i’m matt james

professional event producer

  • 27 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
CONTENTS

ON THIS PAGE

01 personalized retirement party decorations

Funny, personalized, and unique retirement party ideas to make your small office or at home celebration more interesting

a unique retirement party idea: 'The Legend has Retired' dessert table tapestry backdrop with photos showing the guest of honor 'through the years'
man surprised with a unique retirement party idea: a life size custom cutout standee of himself
This Kid Just Retired and We Know You Were Fired custom photo personalized unique retirement party decorations
personalized retirement party decorations: custom face photo garland banner showing a man 'through the years' as a kid, young man, and now

02 unique retirement gift ideas

Creative, unforgettable, and unique retirement gift ideas for men and women

man standing next to a custom muppet-style puppet of himself;  a unique retirement gift idea
a unique retirement gift idea: a personalized comic book
custom bobblehead of a woman alongside her photo for a unique retirement gift idea
personalized viewmaster reel viewer unique retirement party idea

03 unique retirement party activities

Personalized activities, entertainment, and games to engage party guests, create atmosphere, and make a retirement party memorable

a unique retirement party idea: gray haired man in a suit standing next to a custom pinata of himself
retro telephone audio guest book set up next to an instructions sign inviting party guests to record personalized voice messages
a unique retirement party idea: group of office workers at a party holding up fan faces of a man's face in front of theirs
65 Reasons We Love You signing poster guest book alternative for a unique retirement party idea
in this section

01 personalized retirement party decorations

avoid the obvious

  • Retirement is a big deal, so you need to make an effort.
  • A special occasion needs to look and feel special.
  • This won’t happen if you just type ‘retirement party decorations’ into Amazon and buy a whole bunch of generic ‘off the self’ party supplies.
  • Cheap, shiny, and mass-produced in China doesn’t exactly say ‘special’ does it?
  • These types of decorations are just lazy and unimaginative—and I guarantee your guests will have seen them all before and know exactly where you got them.
  • Instead, ensure your party includes unique retirement party ideas; decorations, gifts, and party supplies that are personalized.

make a retirement party memorable

  • That’s not to say you need to spend a fortune on fancy decorations.
  • Instead, opt for everyday party supplies, such as backdrops, banners, and balloons, that can be personalized.
  • An easy way to create unique and memorable birthday decorations is to customize them with cute, funny, and embarrassing old photos showing the retiree at different stages of their life.
  • You can tie all these together by adopting a ‘Through the Years’ theme for your party.
  • Alternatively, give it a festival theme customized with the guest of honor’s name e.g Gloria-palooza, Miranda-fest, Matt-stock.

why you need unique party decorations

  • Adding a personal touch makes them far more interesting and demonstrates that you took the time to create something unique; just for the retiree.
  • Customization adds a point of difference. It grabs people’s attention and encourages them to ‘lean in’; to inspect, engage with, photograph, and discuss—rather than just passively glance at.
  • It’s these creative twists, clever little details, and personal touches that guests discuss, photograph, share, and remember.
  • All of which generates buzz and atmosphere that will make your retirement party a success.
  • It also shows that a bit of love, thought, and care has gone into everything, which will make the guest of honor feel loved and appreciated on the day.
  • Remember that phrase, ‘it’s the thought that counts’?
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the idea

custom face banners

Personalize your retirement party decorations with custom face banners of the retiree at different ages

retirement party custom face photo banners showing the retiree at different ages hung above party dessert table
the idea

custom photo balloons

Personalize your decorations with photo balloons showing the guest of honor at different stages of their life

This Kid Just Retired and We Know You Were Fired custom photo retirement balloons
the idea

life-size talking cutout

Have the retiree greet guests at the entrance with a life-size cutout paired with a motion-activated voice recorder

doctor standing next to a life-size cutout standee of himself
the idea

‘through the years’ banners

Ensure your entrance stands out while making guests smile with vertical banners showing the retiree ‘through the years’

Look Who's Retiring custom photo vertical banners showing the retiree 'through the years' hung either side of house door
the idea

fun facts balloons

Hang photos with ‘fun facts you may not know about the retiree’ from helium balloons to entertain guests

Photos and 'Fun Facts' about the retiree hanging from helium balloon strings used as party room decorations
the idea

custom yard heads

Bring a smile to guests’ faces as they arrive with custom yard heads showing the retiree at different stages of their life

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

‘through the years’ backdrop

Create a custom backdrop for a dessert / buffet table featuring pictures of the retiree ‘through the years’

Happy Retirement custom photo retirement party backdrop behind a party dessert table
don’t miss a thing

follow me on social

Keep up with my latest ideas by following me on social media

Matt James professional event planner
the idea

custom printed balloons

Personalize your retirement party decorations with custom printed latex balloons featuring images of the guest of honor

couple standing next to a green custom printed balloon with their faces on
the idea

big head cutouts

Decorate large spaces by hanging or lining the walls with custom head cutouts of the retiree at different stages of their life

giant custom face cutouts showing the retiree at different ages used as hanging decorations above a crowd of dancing party guests
the idea

