70th Birthday Party Ideas: Personal Touches, Games & a Mum-osa Bar

When your Mum turns 70, it’s a big deal. But when she turns 70 just a year after losing your Dad, it becomes something deeper. This wasn’t just a birthday party, it was a celebration of her strength, her stories, and the quiet love she’s poured into our family for decades.

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🕒 Time to read: 16 minutes

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We wanted to make a fuss. She deserved it. But we also wanted to keep it intimate, for obvious reasons. We wanted it to feel gentle, comforting, not overwhelming. So we built it around something sacred: our Sunday roast tradition. Every other week, we gather as a family around the table. This time, we added a few flourishes.

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Invitation

The colour palette; deep red, blush pink, clotted cream, with gold accents, was inspired by Mum’s favourite tones and her November birthday. It ran through everything: the invitation, the stationery, the cake, the flowers, even the games. From the roast to the feather wall, this day was all about Mum. Her colours, her comforts, her memories. A party with sentiment.

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Planning

I started planning two months out. First came the essentials: booking the Waun Wyllt, ordering personalised biscuits from Haf Bakes, and securing the feather wall from Rosie’s Balloon Bar. Then came the playlist, the props, the slideshow, and the stationery, all designed in Canva to match the deep red, blush rose and clotted cream theme.

It was a solo mission. My brothers are lovely, but let’s just say they’re not exactly Pinterest-level planners. Thankfully, Ola (my hubby-to-be) stepped in like a total pro. He saw me spiralling and quietly got to work; filling bottles, chopping garnishes, setting up game stations, helping with the playlist and slideshow. Calm, patient, and completely on it. Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without him.

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Venue

The Waun Wyllt in Five Roads was perfect, just five minutes from Mum’s house and a bit of a hidden gem. It’s a beautifully restored 18th-century country inn with that rare mix of modern comfort and traditional charm. Neutral tones, glossy mirrors, quality furniture, and a warm, welcoming vibe.

The staff were lovely, genuinely helpful and invested in making the day special (thanks Lewis!) They helped us set up the playlist and slideshow without a hitch, and nothing was too much trouble. The food? Delicious. Their Sunday roast is the kind that makes you want to unbutton your jeans and nap by the fire.

We booked a private room for our small guest list: Mum, her children, their partners, and her grandchildren, all around one big round table. It gave us space to laugh, reminisce, and celebrate without feeling like we were on display. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better venue.

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Surprise!!!

To keep the surprise under wraps, we each gave Mum a little excuse for why we couldn’t make it that weekend. My younger brother said he’d take her out for a quiet Sunday lunch. Meanwhile, the rest of us were already at the venue, waiting.

When Mum walked in and saw everyone, her face lit up. She pointed straight at the feather wall and said, “Oooh look at that, I love it!” Mission accomplished.

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Tablescape

The table was dressed to impress. Deep red runner, gold hibiscus flower placemats, and cheesecloth napkins tied with gold vine rings, all carefully chosen to echo Mum’s favourite colours. A tall vase floral centrepiece (crafted by yours truly) stood proudly in the middle, adding height and beauty.

Each place setting had its own mini favour moment: a personalised shortbread biscuit, a 1950s sweet jar, a pen, and answer sheets for the games.

The biscuits from Haf Bakes were shortbread with fondant tops, crinkle-cut edges, and hand painted gold accents. Some said “Happy Birthday Mum”, others had “70” or delicate floral details. And for a final sweet touch, each biscuit had a “Thank You for Coming” sticker on the back. The table was full of love and sugar! 

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Nostalgic Sweets

One of my favourite DIY touches was the 1950s style sweet jars. I bought the empty jars from Hobbycraft and filled them with classic retro sweets: rosey apples, pear drops, rhubarb and custard, mint humbugs, toffees, sherbet lemons, blackcurrant and liquorice, eclairs, coconut mushrooms, and hard gems. Each jar had a matching floral label to tie in with the rest of the stationery.

They were a nostalgic nod to Mum’s childhood and added a playful, personal touch to each place setting. Guests loved them, especially the coconut mushrooms, which sparked a whole debate about whether they were delicious or just weird.

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Feather Wall

Rosie’s Balloon Bar created a feather wall display that was nothing short of stunning. Glamorous, soft, and celebratory. A blush pink and gold balloon garland framed the gold metal cage, giving the whole setup a luxe feel.

We chose feathers as a quiet tribute to loved ones we’ve lost, especially Dad. Symbolic, soft, and full of meaning. It transformed the private room into a party space and made the perfect backdrop for photos. Mum adored it. Daisy, our youngest guest, even turned it into her personal stage, twirling, posing, and soaking up the spotlight like a pro.

