Everyone wants to feel special on their birthday and celebrate it with their friends and family. The pandemic has made this slightly tricky, given that we’re all meant to be social distancing from one another.
Now, virtual birthday parties may seem weird and less fun than the real deal but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of creative ways you can celebrate a birthday with your loved ones while staying safe.
In this article, we’re outlining some exciting ideas for your next virtual birthday party that’ll help you make your birthday a truly special day, despite the restrictions.
Let’s dive in!
1. Have a themed Zoom background at your party
Pick a theme for your party, and make a nice Zoom background accordingly. If you’re unsure about your theme, simply make a background with fun colors, balloons, confetti etc. Email the background image to all your guests with instructions on how to set it up on the day of the party.
The background will add a cute, festive vibe to the party, and make the birthday boy or girl feel extra special.
Here’s how you can set up a custom background on Zoom:
- In the Zoom app, click on your profile in the top right corner
- Click on settings
- In the left-side menu, click on “Virtual Background”
- To add a custom background, simply click on the “+” sign next to “Choose Virtual Background”
- Choose your custom image and once it’s added to the app, select it so that it becomes your background.
For some added flair, ask everyone to dress according to the theme. Even some color coordination would look great with a custom background.
2. Make a digital birthday card
Because you can’t meet in person to spend quality time with each other, send a cute digital card to the birthday boy or girl to let them know you’re thinking about them and you appreciate them.
You can make a birthday card online, with pictures of the birthday boy or girl and memories you’ve all shared together. If you don’t know where to start, find a birthday card template that suits your style. Sites like PosterMyWall have plenty that you can customize according to your needs.
Get everyone to add their digital signatures and small messages to the card, then send it to the birthday boy or girl during the party. Alternatively, you can print out the finished card and mail it to them as well.
3. Plan a party menu
No party is complete without some delicious food and drinks. And a virtual birthday party is no different.
Choose a food item that everyone would like e.g. some pizza, tacos, or sandwiches, and ask everyone to order from a particular place at one time. To make things more exciting, surprise the birthday person with a free meal that is delivered to their doorstep.
Decide the menu before the party starts. You can conduct a poll in the group chat or via email so everyone can pitch in with their options.
4. Play games
Give your birthday party a little extra something by playing some fun games together. Here are some options for online games you could play together:
Among us – you’ll all be using your phones for this one. Ask everyone to download the app in advance, send the room code, and get cracking.
Skribbl – this game is like an online Pictionary. One person draws while everyone else tries to guess what they’re drawing.
Jackbox games – the Jackbox party pack has a bunch of exciting trivia mini-games that’ll have your guests on the edge of their seats.
Other games that you can play include:
- 20 questions
- Most likely to – works best if your guests are all incredibly close to one another
- Truth or dare
- Would you rather
- Charades – use Zoom’s “Spotlight” feature on whoever is acting out the movie
- Impromptu dance competition
- Talent show
