8 retirement party ideas for a very special send-off
Have a Friday afternoon party with soon-to-be-former coworkers. Taking the guest of honor out of work an hour ahead and decorating with balloons, banners, and honeycomb balls will make the party more memorable.
An informal retirement party at a friend or family member's residence. Hosting a backyard BBQ, cocktail reception, or small dinner party. Catering, cooking, and potlucks are allowed but not retirement parties.
You can rent private rooms for your retirement celebration at several restaurants and bars. The venue may help with menu, setup, and cleaning if they serve meals. Bring your own meal, depending on the restaurant.
Hotel ballrooms and rented venues suit large gatherings. Hotels often provide a bartender, food, and decor for celebrations. However, rental banquet rooms merely provide space and require cleanup.
Consider a retirement beach party, park BBQ, or outdoor catering. Play golf with drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the clubhouse or book a suite at a baseball game. Try any outdoor event you think the retiree will like.
Create a guest book table for guests to write personal messages to the celebrant. Display the retiree's images and honors from their career.
Invite participants to share a retiree's work or remembrance. Schedule time to read each card at the gathering. Let the retiree or guests guess who authored the recollection.
Rent or DIY a photo booth for selfies with or without the celebrant. Give attendees props, accessories, and placards to customize images. Give the retiree a physical or digital album of photos after the party.