How I Planned My Mum’s 70th Birthday Party with Games, Decorations and a DIY Mum-osa Bar

🕒 Reading Time: 18 minutes

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 70th birthday party. It was a celebration of her strength, her stories, and the quiet love she’s poured into our family for decades.

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 and familiar rather than overwhelming.

So we built the celebration around something that already meant a lot to our family: our Sunday roast tradition.

Every other weekend we gather around the table together. This time, we simply added a few extra touches.

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The Planning

I started planning around two months before the party.

First came the essentials: booking the Waun Wyllt, ordering personalised biscuits from Haf Bakes, and securing the feather wall from Rosie’s Balloon Bar.

After that, I started pulling together the details that would make the day feel more personal: the playlist, the props, the slideshow and all the stationery, which I designed in Canva using a colour palette of deep red, blush pink, clotted cream and touches of gold.

The colours were inspired by Mum herself. They reflected her favourite tones and her November birthday, and quickly became the thread that tied everything together.

From the invitations to the flowers, the cake, the games and the sweet jars, every detail followed the same theme.

My brothers are lovely, but let’s just say they’re not exactly Pinterest-level planners.

Thankfully, my husband-to-be, Ola stepped in when he saw me disappearing down a party planning rabbit hole. He quietly got stuck in with chopping garnishes, filling bottles, setting up games and helping with the playlist and slideshow.

Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without him.

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The Venue

The Waun Wyllt in Five Roads turned out to be the perfect choice.

Just five minutes from Mum’s house, it’s a beautifully restored country inn that manages to feel both elegant and cosy at the same time. The private dining room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, felt special without feeling overly formal.

We booked the room for a small family celebration with Mum, her children, partners and grandchildren.

Having a private space made a huge difference. We knew we’d have a slideshow, a personalised playlist, games, the feather wall backdrop, the Mum-osa Bar and the birthday cake, so we wanted somewhere we could properly make our own for the afternoon.

That single round table ended up being one of the best decisions we made. There was no separate “top table”. No formal seating plan. Just everyone gathered together sharing stories, laughter and a very good Sunday roast.

The staff were wonderful too. Nothing was too much trouble, and they happily helped us set up both the slideshow and playlist before everyone arrived.

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The Surprise

For weeks, we all had to pretend we already had plans.

My younger brother offered to take Mum out for Sunday lunch, while the rest of us were already waiting at the venue.

When she walked into the room and spotted everyone gathered around the table, her face lit up.

Then she pointed straight at the feather wall and said: “Oooh look at that, I love it!”

At that moment, I knew we’d got it right.

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The Details That Made It Her

More than anything, I wanted this party to feel like Mum.

Not a picture-perfect party. Not a generic 70th birthday celebration.

Her.

The Table Setting

The table was dressed with a deep red runner, gold hibiscus placemats and cheesecloth napkins, finished with delicate gold vine napkin rings.

In the centre, I added a floral arrangement I had made myself using Mum’s favourite colours. Alongside it sat a deep red and white teacup and saucer that quietly blended in with the rest of the table setting.

Each place setting included a personalised biscuit, a retro sweet jar, a pen and answer sheets for the games we’d planned throughout the afternoon.

The biscuits from Haf Bakes were beautiful. Some had floral details, while others displayed a gold “70” or a simple “Happy Birthday Mum” message.

As a final sweet touch, each biscuit had a “Thank You for Coming” sticker on the back.

Retro Sweet Jars

One of my favourite little touches was the collection of 1950s inspired sweet jars.

I picked up empty jars, filled them with Mum’s childhood favourites and finished them off with matching floral sticker labels so they tied in with the rest of the party stationery.

I filled them with sweets Mum would have recognised from childhood, including:

• Rosey apples
• Pear drops
• Rhubarb and custard
• Mint humbugs
• Toffees
• Sherbet lemons
• Blackcurrant and liquorice
• Eclairs
• Coconut mushrooms
• Hard gems

They sat at each place setting and quickly became a talking point. Everyone had a favourite, although the coconut mushrooms sparked a surprisingly heated debate about whether they were delicious or completely bizarre. There was no middle ground.