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Price is Right Game

Why 1954? Because that’s the year Mum was born. And what better way to celebrate her journey than by looking at how much the world has changed since then?

I created a poster, matching labels, and answer sheets to go with each item, all styled to match the floral stationery. Each item had a little prop to bring it to life:

Item	1954 Price	2024 Price	Prop Used
Newspaper	£0.03	£0.70	Real newspaper
House	£1,863	£250,000	Toy house
Weekly Wage	£9.25	£647	Toy money and graph
Litre of Petrol	£0.06	£1.35	Mini petrol pump and sign
Pint of Milk	£0.03	£0.85	Milk bottle
Loaf of Bread	£0.04	£1.40	Real loaf
Half Dozen Eggs	£0.06	£1.50	Egg carton
Car (new)	£511	£35,000	Toy car
Cigarettes	£0.11	£15.85	Cigarette box
Movie Ticket	£0.08	£7.92	Clapper board and popcorn

Guests had to guess the 1954 prices to the props and I revealed the modern day equivalents. It was nostalgic, interactive, and surprisingly competitive. There were plenty of “No way!” moments, especially when Zack found out it used to cost 8p to go to the cinema.

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Memory Observation Game

This game was more than just a bit of fun. It was a gentle nod to the passing of time and the importance of memory. As Mum turns 70, we’ve all become a little more aware of how precious memories are, and how easy it is to miss the little things.

So we flipped the idea of a traditional memory game on its head. Instead of asking the guest of honour to recall sentimental moments, we got everybody involved, by testing their observation skills in real time!

Before the party, I carefully set the scene with subtle clues, then quietly removed or hid them before the game began. Guests were handed floral answer sheets and asked to recall what they’d seen (or missed) since arriving.

You can come up with your own questions to suit your celebration, but here are some of the questions I included:

• What song played three times on the playlist? (The Locomotion!)
• What was I holding when you walked in? (A teacup and saucer)
• What Christmas movie was on the clapper board? (Santa Clause the Movie)
• What Disney character was on Mum’s t-shirt in the Memory Lane photo? (Mickey Mouse)
• Was the waitress wearing glasses? (Yes)
• What was the Christmas sticker on the door? (Reindeer)
• What newspaper was used in the Price is Right game? (The Sun)
• What colour was the toy house’ front door? (Blue)
• What unusual object was hidden around the room? (Five pegs!)

It was a brilliant way to get everyone looking more closely, laughing at what they missed, and realising just how much detail goes unnoticed. Only Daisy, Mum’s granddaughter, remembered the Christmas movie, the Disney character, and spotted all five pegs. Clearly the sharpest eyes in the room!

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Who Knows Mum Best Game

This quiz was full of laughs, light hearted debates, and a few “Wait, really?!” moments. I designed matching floral answer sheets to keep everything on theme, and each guest had a go at answering questions about Mum’s quirks, favourites, and little known facts.

The questions were a mix of sweet, surprising, and just a little cheeky:

• What did Mum want to be when she grew up?
• What’s her favourite snack?
• What’s one word or saying she always says?
• What’s her shoe size?
• What was her first job?
• If she were an animal, which one would she be and why?
• What’s her favourite thing to do on weekends?
• Who is her celebrity crush?
• What’s her favourite colour?
• Does she believe in ghosts?
• What’s her favourite hobby?
• What is her biggest fear?

Even those who thought they knew her best were caught out by a few answers. The quiz sparked great conversations and plenty of laughter.

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Memory Lane

One of the most touching parts of the day was the Memory Lane table. I created a display of photographs from Mum’s life; childhood snapshots, family holidays, silly moments, and proud milestones. In the centre, I framed a brick wall poster with a street sign “memory lane”, styled to look like the Coronation Street logo. Her favourite TV show since she was a child.

Guests naturally gravitated toward it, mainly laughing at old hairstyles and outfits! The memories sparked so many lovely conversations and gave everyone a chance to reflect.

You can download the poster here to create your own Memory Lane display.

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Slideshow

Later in the afternoon, we played a slideshow on the wall, set to a soft piano version of Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles. It opened with a cheeky line: “You’re officially the oldest family member at the grand age of 70.”

