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REAL PARTIES: Grumpy Old Men Birthday

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Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

Today’s Real Party feature is just way too much fun! This refreshing & unique “Grumpy Old Men Day” was submitted by event planner Jesi of Jesi Haack Weddings, but the idea was actually dreamed up by her husband Ryan as a clever way to celebrate their friend’s 30th birthday.

(BTW – Ryan Haack also shot these amazing photos, which honestly look like they came straight out of a cool magazine spread! Check out his photo blog here.)

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

Read on for a full rundown of the day’s events, as told by Jesi – and more fantastic images from Ryan

The Ultimate Man Party! Who says girls have to throw all of the fun parties??

Here is an amazing day of craziness involving a 30th birthday, old men clothes, coughing, pipes, and other dude shananigans that will make the women proud and the men jealous…

5:00 am – All friends secretly meet and put on their wardrobes (thrift store old men outfits)

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

5:15 am – Surprise Issac (the Birthday Old Man) by waking him up with major coughing and hacking

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

5:20 am – Style the Birthday Old Man in the previously chosen thrift store attire

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

5:30 am – Arrive at the local donut shop and read newspapers in the dark

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

6:00 am – Longboarding at local surf spot

9:00 am – “work on the car” time (not in the original plan, but the battery died from leaving the lights on)

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

10:00 am – Breakfast at Omelette Parlor, a local breakfast nook

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

11:00 am – Golf time! 18 holes

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

2:00 pm – Lunch at clubhouse + whiskey, scotch and pipe smoking

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

3:00 pm – Shenanigans in the parking lot

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

3:30 pm – Jacuzzi time to soothe the muscle fatigue
(4pm: Local PD helicopter flew overhead because of their rowdiness)

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

4:30 pm – One old man’s shoulder dislocates during a swim race (yes, this really happened!)

Grumpy Old Men Birthday Party

5:00 pm – BBQ for an early “supper”
9:00 pm – Retire the canes and head for beers at Goat Hill Tavern, a local dive bar”

Thanks again to Jesi & Ryan for all the great inspiration!

P.S. This theme would also work fabulously for milestone birthdays beyond 30 too!

39 Comments

  1. Breanna April 1, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    I think this is the best party theme I’ve ever seen! LOVE IT!

  2. shawna April 1, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    omg love it….I new these were Newport hotties when I saw them!!!!

  3. Pretty Party Studio April 1, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    Wow, wow and wow again. I am dying over these photos…they are AMAZING.

    Such a fun idea, just a goregous post!

    Thanks for sharing

  4. Sarah Z April 1, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    Love it! The photography is great!!

  5. kaysi fox April 1, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    ok, i LOVE this, so cute & great pictures!!

  6. cammi April 1, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    I must say… I love, love, love this idea! I love the photography, too – great job planning and executing this one!

  7. Amanda April 1, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    This was so cute! Im about to turn 30 myself…wonder if I could do an old lady party…what do old ladies do???

  8. Kim - The TomKat Studio April 1, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    So refreshing to see a GUY party….and good looking ones to boot! :) Fantastic!! The photos are amazing….

  9. Eleanor April 2, 2010 at 5:54 am

    Um, seriously? Incredible ideas, beautiful photography and SO creative. What a fun way to celebrate!

  10. Lola April 2, 2010 at 6:14 am

    Goes to show men don’t have to have sleazy when having a good time. Great idea!

  11. Marcia April 2, 2010 at 6:15 am

    Great party! Very inspiring. Love those pics he got. And Amanda, if you want to do it up for an old ladies party, I’d theme it a la Golden Girls style. Cue up some old episodes of Golden Girls and let Blanche, Rose, Sophia & Dorothy inspire you!

  12. Jacz April 2, 2010 at 7:59 am

    I need a nap, just from looking at these pics.

    Old ladies eat cheesecake (The Golden Girls).

  13. Wendy April 2, 2010 at 8:01 am

    What a briliant idea for man-date/ man party!!!! I will have to remember this one!!! :) And ending the night at The Goat Hill?! I love that place!!! Best dive bar in Orange County, CA!

  14. Kate Landers Events, LLC April 2, 2010 at 8:24 am

    Fabulous photos!!!!!!!!! Just stunning, and creativity overload!

  15. jesi haack weddings April 2, 2010 at 9:24 am

    jenn!!!! What a beautiful layout for our fun post! You are amazing, thank you!!!

  16. My Sweet & Saucy April 2, 2010 at 9:51 am

    I absolutely LOVE this post! Ryan and Jesi are so talented and the sweetest couple ever! Ryan keeps amazing me with his photos…so talented!

  17. Mr. Haack April 2, 2010 at 10:07 am

    Jenn…This looks awesome. Thank you.

  18. featherbed April 2, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Nice to see a guy-oriented party – thanks for sharing :)

  19. Cori Cook Floral Design April 2, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    Good work, Haacks. You two are a dream team (: Honored to be friends with such famous folk!

  20. Kim O. April 3, 2010 at 10:53 am

    What an awesome, creative party! So fun!

  21. Susan Boroch April 3, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    Fantastic idea…looks like a great time had by all. Love the photography!

  22. Evonne & Darren Photography April 5, 2010 at 4:11 am

    This is hilarious, but what a great idea!

  23. michelle April 6, 2010 at 7:31 am

    This looks like so much fun! I want to play too!

  24. Shay April 6, 2010 at 9:24 am

    just loving the old men theme!

  25. Kelly April 7, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    that was so much fun reading and looking at those amazing photo’s! What a great idea, I’m with the other ladies, now I want to do a golden girls theme for my upcoming 35th

  26. leslieb April 7, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    Old ladies also have their hair “set”.

  27. Susan Kearney April 17, 2010 at 9:46 am

    Awesome! Great idea – and great pictures!

  28. Megan April 19, 2010 at 6:47 am

    Lunch at a tea room would be great for an old ladies party too.

  29. Kimberly May 3, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    I loved this party idea and was thinking that it would be a great idea for a bachelor party as well. Proving that guys don’t need half naked (or completely naked) to have a genuine good time. I might create something around this same theme for my husbands 30th in November.

  30. Jessicag July 15, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Super cute idea, nicely done!

  31. Carolyn October 17, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    cutest party EVER!

  32. Tina mcclary August 28, 2013 at 8:33 am

    Totally MUST do this for my husband, been trying to think of a good theme for a while

  33. Ang May 11, 2015 at 8:34 am

    This is an amazing idea!!

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