More than anything, they added a little nostalgia to the day and gave everyone something sweet to take home.

The Feather Wall

The feather wall created by Rosie’s Balloon Bar became the focal point of the room.

A blush pink and gold balloon display framed the backdrop beautifully and created the perfect spot for photos throughout the day. Mum adored it. Daisy spent half the afternoon twirling in front of it and posing for photos, completely in her element.

Memory Lane

One of the most popular areas of the party was the Memory Lane display.

I gathered together photographs from across Mum’s life; childhood snapshots, family holidays, milestone celebrations, funny moments and memories spanning seven decades.

At the centre of the display sat a brick wall poster featuring a street sign reading Memory Lane, designed to resemble the iconic Coronation Street sign. Mum has watched Corrie since she was a little girl, so it felt like the perfect finishing touch. It’s also an idea that could easily be adapted to reflect somebody else’s favourite TV show, hobby or place.

Rather than creating one large photo board, I displayed the photographs in a collection of individual frames in different shapes, sizes and styles. A few were raised on plinths to create height, helping the display feel more like a collection built over seventy years than a wall full of photographs.

People drifted over naturally throughout the afternoon, sharing memories sparked by the photographs. Although, if I’m being honest, most people seemed far more interested in laughing at old hairstyles and fashion choices that should probably have stayed firmly in the past.

Sometimes the simplest ideas create the biggest conversations.

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The Mum-osa Bar

Because Mum doesn’t drink alcohol, I wanted to create something that still felt celebratory without relying on prosecco.

So I created a DIY Mum-osa Bar.

The station included:

• Non-alcoholic bubbles
• Sparkling lemonade
• Orange juice
• Cranberry juice
• Fresh strawberries
• Raspberries
• Lemon slices
• Lime slices

Guests could then mix and match their own combinations, choosing their preferred bubbles, adding a splash of juice and finishing it off with fresh fruit garnishes.

Everything was labelled using coordinating floral stationery and served in prosecco glasses. The glasses were even arranged into a heart shape before everyone arrived, which was a lovely touch.

It looked lovely, but more importantly it gave people something fun to customise throughout the afternoon.

Want to see how I used it at Mum’s 70th birthday? Check out How to Create a DIY Mum-osa Bar for a Birthday Party for more photos and setup inspiration.

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The Games

I knew I wanted some activities to break up the afternoon, but I didn’t want anything that felt forced.

Just like the rest of the celebration, the focus wasn’t on competition or prizes. It was on creating opportunities for people to chat, reminisce and laugh together.

Above all, the games all had one thing in common: they were designed to get people talking.

Rather than relying on generic quiz questions, I wanted each one to feel personal to Mum and the life she’d built over the last seventy years.

The Price Is Right

Why 1954? Because that’s the year Mum was born.

Inspired by the classic television gameshow The Price Is Right, I wanted to create a game that celebrated just how much the world has changed during Mum’s lifetime. Guests had to guess how much everyday items would have cost in 1954 before comparing them with both the correct answer and an average modern day price.

Rather than simply reading out a list of prices, I wanted to turn it into a proper display. I created a matching poster, answer sheets and labels, all designed to coordinate with the rest of the floral stationery. The display itself was styled using different heights and levels, with flowers arranged in miniature wooden wheelbarrows and props displayed throughout the setup.

Each item had its own label so guests knew exactly what they were guessing. Some were real props, including a newspaper, loaf of bread, cigarettes and cinema popcorn, while others were represented using toys and miniatures, including a dolls house, toy car and toy money. (I wasn’t quite committed enough to use real cash!)

As we compared the 1954 prices with today’s prices, there were plenty of “No way!” moments throughout the game, especially when Zack discovered it only cost 8p to go to the cinema.

It was simple, nostalgic and surprisingly competitive, with everyone determined to prove they knew more about the 1950s than everybody else.

As a bonus, many of the props didn’t go to waste afterwards. Mum happily took home the newspaper, bread, popcorn and a few other bits from the display, which she was delighted about.

Want to see the full game setup, all the props I used and the printable pack in more detail? Take a look at my dedicated The Price Is Right Birthday Game guide for more inspiration.

How Is Your Memory?

