A surprise 50th for my mum.?

I am organizing a surprise 50th for my mum. She helped me through my anorexia when I felt I could trust no-one. She coped with the divorce of her and my dad. She works in a special needs school. She is an absolute saint and I love her. So I'm organizing a 50th birthday party. I've already booked the restaurant but by this Wednesday I have to hand in 拢5 for each guest attending so it will be fully booked. Then I have to pick up a menu and find out what everyone wants to eat. The thing is my mum's family live everywhere. Northampton. Oxford. London. The list goes on. And I only found out today that my uncle was no longer going to help me because I wouldn't do it his way. So I have to invite all of them. Find out what they want to eat. Get it all sorted. I am super stressed. Should I personally call them all or just send out an written invite done really nicely? How exactly am I going to produce 拢5 for each guest when I don't know who is even coming yet?


I need tips to stop me from turning into a headless chicken.


Surprise party tips too.A surprise 50th for my mum.?
It would be nice to have hand-written invitations, but as you have to let the restaurant know so soon you'll probably have to phone, email or text and explain how quickly you need to know if they're coming. Get an idea on how many you can pretty-well expect and pay the restaurant, telling them to give you a 5 person lee-way each way - which they should do seeing as they are going to do quite well out of the party.


Keep the menu options to 2, plus a vegetarian option, because after all, the guests are there for your mum so they'll have to understand how complicated the organization is, and to eat what's there. After all, you'd do the same.


Forget about your uncle - he'll probably come round in the end. You don't need extra worries - just concentrate on what you're doing for your mum. If he cared, he'd want the best for her. He's probably just sulking!!! You don't need his help.


Send all the guests a plan, or a web page giving exact directions for getting to the restaurant. Tell them you want them to be there at least half an hour before your mum arrives, too. Also tell the restaurant to expect that. They'll do well out of the pre-dinner drinks! If any guests need overnight accommodation, send them a list of hotels (or people with sofabeds willing to help out) so that they can sort themselves out.


A funny idea is to print life-size photos of the heads of people who can't make it and stick them on sticks so that they're there in mind, if not body.


Your mum is going to remember this special day for the rest of her life. Even if it doesn't turn out exactly how you'd planned - what's important is the thought and seeing all those people there for her. Expect lots of tears!!


YOU CAN DO IT! Just stay calm! Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it!A surprise 50th for my mum.?
I'd send a nice invite and explain it has to be sorted asap. Ask them to email you back or text you to confirm they are coming. That way you will meet your deadline (hopefully). If the restaurant can't be a little flexible, find another one that will be.





And tell your uncle he is going to look really bad when you stand up at the dinner to toast your mom and then tell everyone how petty he was...
call everyone, keep the menu to only maybe three selections to keep it easier for the cooks/servers/and yourself! make sure to tell them it is a surprise party and to mark the date in their books. then send out party info and directions to all who will be attending after you get a head count.


when I had my moms 60th surprise party, I set it up so she thought I was taking her out to eat for her birthday to the place the party was at- then everyone was there waiting in the party room for us- she was very surprised! I had just gone there earlier in the day to decorate with some streamers and balloon arrangements. I also made a picture board of pics of my mom throughout her lifetime and had that set up on a table- she LOVED showing off all her pics to everyone at the party and everyone loved looking at them all!