30th Birthday Ideas for Her: 30 Ways to Celebrate
Someone special is stepping into a new decade and you’re itching to throw a happy 30th birthday party she’ll remember forever. Fortunately, we have plenty of fun and creative 30th birthday ideas for her big day. To celebrate this milestone birthday in style, take a look at these 30 birthday party ideas alongside some of our favorite party invitations that match the party theme and vibe.
30th Birthday Ideas for Her
Design: Claudia Owen
For the big 3-0, it makes sense that we’d share 30 of our favorite 30th birthday party ideas for that special woman in your life. Whether she’s your bestie, sister, daughter, cousin, or significant other, the goal remains the same: to honor her special day and let her know how much you care.
These 30th birthday ideas range from laid-back and casual to luxe and adventurous, so you’re sure to find something that suits her personality. We’ve also paired some ideas with corresponding digital invitations — like this cheeky So Happy I’m Thirty invite — that you can easily customize. It’s the perfect way to set the tone and kick things off from the moment you hit send!
1. Host a Retro Sleepover
Take things back to the past for an evening filled with nostalgia by hosting a retro slumber party for your best friend. Set the scene with cozy blankets and pillows and encourage guests to come dressed up in their PJs. Offer plenty of popcorn, drinks, pizza, and snacks that everyone can enjoy while binge-watching her favorite movies.
2. Enjoy a Spa Day
Design: Claudia Owen
Embrace self-care and relaxation by treating the birthday girl and her chosen few to a refreshing spa birthday party. Book massages, hit the sauna, or lounge by the pool. You can choose gifts that match this theme too — like a skincare gift set in a tote bag, or bath bombs as party favors. A themed invite, like this Painted Hibiscus invitation, is a sweet touch.
3. Go for a Hike
Spend the day together and (literally) step into a new decade by going for a hike or walk somewhere scenic. Use this time to take in the views and enjoy stops along the way, be it for coffee, snacks, or photo opportunities.
4. Camp in the Backyard
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Spend some time in the great outdoors without leaving the comforts of home with a backyard campout. Set up a tent, grab some snacks and drinks, and spend the evening recounting memories, laughing about life, and spending quality time together. Pair this outdoor birthday party idea with a fun invite to match, like this Let’s Get Toasted design.
5. Belt it Out at a Karaoke Bar
Sing those birthday wishes loud and clear with a trip to a local karaoke bar. Gather your friends and have a blast singing your hearts out. This is perfect gift if the guest of honor loves karaoke, and you can combine it with dinner out to continue the celebration.
6. Host a Dinner Party
Design: Kate Ross Design
Treat the newly 30-year-old to an evening of delicious food and amazing company by hosting your own birthday dinner party. Have fun planning a menu you know she’ll love and don’t forget to include cocktails (or mocktails). Cook up a storm or hire someone else to make the dishes, then sit back, relax, and toast the guest of honor. You can personalize this dreamy invitation with all the party details.
7. Enjoy a Luxe Staycation
Explore your hometown or a nearby city by booking a luxurious staycation for you and your BFF. This is a fun 30th birthday present if you can splash out on it, as you can mix in different activities and dining spots to create a memorable milestone birthday celebration.
8. Host a Pool Party
Design: Owl and Toad
Splish, splash! You can’t go wrong with a pool party, especially for summertime birthdays. Whether it’s at your place or someone else’s, make sure there are plenty of giant inflatables, delicious fruity drinks, and tasty snacks. Let your guests know all about your pool party plans by customizing this Colorful Pool invitation.
9. Enjoy Game Night
If the birthday girl is a gamer, consider planning a game night. Play your favorites, or ask your guests to bring their own so you can enjoy new games together. Buying a new board game is a perfect 30th birthday gift idea to match — especially if you know they’re a fan.
10. Host a Costume Party
Celebrate your best friend’s dirty thirty in style by hosting an incredible costume party. Set a theme or encourage everyone to wear what they like, and see what walks through the door. This is a fun way to celebrate the fact that getting older definitely doesn’t mean growing up.
11. Tour a Vineyard
Design: Raven Erebus
Escape to a beautiful vineyard and enjoy wine straight from the vine. Whether you’re heading for a weekend or a day, this 30th birthday idea for her is a fabulous way to enjoy the good life. Update this wine country invitation with all the details, and as a matching gift idea, surprise the guest of honor with a wine bottle and wine glasses.
12. Take a Cooking Class
If she loves to cook, you can’t go wrong with taking a cooking class or hosting a cooking party. Head to a local venue where you can book a private session, or for an at-home option, hire a chef who can provide an online tutorial in real-time. Turn this into a fun challenge or competition with a prize for the best-cooked dish.
13. Get Creative with an Art Party
Design: Rachel Roe Art
Get lost in creativity with a fun art party. You can book a paint and sip class or go the DIY route by providing all the supplies at someone’s home. Encourage people to make whatever they like, or follow guided instructions to make mini works of art together. Invite your guests in style with this Oh Happy Day invitation.
14. Go Skydiving
Embrace the spirit of adventure and challenge your fears by taking the birthday girl skydiving. We’d only recommend this if you know the guest of honor has it on her bucket list, but it can be an incredible gift idea that will never be forgotten.
15. Enjoy a Jewelry Making Class
Learn about the intricacies of jewelry making and have a go at DIY-ing your own creations with an expert-led jewelry class. Ask for the class to be tailored to the birthday guest of honor’s interests — like a particular metal or style — or book a class where you can make sterling silver bracelets that feature birthstones for a unique gift idea.
