Any retirement is cause for a special "create memories" party, since their retirement usually happens only once in a person's life. The guest of honor might not feel as young as he once did and, outwardly, might not welcome a retirement celebration. A great theme for any retirement party is "Good Old Days" celebration, where memorabilia from childhood through adulthood is integrated throughout the entire retirement party. A surprise retirement party is always an option, but the guest of honor might be expecting such a retirement party.

These suggestions and ideas can help ensure your retirement party into a memorable celebration for both the honoree and the guests:

Retirement Party Time – The guests will usually be able to know what to expect from the retirement party by the time set for the party. If the retirement party starts at 5:00 p.m., it should be a dinner party, but if the retirement party begins at 2:00 p.m., it usually indicates that no meal will be served. However, to be sure all your guests are informed, you should include any information that will be helpful to the guests. 

Retirement Party Invitations – You should purchase personalized retirement party invitations that match your retirement party theme and consider adding a photo of the retiree when he was younger, maybe even a baby picture. Your guests will enjoy the personal touch! Use old childhood pictures or newspaper headlines, photocopied in color, saying "Look who's retiring...". For example, "Nifty, Nifty, Look who’s off". Inform guests of the attire, special dress or costumes needed (if applicable) and what kind of gifts, if any, would be welcome. The personalized retirement invitations should include all the pertinent information the guests would need to know. Here’s some ideas:

• Retirement Open House - "Please drop by between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m."
• Retirement Cocktail Party - "Join us for drinks and snacks from 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m."
• Retirement Potluck Dinner - "Please bring your favorite dish. We are eating at 6:00 p.m."
• Surprise Retirement Party - "Park your car a block away and help surprise Barry with a buffet celebration" 

Retirement Party Guests – Be sure to contact old school friends, old friends, co-workers and so on and let them in on the retirement party celebration. If it is a surprise retirement party, be sure and let them know so they will not accidentally spoil the fun! 

Retirement Party Theme Ideas – Here are some ideas for retirement party themes:

• Golden Oldies Celebration
• Let the Countdown Begin
• Surprise Retirement Party might include secret mission impossible
• Ensure a camera is available for those "spur of the moment" shots that will not only create lasting memories. You can give all your guests disposable cameras as party favors and let them do their own picture taking.

Gifts at Retirement Party – Guests should be informed in the retirement party invitations whether they should be a gift or now. If you want to allow the guests to bring gifts for the guest of honor, here’s some ideas:

• Ask each guest to bring a small gag gift. This will create entertainment for the guests and probably some embarrassment to the guest of honor. It is ok to ask everyone to chip in a certain amount for one big present to give to the guest of honor
• Donate money to the Retiree’s favorite charity
• Wrap gifts for the Retiree more than once. Everyone will be a big kick out of this and the Retiree will think he’s losing his mind

Retirement Party Theme Ideas

Golden Oldies - This theme is great for people that were teenagers in the 1950's… or wished they had been - it is not only simple, but easy to arrange, decorate and organize. Send invitations out shaped in the old black 45 record styles, with "Side One" listing the information and "Side 2" listing the directions to the party. Decorate with jukebox style decorations, 45 records, photos of poodle skirts, hula hoops, hot rods. Games can include Bazooka Bubble Blowing Contest, Hula Hoop and Limbo contests, dancing to the Twist and doing the Stroll.

Create signs saying you know the celebrant is getting older, such as:

• “Age is a number, old is in your head"
• "Age isn't important unless you are cheese"
• "Age does not determine who's right, it only determines who's left"
• "You're still on the right side of the grass"
• "You've seen it all, heard it all, done it all, you just can't remember it all"
• "At your age, you've got achy, breaky everything"

Create signs saying you know the celebrant is getting older - The day of the retirement party, hang the signs up for everyone to see. Use a variety of colors of balloons and streamers for simple decorations, decorate according to the season or the celebrants' hobbies. Create a festive atmosphere rather than the 'Over the Hill' theme that is, in my opinion, a depressing reminder.

Medieval Celebration - Ask the guests to wear costume. If the retiree is a male, he can dress as the Knight in Shining Armour, or if the retiree is a female, she can dress as a Lady In Waiting for the retirement party

• Decorate the area with paper swords, shields, castle backgrounds, gold and black tableware, streamers and balloons
• Don’t use silverware, since it wasn't invented until the 17th century. Serve finger foods
• Use plastic goblets for serving drinks and serve red wine for the toast
• Lace doilies, elaborate settings and plenty of candles will give the room the dramatic
• Consider a three-dimension pig as a very creative and attention-getting cake for the retirement party

Memories of the Way We Were

• Pin a sheet on a wall and ask the guests to sign their names and add
• Ask each of the guests to bring photos of themselves with the retiree from years ago
• A "Gentle" Roast and/or Memory Book -- ask everyone to write down something about the person. Sample questions can include: 
  • The most embarrassing moment with Susie was ---------
  • What I remember most about Harry is --------------
  • A wonderful Allison did for me is ---------------------------
  • The funniest moment
  • The most romantic moment
  • Something the celebrant did to change my life
• "Through the Years" Video or Collage - Collect old pictures from family and guests to and either create a collage or have the pictures transferred onto a video tape (easily done at local video/camera shops). Don't forget the music - a perfect addition to the clips, or play favorite "oldies" at the party while watching the video. (Tip: Transferring pictures to video takes a few weeks - make sure you allow enough time.)
• Memory Scrapbook -- Use pictures to create a memorable scrapbook as a gift to the birthday person. If possible, ask guests to mail in their favorite picture of the guest of honor when they R.S.V.P. (Leftover pictures can be used to decorate the party room).