Are birthday dinners the same as a birthday party for an adult?
In Western cultures, particularly in the United States and Australia, birthday parties are often accompanied by colorful decorations, such as balloons and streamers. A birthday cake is often served with candles that are to be blown out after a “birthday wish” has been made. While the birthday cake is being brought to the table, the song Happy Birthday to You is sung by the guests. Wealthy people and celebrities may hire an event management agency or a party service to organize a birthday party. A dinner party is a social gathering at which people eat dinner together, usually in the host’s home. At the most formal dinner parties, the dinner is served on a dining table with place settings. Dinner parties are often preceded by a cocktail hour[3] in a living room or bar, where guests drink alcoholic beverages while mingling and conversing. At less formal dinner parties, a buffet is provided. Guests choose food from the buffet and eat while standing up and conversing. Women guests may wear
I think as one is older (i.e. age 35+) it’s difficult to have everyone set aside a few hours and have him or her come to a party that you’re hosting. However, if you have a birthday dinner at a designated restaurant, you could create a nice setting if you get a room reserved, arrange one big table for everyone to have conversations, and do whatever to maintain the personal aspect of your birthday party. Limit the dinner to 1.5 hours and give the option to those that want to stay to have drinks at your place or wherever. Birthday dinners can still have that personal level of human contact that the conventional birthday party has in a lot less time. Sources: http://www.celebrations.