The Man, The myth, the legend

Big up the big man on his last day with this range of custom ‘The Man, The Myth, The Legend’ retirement party supplies

Custom The Man, The Myth, The Legend retirement party backdrop behind a dessert table
the idea

photo collage cutouts

Create a tabletop dessert table display with photo collage letter cutouts showing the retiree at different ages

letters E and D 'through the years' photo collage cutout standing on a retirement party dessert table showing photos of the retiree
the idea

‘through the years’ photo garlands

Create interactive party decorations by asking guests to bring their favorite pictures of the retiree to add to photo garland decorations

retirement party photo garland decorations showing the retiree 'Through the Years'
the idea

‘then & now’ photo banners

Give party guests a glimpse of the retiree back in the day by decorating walls with ‘Then & Now’ style photo banners

The Legend has Retired custom 'Then & Now' photo retirement party banner decorations hung above party food table
the idea

FUN FACTS FILLED BALLOONS

Fill balloons with ‘fun facts you may not know about the retiree’ and encourage guests to pop to reveal

Fun facts filled 'Pop Me' balloons for a retirement party
the idea

‘through the years’ welcome sign

Entertain guests by placing a photo collage showing the retiree at different stages of their life on welcome desks or bars

celebrating retirement photo collage sign set up on a party drinks table bar
the idea

photo collage board

Entertain party guest with a photo collage board showing the retiree at different stages of their life

Look who's retired freestanding retirement party photo collage board decoration showing photos of the retiree through the years
the idea

balloon decals

Personalize your retirement party decorations with custom balloon decals that allow you to choose the right words for the occasion

'Congratulations George' custom name balloon decals applied to gold balloons for a retirement party
the idea

‘through the years’ photo banners

Personalize your retirement party decorations and entertain guests with photo banners showing the retiree ‘through the years’

retirement party photo garland banners showing the retiree 'through the years'
the idea

half body / group cutouts

Create a big first impression by greeting guests with a half body or group cutout decorations of the retiree at different stages of their life

half body and group cutouts of family members lining the pathway to the front door of a house

fantastic finds

great Ideas i wish i’d thought of…

Check out this great idea below from Marta Dansie of Marta Writes

the idea

fun facts garland banners

Personalize your party decorations and entertain guests with garland banners highlighting fun facts about the retiree

retirement party fun facts about the retiree garland banner decorations hanging from tree at garden party
in this section

02 unique retirement gift ideas

Personal v Personalized retirement gifts

  • Don’t be fooled into thinking that a gift with someone’s name on it makes it personal.
  • No man really wants monogrammed golf balls or engraved grilling tongs as a retirement gift.
  • In the same way no woman needs another vase, scented candle, or ‘Officially Retired’ mug.
  • The truth is, most people—men and women—would far prefer a meaningful retirement gift over any store-bought alternative…
  • no matter how luxurious or expensive the store-bought gift might be!

it’s the thought that counts

  • A truly unique and personal gift is one where some real thought has gone into it…
  • something you know they’d love but would never treat themselves to,
  • something meaningful with sentimental value,
  • or something quirky, unusual, or unique tailored to the recipient.

Unique retirement gift ideas

  • Some of the best gifts are often ones that cost the least; memories, photographs, and heartfelt thoughts shared by friends, family, and co-workers.
  • It’s the simplest things that are often the most priceless, like love, gratitude, and intimacy.
  • So, ditch the obvious and stereotypical gifts and check out some of the truly unique retirement gift ideas below.
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the idea

reasons we love you

Invite friends, family, and co-workers to highlight the admirable qualities, notable traits, or amusing quirks that make the retiree so loved

framed reasons we love you poster with photo of the retiree
the idea

custom puppet

For a truly unique and personal gift have a custom Muppet-style puppet made of the retiree

woman standing next to a custom muppet-style puppet of herself for a adult birthday gift
the idea

custom reel viewer

Ask friends an family for photos of their favorite memory of the retiree to collect together in a custom reel viewer

custom reel viewer / viewfinder made with your own photos for a adult birthday gift
the idea

custom comic book

Tell the retiree’s life story (so far) by creating a custom comic book featuring photos of them ‘through the years’

'Super Dad' custom comic book featuring cartoon versions of family photos for a adult birthday gift
the idea

reasons we love you photo book

Invite friends, family, and co-workers to take photos expressing all the things they love about the retiree to collect together in a keepsake photo book to celebrate their retirement

reasons we love you retirement photo book
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more unique retirement party ideas

man surprised with a unique retirement party idea: a life size custom cutout standee of himself
custom photo retirement party hats
custom bobblehead of a woman alongside her photo for a unique retirement party idea
a stack of numbered '65 years of memory' letters in air mail envelopes for a unique retirement gift

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