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OH NO, THE BIG Four-Oh! (30-90)

    It’s Wanda’s BIG BIG BIRTHDAY!!

Well, it’s better than OVER THE HILL…no?  I’ve always hated that theme… must be my age.  In any event, this could be a really fun party with everything being BIG BIG BIG or big, bigger and biggest!  The Oh No, The Big 40…theme has matching invitations, plates, cups, napkins, table covers and even thank you notes.  (Of course this theme can be used for any birthday ending in a 0!) Plus we’ve added matching invitations, candy bar wrappers, bottle labels and centerpieces …so check it out.

However, we have some of our own BIG creations and BIG ideas to which you can “just add guests™”…

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Invitations

Take the graphic and blow it up to make an 11x17” invitation that you fold down to fit in a standard size envelope. Add who, when and where plus an RSVP in BIG PRINT, and you have ONE BIG INVITATION… 

Or you can use our Oh No! invitations that coordinate with the paper goods from this theme.  How about a one of our caricature invitation that is designed especially around this theme?  Have the guest of honor standing on top of a BIG "40", with a "39" running away.  Play on the big theme with BIG versions of some of the celebrant's favorites.  Do they like skiing, have them holding a huge pair of skis.  Are they into books?  They can be holding a BIG book.  You get the idea.  Have fun with it!

Here is sample wording that you can use on a BIG invitation for this special THE BIG 4-0 celebration:

Here’s the BIG picture…

You’re invited to

ONE BIG PARTY

in honor of Wanda’s

BIG BIRTHDAY!

Bring a BIG grin, a BIG appetite

and some BIG IDEAS

for ways Wanda can celebrate!

RSVP

___What’s the BIG IDEA?  I’m/we’re busy that day.

___The BIG NEWS is I/we can come!

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Decorations

Where else to start but a great BIG BIG "40" Mylar balloon?  Mix these extra large Mylar balloons with an assortment of different colored Happy 40th latex balloons to create fun and festive balloon bouquets.  Weigh them down with birthday cake balloons weights.  They aren't big, but they'll do the trick!

Enlarge photos of the guest of honor through the years and have them mounted on foamcore.  Put them on easels around the room as another fun BIG way to highlight the guest of honor!  You can also hang them from the ceiling.  Along with the photos, add cutouts of large 40s around the room.  You can make them yourself out of different colors of poster board or hire an event company to make your large signs.

From the ceiling in the foyer or at the entrance (or wherever you would like for that matter), hang more BIG 40’s so no one forgets what milestone you’re celebrating.  We also have glitter swirls and cascades plus happy birthday dangles if you’d rather—that all match this theme.

Scatter “40” confetti on all flat surfaces (don’t forget the bathroom). And to really make a BIG SPLASH…use “40” candles that come on picks to put in plants and whatever else will hold them.  Everyone will get a kick out of finding them around the room.

If you want BIG impact, and it's in your budget, hire a company to light up your party.  They can spotlight tables, up-light the walls in different colors and even project the guest of honor's name or big 40s on the wall and onto ceiling. 

Hand out jumbo sunglasses (that means BIG) for some more great photo opportunities.

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Table Decorations

For fast an easy clean up, choose Oh No! theme paper goods or choose another birthday design - as long as it features a 40!  If you're having a more formal party, you may want to choose linen and cloth napkins, along with real silverware. (If you're hosting the party at an event center, they'll be able to get you everything you need.)  But, you may still want to choose a fun 40th birthday theme cocktail napkin to use during cocktails and for dessert.  Imprinted cocktail napkins are another great choice for cocktails and dessert.

Create fun balloon bouquets with birthday latex balloons mixed with the BIG "40" Mylar balloons as bright and fun centerpieces for your party. The bigger, the better for this party! Remember, always use an odd number when creating a balloon bouquet!  At the base of the balloons, place framed photos of the celebrant through the years. 

Having a lot of tables?  Then make OH NO…BIG 40 cakes for each as a centerpiece and have the balloons we mentioned above coming out of the center.  Balloon weights for the cake are available at any balloon store in your neighborhood.  A small tiered cake would look fabulous on the tables or a larger version works on the buffet.  Here is a fun 40th birthday cake from About The Cake in Cleveland. 

Giant “40” confetti is available at many craft or party stores or you can cut them out yourself.  As well, you probably can find chocolate 40’s (or any age) at your local candy store.  At each place put out a custom cookie with a photo of birthday boy or girl and "Oh No!  The Big 4-0!"  - they make a great personalized party favor. 

And, instead of plain votive candles choose personalized mini tabletop lanterns with a photo of the birthday boy or girl on all four sides.  The all come with LED candles and look great surrounding a centerpiece.   

Bars and Buffets

Big glasses are in order at the bar, no?  Go to a local craft store and look for giant beer mugs and giant martini glasses.  You can use the martini glasses as decoration on the bar or as oversized serving dishes.  Try serving shrimp cocktail in a giant martini glass - fun! The giant-sized beer mugs can be filled with water with a touch of yellow food coloring and soda (for bubbles) to look like beer. 

Make a BIG impression by serving drinks in light up beer mugs or one of our customized beer mugs with words or logo of choice!  Personalize your party with custom wine and beer bottle labels celebrating the big day.

Martinis can be served in light up martini glasses and wine can be served in light up wine glasses or light up champagne glasses.  There are even light up coasters to make the entire room light up!

On the dessert buffet, consider a multi-tier cake with a giant 40 on the top and a 5 pound Hershey Bar to serve to one and all…now that’s BIG!

Oh No! The Big 4-0 Favors

You must give everyone a BIG thank you for coming, right?  We can make a personalized jumbo 4.4 oz Hershey Bar with a BIG picture of the birthday boy or girl then and now.  Or…how about JUMBO CASHEWS…you can find small bags and fill them up, tie them off with ribbon and put on a tag with BIG THANKS for coming! 

Planning Guides

Any great party takes planning. Use the guides below to make your life a little easier. Of course for those super-special, once in a lifetime blowouts, you might want to check out Party411's Creations For You. Whether it's the dreaded 40th, the fun 50th, or even the little one's 1st, you can make the occasion unforgettable with our fantabulous original props, decorations and accessories. Remember, unless you're my Aunt Marge, you only turn 40 once!

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