From there, it unfolded into a series of life lessons, each one illustrated with photos from Mum’s journey:

• Life Lesson 1: Marriage: “Finding that special someone you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” Cue wedding photos, couple shots, and sweet memories with Dad.
• Life Lesson 2: Children: “Having one child makes you a parent…” (photos with her eldest son), “Two makes you a referee…” (photos with me, her only daughter), “Three makes you a bouncer.” (photos with her youngest son)
• Life Lesson 3: Food: “Life’s too short – eat the cake!” Photos of picnics, restaurant meals, celebrations… and one very funny bikini shot that made Mum scream!
• Life Lesson 4: Parties: “The best time to celebrate is whenever you can.” Engagements, Mum’s 60th, Dad’s 70th, my older brother’s passing out parade, my graduation, my younger brother’s wedding, and a few Christmases thrown in.
• Life Lesson 5: Animals: “Never trust someone who isn’t kind to animals.” Lots of photos with horses (her favourite), and finally, after much searching, one sweet snap of her with her beloved grey kitten.
• Life Lesson 6: Sleep: “Your favourite hobby.” Hilarious sleeping poses in the garden, on the sofa, and even a few blinking shots I cheekily included. But also: “If you get tired, learn to rest – not quit.”
• Life Lesson 7: Youth: “You don’t stop having fun because you get old.” Mum being silly, pulling faces, wearing wigs and hats, roller-skating, playing guitar, bouncing on castles, and doing face masks.
• Life Lesson 8: Legs: “If you’ve got them – flaunt them!” Plenty of glamorous poses showing off her long legs in short skirts.
• Life Lesson 9: Grandchildren: “Seeing your grandkids excited to see you is the best feeling in the world.” Beautiful moments of her holding, hugging, and laughing with her grandbabies.

The slideshow ended with a simple, heartfelt message: “Happy Birthday Mum. We love you. x x x”

It was a mix of heartfelt and hilarious. A beautiful way to celebrate her journey and show her just how loved she is.

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Mum-osa Bar

Since Mum doesn’t drink – like, at all – we wanted to create something fun and celebratory that still felt like her. So I chose to create a non-alcoholic “Mum-osa” bar.

I designed a floral themed poster and matching labels for each drink and garnish, tying it all into the rest of the party stationery. The bar featured:

• Non-alcoholic bubbles
• Sparkling lemonade
• Orange juice
• Cranberry juice
• Fresh fruit garnishes: strawberries, raspberries, lemon and lime slices

Guests could mix and match their own drinks in prosecco glasses, which Lewis set out in a heart shape (loving the attention to detail!) It looked beautiful, felt celebratory, and most importantly, it was 100% Mum approved.

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Birthday Cake

The cake was made by Trudy (Jess’ mum), our unofficial official cake maker for every occasion in our friendship circle. She knows how to make something look stunning and taste amazing.

The design matched the rest of the party perfectly. Deep red, blush pink, and cream, topped with delicate roses and a golden “Mum” sign. It looked almost too pretty to eat.

Of course, we did. And yes, it was delicious.

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Special Touches & Sweet Moments

• I designed all the stationery on Canva, from the “Sssshhh it’s a surprise” invitations to the game sheets, sweet jar labels, and thank you tags on the biscuit packaging. All in a floral theme of deep red and blush roses.
• The Memory Lane display featured a brick wall backdrop inspired by Coronation Street, Mum’s favourite show since childhood.
• The slideshow revealed that Mum’s style over the years – Mickey Mouse tees, polka dot dresses, and flared trousers, was actually pretty cool.
• I placed a deep red and white teacup and saucer on the table that once belonged to my gran (Mum’s mum). When Mum spotted it, there was a twinkle in her eye. We were both very close to Nan, so that little touch meant the world.

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Balancing Celebration with Sensitivity

Planning a milestone birthday after a loss, can feel like walking a tightrope between joy and remembrance. Here’s what helped us:

• Keep it intimate: A smaller guest list made the day feel warm and personal. It gave Mum space to enjoy the moment without feeling overwhelmed.
• Make it about them: Every detail was chosen with Mum in mind. From the comforting Sunday roast to the non-alcoholic Mum-osa bar, and the colour palette inspired by her favourite tones and her November birthday.
• Include gentle nods to loved ones: The feather wall was more than just a pretty backdrop, it was a quiet tribute to those we’ve lost. And the vintage teacup from my gran? That moment, when Mum spotted it and her eyes lit up, was everything.
• Celebrate the journey: The slideshow and games weren’t just for fun, they were a way to reflect on how far Mum has come over 70 years. It was a celebration of her life, her style, her stories, and her strength.

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FREE Printable: Full Party Pack

Want everything in one go? Download the full set of matching printables; including all the games, labels, signs, stickers, and decor mentioned above. Perfect if you’d rather skip the scrolling and grab everything in one easy bundle.

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Final Thoughts

Mum’s 70th wasn’t just a party. It was a love letter in the form of cake, feathers, and fondant.

From the deep red roses to the memory games and the slideshow of life lessons, every detail was chosen with care, because, as we say here at Teacups and Glitter, it’s all in the detail.

If you’re planning a milestone celebration for someone you love, I hope this gives you a few ideas, a little inspiration, and a gentle reminder that the most meaningful moments often come from the simplest things.

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