This game was more than just a bit of fun.

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 details.

Most people expected a traditional memory quiz about Mum’s life. The sort of questions where you’re asked to remember dates, milestones and family stories. Instead, I decided to turn the idea on its head and test everybody else’s observation skills.

Before they all arrived, I carefully planted various clues and details around the room. Some were obvious, some were much more subtle and a few disappeared before the game even began.

The answer sheets were already sitting on the table when everyone arrived, but nobody knew exactly what the game would involve. That meant nobody could secretly study the photographs, memorise details or gain an unfair advantage. Everyone started on equal footing.

When it was finally time to play, I challenged everyone to remember all the little things they’d seen (or completely failed to notice!) throughout the afternoon.

Some of the questions 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 Christmas sticker was on the door? (A reindeer.)
• What newspaper was used in the Price Is Right game? (The Sun.)
• What colour was the toy house’s front door? (Blue.)
• What unusual object was hidden around the room? (Five pegs!)

It was brilliant watching everyone realise how many details they’d missed. People started second guessing themselves, debating answers and laughing at things they were convinced they’d noticed but hadn’t.

Only Daisy remembered the Christmas film, spotted the Disney character and found all five hidden pegs. Clearly, she had the sharpest eyes in the room.

Who Knows Mum Best?

This quiz was full of laughs, light-hearted debates, and a few “really?!” moments.

Rather than focusing on obvious questions with right or wrong answers, I chose questions designed to spark conversation and reveal different sides of Mum’s personality. From favourite snacks and celebrity crushes to whether she believed in ghosts and what she wanted to be when she grew up, everyone had their own ideas about what Mum’s answers would be.

Instead of preparing the answers beforehand, I asked Mum to complete her own copy of the quiz during the party. That worked perfectly until she started revealing her responses.

More than once, somebody confidently announced, “No, that’s not your favourite!” only for Mum to reply, “Oooh, aye, it is actually!”

Suddenly the game became less about who knew Mum best and more about whether Mum’s own answers matched the version of her everyone else had in their heads.

Some answers were exactly what everyone expected. However, others completely caught us out. Either way, it sparked lots of laughter, stories and the sort of family debates that only happen when everyone is convinced they’re right. Going through the answers took far longer than expected because every response seemed to open up another conversation.

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Life Lessons From Mum

Rather than creating a slideshow filled with random photographs, I decided to structure it around a series of tongue-in-cheek life lessons.

It gave us a clear theme to follow and turned the slideshow into something much more personal than a simple collection of pictures.

Set to a soft piano version of Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles, it opened with the line:

“You’re officially the oldest family member at the grand age of 70.”

That immediately got a laugh.

From there, the slideshow took everyone on a journey through Mum’s life, one lesson at a time.

Life Lesson 1: Marriage
“Finding that special someone you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

Cue wedding photos, holidays with Dad and lots of lovely memories from their years together.

Life Lesson 2: Children
“Having one child makes you a parent. Two makes you a referee. Three makes you a bouncer.”

Each line was paired with photographs of Mum and her three children over the years, which got quite a few laughs from those who know just how accurate that description is.

Life Lesson 3: Food
“Life’s too short – eat the cake.”

This gave me the perfect excuse to include photographs from family meals, picnics, celebrations and one particularly unfortunate bikini photo that made Mum scream when it appeared on screen.

Life Lesson 4: Parties
“The best time to celebrate is whenever you can.”

Photos from birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, graduations, passing out parades, engagements and weddings followed, reminding us just how much life can fit into seventy years.

Life Lesson 5: Animals
“Never trust somebody who isn’t kind to animals.”

There were photographs of horses, Mum’s favourite animal, alongside a treasured picture of her beloved grey kitten, which took far longer to find than I’d like to admit.

Life Lesson 6: Sleep
This section may have been my personal favourite.

The accompanying message described sleep as Mum’s favourite hobby, which was supported by an impressive collection of photographs showing her asleep on the sofa, asleep in the garden, asleep in chairs and generally asleep whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Life Lesson 7: Youth
“You don’t stop having fun because you get old.”

Photos of Mum pulling faces, roller skating, wearing wigs, bouncing on castles, playing guitar and generally refusing to behave her age proved the point perfectly.

