Throw a surprise birthday party

Birthdays are special and should always be celebrated with at least a little fanfare. But every once in a while it's fun to go whole hog and throw a surprise birthday bash for someone you love. It can be especially enjoyable to surprise someone who claims she doesn't really want to do anything special for her big day. The trick to pulling off a truly memorable surprise is simply a little planning. So if you've got someone special you'd like to surprise, read on for some great ideas.

Sarah on "The Benefits of Meticulous Planning":

A very good family friend of ours turned 75 in early June. She and her husband have been married for 52 years, and in all that time, he'd never thrown her a big surprise party. In fact, in the hustle and bustle of raising six rambunctious boys, the grownups' birthdays were sort of an afterthought.

Her husband wanted to change all that on her 75th. So, in late March, he started planning for not just one, but two big surprises. First, he wanted to surprise her with a big family barbecue at the house with all of the children and grandchildren present. Then, later that same evening, he wanted to surprise her again with an elegant sit-down dinner with their grown children and their spouses so all could toast and roast her properly.

With enough advance warning, all of the boys were able to coordinate schedules and travel arrangements. The arrivals to the barbecue were carefully coordinated for maximum impact. The look on her face when her sons who had moved away showed up on her doorstep looking for a barbecue was priceless. Then, promptly at 4:30 p.m., everybody took off, citing previous engagements. At 7:30 p.m., the grownups reassembled at a restaurant and greeted her with a rousing "Surprise!" the moment she walked through the door. She thought she was going out for a quiet dinner with her husband. Instead, she walked into a room decorated with pictures of her throughout the years, balloons and beautiful peonies, her favorite flower. Her husband had planned every detail meticulously, and the results were truly unforgettable.

Alicia on "Non-Big Birthdays Are Great for Surprises, Too":

You don't have to wait until someone hits a major milestone, like the 30th or 50th, to arrange a surprise party. In fact, some of the most incredible parties I've been to were surprises on "odd" years -- like someone's 37th. The person being feted often has no expectation of a special celebration and is completely taken aback, which makes it all the more fun for everyone.

Here are a few ideas for planning a surprise party that will knock the socks off someone you love.

1. Pick a Date Carefully — and Well in Advance