h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Crucial to the success of the affair, and not often thought about. This happened to me.

I was planning a surprise party for my parents silver wedding anniversary when they announced that they hated surprises, that they would hate to have a surprise party and that they would just walk out if they entered a room and were greeted by "SURRRRPRISE!!"

I rapidly cancelled the arrangements and had a red face for a few days! I paid for a holiday for them instead of the food, drink and venue for the surprise party. It went down a lot better!

ah yes, my cousin had organised a surprise celebration for my parents' wedding anniversary one year (odd considering how much she dislikes my mother) and then my grandmother (on my ma's side) died on the day in question...

needless to say plans didn't go ahead at all but everyone was ok about it.

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Check the surprisee for cardiac problems, you don't want the surprise to induce a heart attack and the party to have to adjourn to the local ICU ward.

Oh yes, I would hate a surprise party, or being whisked away on an outing.

Someone else to organise it all, fine, but warn me it's going to happen & find out what sort of event I'd like!

yes, that's a good point - if you are the organiser make sure you organise what the "victim" would want, as an event, not what you do!

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A guy I know helped organise one for his sister and her partner, who'd bought a run-down little cafe with plans to open a restaurant. They'd put a lot of work into the place and were getting near to start-up day. Their friends all wanted to give them a memorable launch.

This couple were going away for a couple of days, giving the party-fixers a chance to set stuff up in the place. Brother was going to meet them at their flat, and contrive some excuse to get them to the party venue nearby.

It didn't quite work out as planned. Using a little mobile-phone subterfuge, he got on station half an hour before the expected time of arrival. A few minutes later a police-car turned up. Brother watched from his car as a policeman approached the house. Becoming concerned, he followed the cop up to the door.

They talked at cross-purposes for a minute, and then it became clear that the party-recipients had reported a break-in at their business premises. It got sorted out after some bad-tempered warnings about wasting police time. Apparently put a bit of a damper on the party though...

I dont like parties or surprises or my birthday.. and people knowing this arranged a 'surprise' party for me.. they were the ones who were surprised when I told them all where to go and walked out. I was absolutely furious...

They were rather cunning about the whole thing I must admit...

They invited everyone and told them NOT to tell me OR my best friend that it was a surprise party. They told my friend that it was just going to be 2 or 3 of them having a couple of drinks together, which is also what I was told.

So my best friend didnt have the strain of lying to me, because he didnt have a clue at all.

Though back on topic, definately DONT throw a surprise party for people that hate these things.. they will just end up resenting you..

But why do you hate them? What's to hate?

All your friends, family or both?
That people you love want to celebrate with you?
That they want to show you they care?
That they go to so much trouble to please you and let you know that you're loved?

Several people have posted the "I'd just walk out" line, but no one has said why?

Mojo

The only reason I can think off why people would want to walk out of a surprise party is because they're embarassed by the fact that they were totally clueless.

I just can't see why people could be so against being surprised. I would love it . . . feel honoured even.

2/3

If I was disappointed at apparently nothing happening for a special event, I think I'd be too upset to enjoy the surprise.
Otherwise it's because I'm a bit of a control freak, I like to know what's happening. I don't like teasing, or practical jokes and I suppose being surprised like that is a similar dislike.
I don't think I'd walk out, I probably would enjoy myself if it was a style of event to my taste, with guests that I would have chosen anyway.

Might be worth making sure that the 'surprisee' hasn't made other plans... Could get rathyer embarassing if the surprisee made an entrance in an incriminating way, if you see what I mean.

I'm pretty sure there had been some adverts on TV like that...

I hate parties because nothing good ever comes of them and my friends end up getting into fights with each other. I hate surprises because they are rarely ever pleasant, i'd prefer no surprises at all as opposed to 1 good surprise with 20 bad surprises. I hate my birthday, basically because of the party routine, things have been very bad in that respect.

I'm friends with a broad mix of people, and having them together in one place is a volatile thing.

In my opinion, surprise parties suck. Thats just MY opinion on it, if you like them, good for you. If someone doesnt like those things, then respect there wishes and DONT do it. If they like them, then by all means go ahead! I've been to some good surprise parties (of other peoples) I just dont want them for myself.

As for the people that care and love me, they know I hate these things and they should RESPECT my wish to not have them forced upon me. They also know that even just acknowledgement of the day is enough to satisfy me, without gifts and cards and other stuff.