SoRaiseYourGlasses

Surprise Parties can be wonderful for everyone involved - the organisers, the guests and those that are being surprised, but the planning of a surprise party requires a particular strain of guile and co-ordination. Of course all the standard tips for planning a party still apply  but with a surprise party there are extra precautions and organising that has to be done:

• Make sure that the person or people that you intend to surprise are going to be available on the day - now this can be straightforward if just one person is to be surprised and if you are either that person's partner or spouse, or if you can recruit the services and the secrecy of that person's partner or spouse. It may be a little more difficult if it's a couple that you want to surprise.
• The key is to put the right friends, colleagues and family "in the know" as early as possible so that they are able to influence where that person or persons are going to be on the special day. Then, either through these contacts or by other means make an appointment for the person concerned that you know they won't want to break - it has to be fictitious, of course, and so the best way is to arrange with one of the friends or family to invite the person concerned to an event on the day in question, and then the surprise can be sprung without any danger of any suspicion beforehand
• Do make sure that anyone likely to be in contact with those you wish to surprise is aware of your plans and can be trusted to keep the secret. If you're in any doubt about someone's ability to keep a secret, tell them nothing!
• If you are using an outside venue, caterers, entertainers or anyone else, make sure they know that it is a surprise as well - then there's no chance of them letting the cat out of the bag - for instance, if your party is at a local pub or restaurant where those who are to be surprised frequent, then make sure that the proprietiors and staff don't say anything about the arrangements you have put in hand
• On the day itself, make sure people who are attending either park away from the venue, or come by public transport, as familiar cars can certainly give away a secret.
• Get all the guests to be at the venue at least 30 minutes before the guests of honour are due to arrive. Latecomers will give the game away. If anyone is late on the day itself, tell them to stay clear until at least halk an hour after your guests of honour are due to arrive - they can join in everything except the moment of surprise, but one familiar face sneaking in at the wrong moment and the whole game can be given away
• Be sure that your guests like surprises!