It’s Not Just Weddings at Eleven Eighty – We Know How to Throw a Party Too!
While we’re best known for weddings, Eleven Eighty has also played host to some truly unforgettable milestone birthdays and anniversaries – from fabulous 30ths to elegant 80ths (we’ve pressed pause on 18ths and 21sts… but that’s a story for another time).
And this year, it was our turn.
2025 is a big one for Richard and I. As proud 1975 babies, we’re both celebrating the big 5-0 – just seven weeks apart (a fact Richard likes to remind people, claiming those few weeks of a “younger wife” status). It also marks 20 years since we said “I do.”
To top it off, Richard’s best friend – our best man and mate of 45+ years – is also turning 50 this year. So, we did what anyone with access to a one-of-a-kind venue would do: we threw one hell of a party.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together our Top Ten Tips for Throwing an Unforgettable Dress-Up Party – the Eleven Eighty way.
1. Pick a Theme That Means Something
The best themes are personal. Think about something that speaks to you – a hobby, a favourite era, a style icon, a country on your bucket list. For us, it was an easy choice: I’m from England, Richard is from Scotland. So naturally, we went with “The Battle of the 50s: England vs Scotland.” Let the (friendly) rivalry begin!
2. Set the Tone with Your Invitation
The vibe starts the moment your guests receive the invite. Ours featured Braveheart and The Queen – superimposed onto our faces. Classy? Maybe not. Hilarious? Absolutely.
We used Paperless Post to send the invites, but not before giving everyone a heads-up with a WhatsApp save-the-date to lock in the date early.
3. Make a Dress-Up Mood Board
Give your guests a little creative nudge with a visual guide. I pulled together a Canva board filled with iconic English and Scottish celebrities (think Elton John meets Billy Connolly) and shared it in our WhatsApp party group. It helped everyone get into character – and onto the same page.
4. Use ChatGPT (Seriously)
From costume ideas to DIY décor, even Scottish and English quotes for the dinner tables – ChatGPT became my party planning sidekick. It saved me hours of research time, especially when it came to pulling together themed elements that felt thoughtful and fun.
5. Decorations Matter – Big and Small
The big stuff creates that instant wow moment. The small stuff shows you’ve thought of everything. And the best part? It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. For our party, Temu delivered the goods – literally – with bundles of themed bunting and flags. It was high impact for low dollars, and totally set the scene.
6. Get Creative (and Hit the Op Shops)
Party planning is the perfect excuse to flex your creative muscles. One of my favourite touches? A showstopper installation using second-hand teapots (very English) and whisky decanters (decidedly Scottish). We spent a few weekends with the kids raiding every op shop from Albion Park to South Nowra. The result was pure magic – and a whole lot of fun to pull together.
7. Details, Details, Details
It’s the little things people remember. Our guests loved the tartan garters and red velvet napkin wraps (a nod to the St George’s Cross). The table florals featured English red roses and Scottish thistles – beautifully sourced by the ever-wonderful Shady Fig.
The reaction? Lots of “oh wow!” and “you thought of everything” moments all night.
8. Keep the Theme Flowing
Don’t stop at costumes and decorations – extend the theme to the food and drinks. We created signature English and Scottish cocktails (again, thanks ChatGPT for the brilliant name suggestions) and decorated 100 cupcakes with edible flags. It kept the story going – and tasted pretty good too.
9. Entertainment is Everything
A great playlist, band or DJ is what gets people up and dancing. We started with a themed Spotify playlist – packed with UK classics and nostalgic TV theme tunes (Only Fools and Horses, The Wombles, Minder… yes, we’re showing our age).
Later, Greg Townley took over as DJ in the Old School Hall – one of Eleven Eighty’s go-to legends. If you’re after someone who gets how to read a room and fill a dance floor, Greg’s your guy. He absolutely nailed it. Photo credit: Holly Hankin Photography
10. DIY Smart (and Save)
As Richard kept reminding me – this was a birthday party, not a wedding. So, we kept things cost-effective where it made sense.
We knew our guests were coming for the fun, not the formality, so we went DIY with a lot of the catering. Milkwood Bakery in Berry handled the salads, we tackled the potatoes, and borrowed eight slow cookers to whip up pulled pork and brisket. That’s the beauty of a DIY venue like Eleven Eighty – you’ve got the flexibility to splurge in some areas and save in others.
The Result:
An epic party with fabulous friends. Everyone went to great efforts with their costumes and I think these photos courtesy of Ainslie Co. Photography say it all.
Want to throw your own unforgettable milestone party?
Eleven Eighty might just be your perfect match. Whether you’re planning a 40th, 50th or something even bigger, we love helping people celebrate life’s best moments – with a twist.
Get in touch to see how we can help bring your story to life.