Life Lesson 8: Legs
“If you’ve got them, flaunt them.”

Mum has always had fabulous legs and there was photographic evidence to support the claim.

Life Lesson 9: Grandchildren
“Seeing your grandchildren excited to see you is one of the best feelings in the world.”

This final section was filled with photographs of Mum cuddling, holding and laughing with her grandchildren.

The slideshow ended with a simple message:

“Happy Birthday Mum. We love you. xxx”

It was a lovely way to celebrate the life, laughter, memories and people that have shaped Mum’s seventy years.

And what do you do after looking back on seventy years of memories? You make a birthday wish.

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The Birthday Cake

The cake was made by Trudy, who has become our unofficial official cake maker over the years. If there’s a birthday, engagement, baby shower or celebration happening within our friendship group, chances are Trudy has made the cake.

For Mum’s 70th, she designed a cake that tied in beautifully with the rest of the party.

Deep reds, blush pinks and cream florals echoed the colour palette we’d used throughout the invitations, stationery and decorations, while a gold “Mum” topper added the finishing touch.

It felt personal, elegant and completely in keeping with the rest of the celebration.

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Seventy Years to Remember

Looking back, I’m so glad we kept things simple.

We didn’t need a huge guest list, a grand venue or an elaborate schedule. After the year we’d had, that never felt right. We wanted the day to feel gentle, comforting and familiar rather than overwhelming.

Instead, we focused on creating a celebration that felt like Mum.

Everything was chosen with her in mind. The Sunday roast was built around a family tradition we’ve shared for years. The colour palette reflected her favourite colours and her November birthday. The retro sweet jars were filled with sweets from her childhood. Even the Mum-osa Bar was a nod to the fact that Mum has never really been a drinker but still deserved something fun and celebratory.

As the day unfolded, I realised the things that mattered most weren’t necessarily the biggest or most expensive details.

They were the thoughtful ones.

The feather wall looked beautiful in photographs and added the luxe feel we’d hoped for, but it also carried a little extra meaning for our family. We’ve often spoken about finding white feathers in unexpected places and the comfort they bring, so it felt like the perfect choice for the backdrop.

Then there was Nan’s teacup.

Sitting quietly amongst the table decorations was a delicate deep red and white teacup and saucer that once belonged to Mum’s mum. Nan would never drink tea from a mug. It always had to be a proper teacup and saucer.

Most people probably didn’t notice it was there, but Mum did.

When her eyes landed on it, there was a little twinkle of recognition. It wasn’t a grand gesture or a planned moment, but it became one of my favourite memories from the entire day.

In fact, even some of the smaller details carried meaning. The Christmas film on the clapper board wasn’t chosen at random; it was a nod to a Christmas Eve tradition we’d shared as a family for years. The Memory Lane display sparked conversations about moments we’d forgotten. Meanwhile, the games gave us an excuse to reminisce, laugh and tell stories. More than that, the slideshow wasn’t just a collection of photographs; it was a celebration of Mum’s life and all the people who have helped shape it.

When I think back now, I don’t remember whether every label was perfectly straight or whether everything went entirely to plan.

I remember Mum’s face when she walked through the door and realised we’d all been lying about being busy on her birthday weekend.

I remember everyone laughing at photographs that probably should have stayed hidden in family albums.

I remember Zack’s disbelief that a cinema ticket once cost 8p.

I remember Daisy finding all five hidden pegs and proving she was far more observant than the rest of us.

Most of all, I remember Mum being surrounded by the people who love her most.

Because that’s what this celebration was really about.

Not turning 70.

But celebrating seventy years of memories, seventy years of family and seventy years of a woman who has spent her life taking care of everyone else.

And after a difficult year, it felt incredibly special to celebrate all of it.

If there’s one thing this party reminded me, it’s that thoughtful details will always mean more than expensive ones. After all, the things people remember aren’t always the biggest decorations or the most elaborate plans. They’re the details that make a celebration feel personal.

And that’s exactly what we wanted this day to be.

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If you’d like to borrow some of the ideas from Mum’s celebration, I’ve gathered everything together in one place.