Sometimes the best parties are the smallest ones. Intimate birthday parties allow you to celebrate with the people who matter most — close friends and family. We’ve searched high and low to bring you 19 of our favorite small birthday party ideas.
From gorgeous balloon installations and picturesque tablescapes to delectable cuisine and artistic birthday cakes, there’s plenty of exciting ways to distinguish your milestone celebration. Read on to discover photo-worthy details, curated themes, and so much more.
This small backyard birthday party got its glow on with a vibrant neon theme. Click to see how every element — from LED table runners to glow-in-the-dark flair bartending — tied the celebration together.
photographer: Maritere Rice | planner: Planned With | floral: Bergner & Johnson Design | venue: Private Residence | acrylic menus & cocktail stirrers: Post Studio | cake: Sinfully Sweet | linen: House of Hough | balloons: Big Ass Balloons | birthday candles: Emerson Sloan | dj & lighting: LG Entertainment & Production | catering & beverages: Chef Monica Pope & JoJo Martinez | entertainment: J & D Entertainment | paper goods: Papellerie | rentals: Swift + Company | table setting: Your Butler’s Pantry
This intimate 60th-birthday party featured artisan cocktails, a nine-course tasting menu, and elegant tenting with suspended gold lighting.
photo courtesy of & planner: Kristin Banta Events | décor: R. Jack Balthazar | venue: Ojai Valley Inn
This colorful and sparkly backdrop begs to be photographed. Of course, it’s impossible to pick a favorite element from this modern and ultra-glam birthday party. Click to see everything from silver-mirrored tablescapes and geometric light mapping to a gem-cut dance floor and floating birthday cake. We dare you to find a favorite.
photographer: B. Ashton Visuals | planning & design: Neri Events | floral & design: St Germain Design + Co. | venue: The Venue Fort Lauderdale | cake: Déjà vu Sweets | rentals: Decora Event Rental
Maryland City, MD
We love inspired signage, especially in unexpected places. This creative dessert station has us feeling all the love. We particularly adore the throne-style seating that turns dessert time into a special photo op. Click to see even more inspired photos here.
photos courtesy of & planner: Honey & Lavender Events | floral: Black Calla Events | venue: Private Residence | dessert table, chair & backdrop: Yes! Event Decor and More | dessert: Passion Bakery Cafe | balloons: Luxy Balloons
COVID-19 has event professionals rethinking the details — and that includes birthday cakes. We love how this striking candle centerpiece tripled as a seating chart, menu, and birthday candles — with cake served separately.
photographer: Ani Acopian | planner: Wham Bam Events | floral & installation over lounge: Shawna Yamamoto Event Design | venue: Private Residence | rentals: Found Rentals & Create A Party Rentals | vogue candles: Vogue Candles | balloons: Tamber Crafts | place settings: Soiree 8 | lighting, sound & projector: The Lighter Side & WOVA Events | custom decals: LaylaBelle Design | caterer: Alchemy Kitchen
This intimate birthday party has us falling in love. Lavish roses, luxe velvet seating, and endless crimson balloons set the scene for a night of romance (and style).
photographer: Scott Clark Photo | planner & design: Sterling Social Events & Experiences | décor: JL Event Design | venue: Chateau Marmont | rentals: Found Rentals
Rochester, MI
This intimate birthday party was fit for royalty, indeed. A few of our favorite details include painted mirrors, custom napkins, champagne with floating rose petals, and sophisticated martinis.
photographer: John Wu Photography | planner & design: Something Fabulous | venue: Royal Park Hotel | linen: Over The Top Rental Linens & BBJ Linen | calligraphy: Cali O’Rourke Calligraphy | custom details: Carlson Craft | invitations: Envelopments
This gorgeous intimate birthday party — situated on a picturesque rooftop — boasted dramatic views of Manhattan, lavish orchid installations, and delicious cuisine.
photographer: Phillip Van Nostrand Photography | planner: Apotheosis Events | design & décor: David Beahm Experiences | venue: PUBLIC Hotel | entertainment: Generation Events, Inc. & On The Move | lighting & sound: L & M | sushi: Nobu New York | check-in: CheckIn Tech | hair & makeup: The Wall Group, Kale Teeter & Cameron Rains | cake: Madison Lee’s Cakes | staffing: Staffed Inc
This floral-forward intimate birthday party dazzled guests from start to finish. Not only did celebrants enjoy their own individual birthday cakes, they also experienced gorgeous tabletop blooms, twinkling lights, and edible flower ice cubes.
