i’m matt james

professional event planner

  • Over 25 years event-planning experience
  • Winner of 30 industry awards
  • Clients include:
  • Elton John,
  • Stella McCartney,
  • Sarah Jessica Parker,
  • Kevin Spacey……and more

welcome

Matt James professional event planner
OPEN BIO
CONTENTS

ON THIS PAGE

01 MAKE IT SPECIAL

Thoughtful ideas that celebrate the person, not their age, focus on the feel-good, and make a 30th birthday special

30 Reasons We Love You photo poster for a special 30th birthday idea
30 years of memories personalized photo book for a 30th birthday
Cheers to 30 Years share a memory memory postcards with instructions card
Custom '30 Reasons We Love You' 30th birthday photo book with friends and family holding signs
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02 MAKE IT personal

How to add creative twists and personal touches to create talking points and memorable moments

custom face photo 30th birthday garland banner decorations showing a man 'through the years'
man standing next to a custom pinata of himself for his 30th birthday
'celebrating 30 years' 30th birthday party dessert table tapestry backdrop with photos showing the guest of honor 'through the years'
custom photo personalized Happy Birthday m&m's for a 30th birthday party
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03 30th birthday party decorations

How to maximize your budget by concentrating your 30th birthday party decorations in a few key areas

happy birthday Natalie spelled out in a 30th birthday yard card in front of house
30th birthday photo collage in the shape of the numbers 30 on a party dessert table
'cheers to 30 years' 30th birthday custom photo banner showing photos of the guest of honor 'then and now'
number 30 balloon mosaic 30th birthday party decorations
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04 30th birthday party activities

How to break the ice, provide conversation-starters, encourage mingling, and create atmosphere

yellow retro telephone audio guest book set up next to an instructions sign inviting party guests to record a message
30th birthday guestbook alternative signing poster with photos of the guest of honor 'then and now'
How well do you know the 30th birthday girl printable party game
DIY vodka bar with mixers and fruit set up at a 30th birthday party
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05 30th birthday party food

Why food stations geared towards small bites, tasting plates, and DIY options are better than buffets

Hors d'oeuvres and appetizers arranged in rows on a modern 30th birthday party buffet table / food station
30th birthday party food presentation ideas: fish salad served in margarita glasses with forks
30th birthday party hors d'oeuvres: cheese bites served on forks standing vertically
30th birthday party food ideas: individual portion charcuterie cups
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06 dessert tables

How a dessert table can lend visual spectacle, save time, and maximize budget for a 30th birthday party

blue ombre effect paper circles garland backdrop behind a 30th birthday party dessert table
green sequin shimmer party backdrop behind a dessert table
man next to a personalized custom caricature cookie of himself for his 30th birthday
individual layered party desserts served in disposable shooter glasses
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07 30th birthday party drinks

Get that professionally-catered look and give traditional drinks a creative twist

custom photo personalized beer bottle labels for 30th birthday party drinks
boxwood hedge party drinks bar wall with shelves of self-service drinks for guests to help themselves to
custom photo edible wafer party drinks topper with a photo of the 30th birthday boy floating on cocktails
custom photo 'Fun Facts about the Birthday boy' 30th birthday party napkins
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08 30th birthday party invitations

Why invitations needs to excite, inspire, and give guests something to look forward to

30th birthday party photo collage invitation showing the birthday boy 'through the years'
balloon custom printed with 30th birthday party invitation details
animated digital video 30th birthday party invitations displayed on mobile phone screen
transparent acrylic wedding or party invitation
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09 30th birthday gifts

Avoid uninspiring and clichéd gifts in favor of something that’s unique, meaningful, or a treat

man standing next to a custom muppet-style puppet of himself
custom personalized comic book for a 30th birthday gift
custom bobblehead of a man alongside his photo for an 30th birthday gift
personalized viewmaster reel viewer for a 30th birthday gift
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10 30th birthday party ideas for men

