12 Unforgettable 30th Birthday Party Ideas

Your 30th birthday is a major milestone. So, when it’s fast approaching, it’s time for you to get serious about some 30th birthday party ideas. We’ve scoured the internet to bring to you an eclectic mix of 30th birthday ideas tp celebrate the big 3-0.

Whether you think that turning 30 completely sucks or you’re super excited for the milestone birthday,  we’ve got plenty of 30th birthday party ideas for you. After all, any excuse will do to celebrate and see family and friends!

1. 30 Sucks!

Ok, let’s get this one out of the way. You see, there are those among us who like to complain about getting older. Milestone birthdays (especially ones that end in a zero) are particularly difficult for these people, and if you identify with this sentiment, realise that sometimes it’s better to be open about your feelings. You can do that by letting everyone know that you think turning 30 completely sucks!

There will be those who will argue with you, claiming that the 30s will be the best decade of your life; and there will be those still in their 20s who will commiserate and agree that you are indeed very old!

2. Dirty 30

You know what rhymes really well with 30? Dirty. While researching this article we were surprised to find that ‘Dirty 30’ parties are becoming more and more popular. Of course, there are two ways of interpreting the word ‘dirty’; you could go with the soil connotation and make cupcakes with gummy worms or lolly snakes, and edible dirt deserts. Or you could go with a debauchery type theme, but we’ll leave that up to your imagination.

3. 80s Theme

People who are turning 30 these days were, by definition, born in the 80s, and presumably spent at least part of their childhood growing up in that wonderful neon decade. So what better way to celebrate a 30th birthday then with an 80s themed party?

This 30th birthday experience is perfect for someone who has maintained a collection of 80s memorabilia from their own childhoods, although it would also be possible to recreate an entire collection by scouring op shops and keeping an eye on eBay. Think VHS tapes of unforgettable 80s movies, typical 80s candy, plus stereotypical 80s tech like brick-sized mobile phones, cassette tapes, 3 1/2 inch floppy disks, joysticks, Walkmans, and greyscale Nintendo Gameboys.

4. For the Jet Setter

If you’ve spent most of your 20s jetsetting around the globe and are looking forward to even more travel in your 30s,  we’ve got a party idea for you. These ultra cute suitcase themed party favours are the perfect accompaniment for a 30th birthday party.

5. Balloon Chandelier

Who doesn’t love balloons? Sure, people with globophobia don’t, but for everyone else, we would wager that at least a dozen evenings in your youth were spent sucking helium with your friends and giggling uncontrollably. This DIY balloon chandelier idea is a fantastic way of displaying photos from your past in the ultimate helium balloon chandelier. Click here for the complete tutorial from Wedding Chicks.

6. Cassette Tapes

If you were music-obsessed in your youth (or still are today!), you probably had a collection of cassettes tapes. There were the tapes that you were given as birthday and Christmas gifts, tapes that you copied off your friends, plus the classic mixtapes that you received from a crush.

If cassette tapes were a big part of your youth, consider a cassette tape themed birthday party. Here’s a very elaborate example.

7. DIY Photo Collage

If you’re happy to stick your hardcopy photos directly on the wall, consider displaying them by spelling out the number 30. This is an effective 30th birthday party decoration from a distance, and pouring over your old photos will give your guests the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

8. Professional Photo Collage

For an infinitely more professional photo collage without the price tag (and if you’re not that keen on sticking your original photos directly on your wall) order a professional themed photo collage from Canvas Factory.

Simply upload your photos using our easy-to-use order template, and we’ll take care of the rest, guaranteeing you the perfect wall decoration for your 30th birthday party.

9. Giant Jenga

Giant Jenga! The name itself even sounds like fun. There are endless 30th birthday party ideas in NZ that you could get involved in for an upcoming party, but Jenga is always guaranteed to be fun. A DIY giant Jenga game is easy and inexpensive to make, and is sure to be a hit at your party.

10. Grumpy Old Men

Some people breeze through the transition from 20 to 30 effortlessly. For other people, it’s the start of nasal hair, complaining about the youth of today, and taking several attempts to get up out of a comfortable chair. So, why not poke fun at this transition?

A ‘Grumpy Old Men’ party theme is a lot of fun, and can go down incredibly well if everyone is willing to stay in character. All you need to do is get dressed up and organise some fun activities, like Pub Golf or another sporting activity. It’s hilarious watching “old” men participate in sports!

11. Retro Games Party

The best 30th birthday ideas are reminders of the promising future to come but they should also celebrate the past! If you ask someone their favourite retro game, you’ll probably hear Twister, Monopoly, Scrabble, and some variation of those board games with the plastic dome in the middle that contained the dice.

A Twister style game can be easily created for an outdoor party by spray-painting different coloured circles directly on the grass. Create your own spinner, or use a spinner from an old original Twister game, and you’ve got an outdoor party game to keep guests happy and having fun.

12. Classic Pink and Gold Theme

We’ll round out this list of 30th birthday party ideas with something a little more stylish and elegant. This pink and gold themed 30th birthday party is the epitome of style and class. Create this look with as much metallic gold as you can find. Then, combine it with tea light candles and sparkling wine. You could also set up a black poster board with gold metallic markers for people to write their birthday wishes.

Hopefully one of these 30th party ideas will be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Then, once the big event is over and you’re well and truly in your 30s, click here to upload your favourite photos from the big event. We’ll turn them into stunning canvas wall art for your home.