photographer: Frances Iacuzzi Photography | décor: Soiree LA Event Design | venue: The Beverly Hills Hotel | sweets: Sugar Babies Bake Shop
This New York venue was transformed into a vibrant New Orleans Garden District mansion — complete with plenty of photo ops, a stunning balloon installation, and a show-stopping brass band.
photographer: Joshua Dwain Photography | planner: Exhilarate Experiential | décor: Ovando Design and Production | venue: Rainbow Room | rentals: Luxe Event Rentals | dj booth: Glam Party Rentals | entertainment: DJ Irie, Knockaz Brass Band, & Doug E. Fresh | film: Kandyflosse | custom props: Prop N’ Spoon | cake: Soma Cakes | custom balloon installation: Katie’s Balloons | the porter experience: Icon Branded Events
Paris, France
This Miami birthday girl had her wishes come true in the city of Paris with an intimate birthday party set at Musée Jacquemart-André. Click to see how the lavish tablescapes brought the museum’s artwork to life — and make sure to stay for the ice sculpture and full truffle menu.
photographer: Libre comme l’Art | planner: Alejandra Poupel Events | floral: Capricorn | venue: Musée Jacquemart-André | caterer: Potel et chabot
Marfa, TX
Set against the dramatic Chihuahuan Desert, this small birthday party wowed with live music, a sleek caravan photo op, and smoked cuisine. We especially love how dinner took place on striped picnic blankets — complete with candlelight and floral arrangements.
photographer: Jessica Lutz | planner: Planned With | floral: Bergner & Johnson Design | signage & printing: Papellerie | caterer: Marfa Para Llevar
Think beyond the birthday cake with a celebration that caters to your palate from start to finish — with a visit with the chef. We love how this intimate birthday party featured appetizers of miniature street tacos on a bed of lime — followed by custom cocktails, a delectable dinner, and sumptuous dessert.
photo courtesy of & caterer: Wolfgang Puck Catering – Houston | venue: Houston Tasting Room
This intimate birthday party, situated in a stylish sake cave, wowed with its simple (yet tasteful) décor — and award-winning Japanese cuisine.
photographer, venue, & caterer: Roku
What’s even better than a lavish tablescapes laden with bright pink blooms? How about matching appetizers and birthday cake? Click to see how florals stole the show at this glamorous birthday dinner. Hint: There’s even a floral archway.
photos courtesy of, planning & design: Aliana Events | floral: Eddie Zarashtrian | caterer: Il Pastaio | rentals: Theoni Collection & MTB Event Rentals
This mini bus takes lounge seating to the next level with its uniquely-themed design. We also love how it doubles as the perfect photo op. Make sure to also see how a sandcastle birthday cake and clever signage contributed to the beachy vibes.
photos courtesy of & planner: The Perfect Party | décor & rentals: Above The Top Rentals | venue: Private Residence | props: RWB Prop House | caterer: Tom Smith Catering | bar service: About Town Bartending | cake: Sweet E’s Bake Shop | entertainment: The Hula Girls
We love how open shelving turns this bar area into a window to the world. Click to see how the waterfront lawn transformed into a candlelit wonderland after sunset. Even the DJ station took part in the illumination.
photographer: Kevin Cohen | planning & production: YSD Events | floral & décor: Renny & Reed | lighting, sound & a/v: Event Factor | caterer: Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production | entertainment: Kzeus | rentals: Unearthed Rentals
Artfully-arranged cuisine mirrors the stunning composition of floral arrangements by leaf and stem. Other gorgeous elements from this intimate birthday dinner include suspended globed candlelight and overhanging purple orchids.
photo courtesy of & caterer: STYLE Catering, Inc. | planner & event design: STYLE Hospitality décor: Andres Aguilar Designs | venue: private residence | linen: Nuage Designs | chargers: Contempo Linen and Event Rental | flatware: Atlas Event Rental | china: Diamonette
A custom-made Louis Vuitton purse cake, red-rose centerpieces, and personalized champagne bottles made this intimate birthday party a chic and memorable affair.
photographer: Kent Drake Photography | planner: Christina Currie Events, Inc. | décor: Anthony Gowder Designs | venue: RPM Italian | balloons: Anthony’s Balloons LLC | stationery: Charmant Invitations | linen: BBJ Linen | cake: Elysia Root Cakes
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APOTHEOSIS EVENTS
From broadway opening nights to social events, this team creates celebrations that wow with elegance and whimsy. photographer: Apotheosis Events