16. Plan a Themed Party
Design: Owl and Toad
Celebrate this milestone moment in style by planning a wonderful themed party. This is one of those 30th birthday ideas for her that takes more planning, but it’ll be well worth it. Choose a birthday party theme you know she’ll love and carry that through everything — from the birthday party invitations to the birthday cake. This 70s-inspired invite is perfect for a 70s-themed bash.
17. Host a House Party
This might not be one of the most ground-breaking 30th birthday ideas for her, but sometimes simple is better. To transform your place into the ultimate hang, simply put up some birthday decorations, create a playlist that people will want to dance to, and stock up the fridge with drinks and snacks to last throughout the night. You don’t need much more than good people, good music, good food, and good drinks to make this an unforgettable celebration.
18. Visit an Escape Room
Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery
See which members of your friend group can solve their way out of a problem by visiting an escape room. This is a fun experiential birthday idea that challenges people to work together and overcome obstacles. Invite a handful of her closest friends with this Mystery Escape Room invite and celebrate afterwards with dinner and drinks.
19. Get Tickets to a Show
Treat your best friend to an evening she’ll remember forever by booking tickets to a concert, show, or performance that she’s been wanting to see. Find out when her fave band or show is in town, then put the tickets inside her birthday card.
20. Plan a TV or Movie Night
Design: Claudia Owen
Host a TV or movie night for a cozy, relaxed way to celebrate the birthday girl. Plan an evening that follows a theme — like horror, romance, or comedy — or ask the guest of honor for her favorite movies, actors, or genres. Find a fun matching invite, like this I’ll Be There For You invite to share all the details.
21. Set Sail on a Boat
Celebrate her milestone birthday in style by booking a private boat. This is one of those 30th birthday ideas for her that costs a little more, but you can ask attendees to pitch in as part of the birthday gift. Depending on budget, you can splurge on reserving an entire catamaran or booking space on a chartered boat.
22. Enjoy a Murder Mystery Evening
Design: Jen Montgomery
For a more unusual birthday experience, consider a murder mystery evening. Attend a murder mystery experience at a themed venue or host a murder mystery dinner party and use this murder mystery invitation to set the scene. Encourage people to dress up, get into character, and see if they can figure out who committed the crime before anyone else does.
23. Host a Casino Night
Raise the stakes by hosting a casino night for the guest of honor. Ask a professional company to host the event at your home or in a party venue, or head to your local casino to enjoy the real deal. This is a fun birthday celebration idea if you want to dress up and live like a high roller — at least for one night.
24. Enjoy a Lavish Dinner
Treat the birthday girl to a special dinner at her favorite restaurant for a milestone birthday celebration. Book a private dining room and, if possible, tailor the menu to her exact tastes and preferences. Enjoy incredible food and drink together, and toast the guest of honor to an amazing year ahead.
25. Take a Cocktail-Making Class
Design: Claudia Owen
Challenge your party guests to see who can create the most exciting cocktail after taking a cocktail making class. Invite a mixologist to your place or attend an event at a private bar. Choose a matching invite, like this Neon Cocktails invitation. For a thoughtful gift idea, present the birthday girl with her own rose gold shaker and cocktail-making kit.
26. Host an Ice Cream Party
Becoming a 30-year-old means you’ve earned the right to eat your dessert before dinner. And what better way to honor this benefit of adulting than with an ice cream party? Book a table at her favorite dessert spot, invite a few friends, and order whatever you like from the menu. Alternatively, you can host an ice cream party at home complete with dessert stations featuring various ice cream flavors, toppings, and treats like cupcakes and brownies on the side.
27. Plan a Picnic in the Park
There’s something special about a picnic in the park and it’s the perfect way to celebrate your favorite 30-year-old. This is a sweet 30th birthday idea for her that doesn’t require lavish expenses or lots of planning — just you, some thoughtfully prepared food, and somewhere scenic to stop and take in the moment.
28. Throw a Surprise Party
Design: Shari Margolin Design
Surprise your BFF with a party she didn’t even know was coming. Work with her closest friends and family members to plan a surprise party, and throw her off the scent by making understated birthday plans together. Update this Bold Surprise invite to tell your guests what’s happening and to keep track as the RSVPs roll in.
29. Have Fun at a Retro Arcade
For a true blast from the past, plan a night out at a retro video game arcade. Challenge each other to see who can get the highest scores playing old-school games like Pac-Man, Frogger, pinball, and skee-ball. To stay on theme, finish the evening with dinner and drinks at a retro diner.
30. Make a Scrapbook Together
Spending time together is the best gift of all, so consider gathering for a night of scrapbooking. You can provide the crafting supplies but ask everyone to bring photos and mementos of their times spent with the birthday girl. Together, you can create a scrapbook of memories that is sure to be one of the best 30th birthday gifts. You can continue the tradition by adding to your scrapbook on future milestones, like her 40th birthday.
Celebrate Someone Special with These 30th Birthday Ideas for Her
Celebrating a milestone birthday means something different for everyone. Use these 30th birthday ideas to plan an unforgettable experience that speaks to her unique personality. Once you’ve settled on a theme or idea, let everyone know about the event by selecting a design from our collection of 30th birthday party invites.Â
Greenvelope’s digital invitations are easy to customize so you can update the layout, wording, and colors to create an invite that’s as unique as the birthday girl herself. Send them out via email or SMS, and handle RSVPs in one place. It’s party management simplified, so you can spend more time thinking of fun, creative things to do with your birthday bestie.
