• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life is a Party
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
×
Home » Parties & Entertaining

30th Birthday Dinner

Modified: Sep 1, 2024 · Published: Jul 24, 2012 by Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

30th Birthday Dinner: we decorated with white and purple, had a beautiful dinner party and money tree to celebrate our birthday girl.

30th Birthday dinner party menu and decor.
Jump to:
  • Celebrating At Home
  • Party Decorations
  • The Table
  • Birthday Girl Chair Decoration
  • Appetizers In The Garden
  • 30th Birthday Dinner Ideas
  • Money Tree
  • Dessert
  • More Fun 30th Birthday Party Ideas
  • More Party Inspiration


30th birthday 058

This weekend a dear best friend turned 30 and we threw a pretty 30th Birthday Dinner party to celebrate an new decade and a new chapter. Milestone birthdays are special and it's always great to celebrate with an intimate dinner party. It was such a fun way to surprise our guest of honor.

Celebrating At Home

I love celebrating a special 30th birthday celebration like this in my own home, where you can decorate ahead of time, and linger into the night. The best 30th birthday venues are somewhere everyone feels comfortable, but that also have a sense of occasion for an important milestone. The important things for us were to gather the birthday girls group of close friends and have a great time together. We made things a little fancy with decor and a dress code. A surprise party in the comfort of home with closest friends around the dinner table was a really lovely way to celebrate.

30th birthday 037

Party Decorations

We used lots of white, ruffles, doilies and a little purple for our 30th birthday party theme for the party decor. We were inspired by the birthday girl's favorite color palette. On the front table, I added a picture of our guest of honor Connie, along with some candy and a beautiful bouquet of Queen Anne's Lace.

30th birthday 040

I also used my chalk board and added some paper doily bunting and a birthday greeting, as a great way to set the tone as guests arrived.

30th birthday 121

The dining room was all dressed up for the party. We hung beautiful paper lanterns and a few DIY paper doily balls. They looked so pretty with the chandelier.

30th birthday 129

The Table

The table was set for 10, with a simple white table cloth. I used my pretty purple wine glasses to add a little colour.

30th birthday 139

I love how these pretty lacy metal candle holders looked with all the other lacy details, and how their round shape echoed the paper lanterns hanging above.

The focal point white flowers were more of the Queen Anne's Lace, in three containers down the centre of the table.

30th birthday 120

I used simple white cloth napkins, and white plates made for perfect pairings at the place settings. The cutest detail for this special occasion were these pretty individual domed dessert holders.

30th birthday 136

We served homemade shortbread cookies in them. I loved how the cookies, stacked and tied into little bundles with baker's twine, added another small pop of purple to the table. It was all so pretty, and the best part was that they were delicious.

30th birthday 123

Birthday Girl Chair Decoration

Another fun detail, was decorating the birthday girls chair. I made a simple rosette with paper doilies and tied on some ruffles and ribbon.

30th birthday 016

Appetizers In The Garden

We started the evening outside with some delicious appetizers. It's always nice to build a little movement into your evening and starting out in the garden before heading inside is always a good choice.

30th birthday 117

We tried this yummy corn dip recipe from Inspired by Charm. Everyone loved it.

30th birthday 104

I served a simple purple punch of grape juice and ginger ale with vodka on the side for those who wanted to make it a little special. 😉

30th birthday 141

30th Birthday Dinner Ideas

Dinner was delicious we served a dinner salad with roasted potatoes, along with grilled flank steak and flattened chicken. Get the recipe for the flattened chicken here.  It's the perfect summer dinner menu.

Dinner Menu:

  • Salad with Roasted Potatoes
  • Grilled Flank Steak
  • Flattened Chicken
30th birthday 107

Money Tree

Since our birthday girl was travelling for the next year, we had the good idea to make a money tree in lieu of gifts. Guests brought $10 bills (they're kind of purple here in Canada so they fit our colour scheme perfectly), and tied them on with these little ribbons and paper clips. It was a real blessing to Connie, and just one of the creative ideas that she really loved.