30th birthday party themes, decorations, and ideas aimed at men

'the man, the myth, the legend' custom name 30th birthday party backdrop decorations behind a dessert table
30th birthday party beer tasting party supplies with bottles of beer in ice buckets
The Silver Fox 30th birthday party plates
30th birthday party beer tasting party supplies with a cheese board
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ADVICE FROM A PRO

30th BIRTHDAY party tips

  • 30th birthdays are significant, so you need to make an effort!
  • Avoid the obvious: generic store-bought decorations emblazoned with 30
  • Instead, make everything as personal as possible
  • Celebrate the person, not their age
  • Avoid lame jokes and clichés like ‘old as dirt’, ‘over the hill, and ‘30 rocks’
  • Concentrate on making them feel loved and appreciated as they turn 30
  • Celebrate their life; their background, accomplishments, and all the things that have made them who they are today
  • Celebrate who they are; admirable qualities, characteristics everyone loves, and even their weird habits and obsessions that drive people crazy!
  • Celebrate your relationship with them; take a walk down memory lane, share memories, funny stories, embarrassing photos, amusing anecdotes, fun facts guests may not know, and indulge in a little sentimentality
  • Focus on things that are meaningful, because that’s what they’ll remember
  • If you’re planning your own 30th birthday bash, you should still take the same approach. Make everything as personal as possible so that it’s a reflection of you; your tastes, your interests, and your sense of humor—with plenty of embarrassing old photos and fun facts
  • I’ll teach you how to design your 30th birthday party like a pro; creating ‘beats’ or ‘moments’ that run throughout the event so guests continue to discover new things as the party unfolds
  • Think of the guest’s journey in terms of different touch points; arrivals, bar, room décor, food, entertainment etc.
  • Then, add a creative twist, person touch, or talking point to each
  • Don’t forget to include activities; things for guests to do that will break the ice, encourage mingling, provide conversation-starters, and create a fun atmosphere that includes everyone.
SHOW More Show Less

MATT’S TIP

Matt James professional event planner
in this section

01 Make it special

celebrate the person, not their age

  • Limit the gag gifts and decorations and focus on thoughtful, feel-good ideas.
  • Make them feel loved, appreciated, and good about themselves.

AVOID CLICHÉS

  • Don’t make the common mistake of theming everything around turning 30.
  • Clichéd themes like ‘old as dirt’ and ‘oh crap you’re old’ are tired and lazy.
  • They make for an impersonal and unoriginal 30th birthday celebration.
  • Read my full post with ideas for how to make a 30th birthday special or preview some below
open full post
OR PREVIEW BELOW
ideas in this section

30 memories for 30 years

30 reasons we love you

photo slideshow

a gift every hour

30 years of memories letters

‘open when’ letters

30 years of memories photo book

photo collage memory box

reasons we love you photo book

AND MORE
preview

ideas to make it special

Check out this preview of some 30th birthday party ideas to make it special, then hit the ‘Open Full Post’ button below to view all ideas in this section (opens in a new tab).

the idea

30 memories for 30 years

Invite friends and family to mail a postcard sharing a favorite memory of the birthday boy / girl in the days leading up to their 30th birthday

read more
30th birthday memory postcards
the idea

a gift every hour

Spread the love over an entire day with 12 smaller gifts; one to be opened every hour….at 30 minutes past the hour!

read more
a collection of gift wrapped boxes
the idea

reasons we love you photo book

Invite friends and family to take photos expressing all the things they love about the birthday boy / girl to collect together in a keepsake photo book to celebrate their 30th birthday

read more
reasons we love you 30th birthday photo-book
the idea

30th birthday slideshow

Invite friends and family to contribute photos and videos of the birthday boy / girl to surprise them with an animated slideshow

read more
group of friends watching a backyard birthday slideshow
VIEW MORE

ideas to make it special

30 Reasons We Love You photo poster for a 30th birthday
30 years of memories personalized photo book for a 30th birthday
stack of illustrated brown 'Open When...' letter envelopes for different occasions
a stack of numbered '30 years of memory' letters in air mail envelopes for a surprise party
OPEN FULL POST
in this section

