So, you’ve clocked up 40 big ones and it’s time to celebrate. Congratulations! Life is to be enjoyed and we should all make the most of these opportunities, mark all the momentous occasions and make them unforgettable. If you don’t want a full-on party, spending a few days away in a luxury holiday house with close friends and family is the perfect solution. Here’s how to make it extra special.
Turning 40 is a special thing. Your 40th trip round the sun – and here’s to many more! You don’t want it to pass by, lost in a blur of everything else in your life, you want to make it a time to remember. Heading off to a big holiday house with the people who mean the most to you is a great way to celebrate because it means you can do everything YOUR way – after all, this is your time, it’s all about YOU. If you're in need of a bit of inspo for how to make it unforgettable in every way, read on.
The Perfect Venue
Find a house that’s just right for you and your group, and for the occasion. If it’s a multi-generational celebration select a holiday house with something for all ages – a swimming pool, a games room, a play area for the little ones. If you want to pamper yourselves choose one with spa facilities like a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, and a sauna or steam room. If you want to boogie the night away go for a house with a dance studio or disco room, if you consider yourself a film buff, choose one with a fully equipped movie room.
A Lovely Location
The location is important. You don’t want to be staying anywhere with distracting noise from traffic or other buildings. The focus is all on an amazing celebration. A rural setting is ideal because it makes it so much more relaxing, and if you live in a town or city it makes a refreshing change. Think of the glorious views, fresh air, beautiful countryside all around, and incredible sunsets - all things that add to the memories and make a wonderful backdrop to photographs. If you love the sea, stay near a beach, if you like wild and remote, think somewhere like Exmoor National Park or the Quantock Hills in the West Country.
Being right out in the sticks can make it feel magical, the excitement of pootling through the lanes and then you get to your journey’s end and it’s like you’ve got a world of your own. You might need somewhere that’s easy to get to by road and rail, so not too far from major routes and close enough to a train station for a taxi ride or to be collected by another guest. All factors to consider.
Choose a Theme
Pick a theme, any theme and make it happen. What will it be? What floats your boat? Maybe a retro decade - the Roaring Twenties, the glam rock of the 70s, the Swinging 60s or the raving 90s. You might settle on the theme of a music genre – punk, rock and roll, country, or hip-hop, or a film, like Rocky Horror, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Ghostbusters or The Wizard of Oz. Imagine your friends and fam in themed fancy dress!
Plan An Event
Adding an event in to your celebration makes it such fun - make it glamorous with a James Bond themed cocktail and casino night, make it mysterious with a murder mystery or magic and theatre, or make it laugh-a-minute with an old school style sports day. If you’re a competitive bunch book outdoor events like archery and laser clay shooting – some suppliers will come to your holiday house with all the gear and professional instructors. If your mode is super chilled make it a private spa weekend – choose a holiday house with a yoga studio, have a gong bath, hire therapists to come and pamper you; if it’s a summer birthday have a garden party or a long and leisurely BBQ.
There are endless possibilities, even things like pottery painting, life drawing, dance workshops, and cocktail masterclasses. Think about whether or not most of your group would join in before you rush in and book – but make it clear – you don’t want no party poopers, it’s your birthday, everyone’s got to do what you want to do! Just because you’re 40 it doesn’t mean you can’t have attitude!
Own It
If you’re going to celebrate in style you’ve got to really own your time away. So make it yours by booking local florists to make the house look extra amazing with flowers and ballons, dress the table for dinner, hire private chefs to come and create a humdinger of a 40th birthday feast. Entertain your group by giving them a pre-dinner rendition of your favourite song!
The Extras
This is something you can pass to someone else to organise, it’s more of a surprise that way. A good idea is to ask someone to create a memory book by asking guests to contribute stories and photos of little old you all through your life so far. There could be baby pics, photos from school days and university, wedding photos, and yes, probably one or two embarrassing ones! Alternatively, get them to make a photo board, a playlist of all your favourite tunes, or to devise a quiz ALL ABOUT YOU! What’s your favourite colour? What was your favourite toy when you were a kid? What did you put in Auntie Sandra’s cup of tea when you were 5? What was that outfit you thought you looked so cool in when you were a teenager? All planned to be fun and not to be taken seriously!
It's exciting, planning a break with your lovelies to celebrate your birthday. It’s such a privilege to be able to do this, it’s a big lucky thing. And look at you! Aren’t you gorgeous! 40 and fabulous! Here's to four whole decades of you! Happy birthday - go celebrate 🥳