30th birthday 109

Dessert

You can't have a birthday party without birthday cake. And what's better than only serving cake? Creating an entire dessert table! I had so much fun putting together a purple themed dessert table,inspired by this purple party. See all the details of the beautiful 30th birthday white and purple dessert table here.

More Fun 30th Birthday Party Ideas

Our intimate dinner party was so fun, but another great option would be to book a room at your favorite restaurant, you might even look for somewhere with live music and a dance floor, or a rooftop bar with a happy hour to get the party started.

If you're looking for more at-home party ideas try a board game night, online cooking classes with friends, or an online mixology classes. If you're into a themed birthday party how about a murder mystery party, great gatsby, wine tasting party. Escape rooms also make a fun theme. Another idea for a good time would be to book a spa day. And a unique way to celebrate, not for the faint of heart, is a big group camping trip. Turning 30 is a big deal so how ever you choose to celebrate the birthday boy or girl, I hope you have a wonderful time and make lots of memories together.

More Party Inspiration

You might also like our Toast Party here.

toast party

Also check out our Beer and Rootbeer Tasting Party here.

You might also enjoy our Favourite Things Birthday Party here.

Favourite Things Party: the perfect 50th birthday party ideas for your husband. Favourite food, favourite dessert, favourite book as a party favour.

More Parties and Entertaining Ideas

  • Earth day party set with up cycled dishes and cutlery, home grown flowers, paper lanterns, and garden themed food.
    Earth Day Party and Eco-Friendly Entertaining Ideas
  • Princess and the frog party table with food and decorations.
    The Best Birthday Party Home Decoration Ideas
  • Iced coffee in glass with straw, coffee in mug with sticker logo, and hot chocolate in a tea cup on a table.
    How To Make Your Own At Home Coffee Shop
  • Bridgerton themed party table with cake, cocktail, snacks, decor and party game.
    How To Host A Bridgerton Themed Viewing Party

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michael Wurm, Jr. says

    July 24, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    Wow! What a beautiful, beautiful party! I wish I could have been there. The details are fab!

    So glad you found, made, and loved the corn dip!! It's a favorite of mine too. Thanks for the shout out.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Life is a Party is all about helping you celebrate everyday with great food, entertaining and party inspiration, and seasonal crafts and home decor inspired by the holidays.

More About Dannyelle

Trending Recipes

  • Mac and cheese with panko breadcrumb topping.
    Best Homemade Mac and Cheese with Panko Breadcrumb Topping
  • Homemade iced capps in glasses on a wood table.
    Tim Hortons Copycat Iced Capp Recipe
  • Dirt Pudding no cream cheese in glasses with candy rocks, and fresh mint that looks like a little plant.
    Easy Dirt Pudding Recipe without Cream Cheese
  • Easy 3 ingredient coconut milkshake recipe.
    Easy Coconut Milkshake Recipe
  • Easy food processor scones on a plate with jam.
    Easy Food Processor Scones
  • Small batch pancakes for two.
    Easy Small Batch Pancakes For Two Recipe

Summer Ideas

  • Mushroom themed party picnic in backyard.
    Mushroom Themed Picnic Party
  • Cherry themed party table with food and cherry themed decor.
    Cherry Themed Party Ideas
  • Ice cream charcuterie dessert board in the shape of an ice cream cone.
    Easy Ice Cream Sundae Charcuterie Dessert Board
  • Butterfly themed party ideas party table, food, and decorations.
    Butterfly Themed Party Ideas
  • Strawberry themed party ideas with table setting, flowers, and food.
    Sweet Strawberry Theme Party
  • summer garden party
    Summer Garden Party

  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Spring and Easter
  • Free Resource Library

Footer

back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Subscribe

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Life is a Party

Share1
Pin146
Post
Share1
Pin146
Post