02 Make it personal

add creative twists & personal touches

  • A 30th birthday is a special occasion, so you need to make an effort.
  • Generic decorations from Party City or Amazon won’t cut it.
  • Cheap, shiny, and mass-produced in China doesn’t exactly say special does it?
  • It’s the creative twists, clever details, personal touches, talking points, and memorable moments that make a 30th birthday party more special than a regular get-together.
  • So, focus on customizable party supplies that use cute, funny, or embarrassing old photos of the birthday boy / girl to make them unique.
  • Read my full post about the party supplies I recommend and learn how to use them to surprise and entertain guests, create photo ops, and make your party memorable.
open full post
OR PREVIEW BELOW
ideas in this section

custom photo m&m’s

photo party hats

fan face custom cutouts

custom face banners

fun facts napkins

‘‘then & now photo banners‘

‘through the years’ photo banners

CUSTOM PHOTO WINE/BEER LABELS

life-size talking cutouts

CUSTOM PHOTO BALLOONS

CUSTOM PARTY CUPS

CUSTOM COOKIES

CUSTOM PINATAS

AND MORE
preview

ideas to make it personal

Check out this preview of some 30th birthday party ideas to make it personal, then hit the ‘Open Full Post’ button below to view all ideas in this section (opens in a new tab).

the idea

custom photo m&m’s

It’s the clever little details that create talking points, so swap regular candy for personalized M&M’s with photos of the 30th birthday boy / girl

read more
blue and yellow custom photo m&m's with a woman's face
the idea

photo party hats

Create custom party hats printed with old photos of the 30th birthday boy / girl from different stages of their life

read more
color photo party hats showing the 30th birthday boy now and as a baby
the idea

fan face custom cutouts

Create photo ops by providing guests with faces of the guest of honor at different stages of their life

read more
group of people holding custom fan faces of the 30th birthday boy in front of their own faces
the idea

custom face banners

Personalize your party decorations with custom face banners of the 30th birthday boy / girl at different ages

read more
30th birthday custom face photo banners showing birthday boy at different ages hung above party dessert table
VIEW MORE

ideas to make it personal

This Kid is Turning 30 and Look Who's 30 custom photo birthday party balloon decorations
custom photo personalized wine bottle labels for party drinks
Tri-fold custom photo collage display board personalized with the name Morgan
large styrofoam letters spelling IZZY used as a dessert table base for a birthday party
OPEN FULL POST
ADVICE FROM A PRO

planning your own 30th?

  • You should still use customized party supplies if you’re planning your own party.
  • Make it personal so the event is a reflection of you; your tastes, your interests, your sense of humor.
  • Use plenty of embarrassing old photos, amusing anecdotes, and fun facts guests might not know.
  • People often feel self-conscious celebrating themselves or worry that it might appear egotistical,
  • but if you include funny and embarrassing old photos, it has the opposite effect;
  • It communicates self-deprecation, honesty, and a sense of openness.
  • It tells people you don’t take yourself too seriously;
  • that you can laugh at all your bad old haircuts and crimes of fashion!
  • Guests will love it too; many of whom might never have seen you as a cute baby, cheeky little kid, or scruffy college student.
  • So, not only will they find this entertaining,
  • but revealing yourself in a ‘warts and all’ kind of way lets people in, makes you relatable, and fosters a connection.
  • All of which helps breaks the ice, provide conversation-starters, and create a relaxed, fun party atmosphere
SHOW More Show Less

