crema but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.