MATT’S TIP

Matt James professional event planner
in this section

03 30th BIRTHDAY DeCORations

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

  • Don’t try to dress the entire room/venue, this will spread decorations too thinly.
  • Instead, keep everything tight and compact, focusing on a few larger displays or ‘clusters’ of decorations in 4 key areas:
  • Entrance Decor
  • Welcome Area
  • Dessert / Buffet Table or Bar Décor
  • Room Decorations
  • Open full post to see all decor tips on my 30th birthday party decorations page or preview some of the ideas below
open full post
OR PREVIEW BELOW
ideas in this section

custom yard heads

‘through the years’ banners

paper luminaries

life-size talking cutout

‘through the years’ welcome sign

self-service welcome drinks

‘through the years’ party backdrop

photo collage 30 cutouts

paper circle garland backdrops

FUN FACTS BALLOONS

‘THROUGH THE YEARS’ PHOTO GARLANDS

THEN & NOW PHOTO BANNERS

AND MORE
preview

entrance decorations

  • Entrance decorations need to be welcoming and functional.
  • Use them to identify the location of the party, direct guests to the entrance, create a warm welcome, and put guests at ease.
  • The initial moments of a party set the tone and reassure guests, so first impressions matter.
the idea

custom yard heads

Bring a smile to guests’ faces as they arrive with custom yard heads showing the 30th birthday boy or girl at different stages of their life

read more
custom photo yard heads of a mans face arranged on a front lawn outside a house
the idea

‘through the years’ banners

Ensure your entrance stands out while making guests smile with vertical banners showing the 30th birthday boy / girl ‘through the years’

read more
Look Who's Thirty custom photo vertical banners showing the birthday boy 'through the years' hung either side of house door
the idea

paper luminaries

For evening events, give guests a warm welcome by lining the route to your entrance with glowing paper luminaries

read more
guests arriving at a 30th birthday party at home with a pathway to the front door lined with paper luminaries
VIEW MORE

entrance decorations

blue, green and white balloon garland framing house door entrance
happy birthday Natalie spelled out in a yard card in front of house
blue and white pattern petal aisle runner leading up to venue entrance
yellow balloon lined yellow carpet party entrance walkway
VIEW ENTRANCE DECORATIONS
VIEW ALL DECORATIONS
preview

welcome area

  • You can’t always greet every guest personally, so create a welcome area to:
  • greet guests; with signage, decor, and self-service drinks,
  • entertain; with activities, photo ops, and party favors, and…
  • manage flow; with directional signage for cloakrooms, bathrooms, table plans, and a gift/card table
  • This ensures guests feel acknowledged upon arrival and know what to do and where to go.
the idea

life-size talking cutout

Have the 30th birthday boy / girl greet guests at the entrance with a life-size cutout paired with a motion-activated voice recorder

read more
30 year old woman standing next to a life-size cutout standee of herself
the idea

‘through the years’ welcome sign

Entertain guests by placing a photo collage showing the 30th birthday / girl at different stages of their life on welcome desks or bars

read more
celebrating 30 years birthday photo collage sign set up on a party drinks table bar
the idea

self-service drinks table

Set up a self-service bar at the entrance with pre-mixed or ready-to-pour drinks that guests can all help themselves to on arrival

read more
DIY self-service party drinks bar
VIEW MORE

welcome area dEcor

illustrated custom 30th birthday party welcome sign on an easel
Polaroid instant photo guest book and cameras set up on a 30th birthday party table
woman placing a card into a wood custom card box
printable custom hashtag sign for a 30th birthday party
VIEW WELCOME AREA DECOR
VIEW ALL DECORATIONS
preview

dessert table decor

  • Maximize your budget by concentrating decorations around a dessert / buffet table or bar to create a focal point.
  • You’ll get more bang for your buck if you invest your budget in one well-dressed feature wall or large display.
  • This is better than trying to dress an entire room and spreading decorations too thinly.
the idea

‘through the years’ backdrop

Create a custom backdrop for a dessert/buffet table featuring pictures of the 30th birthday boy / girl ‘through the years’

read more
Celebrating 30 Years custom photo birthday backdrop behind a party dessert table