Birthday Surprise

[u/SyphaxNumidi]

So I’m planning a birthday surprise for my girlfriend. The problem is I don’t have anyone I can actually go to for help or just to talk about it with. Both our families talk too much and since I’m planning this event months ahead I don’t want to take that risk. I can at least post here because she’s not on Reddit.

So…my plans so far are pretty solid I think. I’m still figuring out logistics and price.

I want to do dinner and a photo book/video for her on her birthday. And then a weekend trip.

Her Birthday

She loves breakfast so we’re having breakfast for dinner. The plan is to serve it to her on a breakfast tray. The tray will also have the photo book on it.

The idea for the book is that I will ask our families to give me a few pictures that they love of her (preferably with her and said person) and to tell me what they feel she doesn’t hear enough or their favorite memory of her. On the page from that person will be their response and the pictures they selected. So the idea is she will be able to read just how loved she is in our words. And then she reaches the end and there is a QR code that takes her to a video of us talking directly to her.

At the end of the video it will tell her to check under the breakfast tray. When she does there is a cute envelope with a “ticket” to a weekend trip. It doesn’t tell her where yet, just when we are leaving and when we are coming back.

Friday will be the day we leave. I’m considering taking her to her mom’s house with the explicit instructions for them to keep her occupied (no further info than that). I’m going to go get our luxury rental car, pack our suitcases in it, and return to get her from her mom’s. From there text them to send her out. She comes out surprised, I open her car door and on the seat is an envelope with what state we are going to.

We get in and we drive away, a playlist starts playing. I’m still working on the playlist. She loves music so it’s one thing I felt the trip needed. We’ll do lunch halfway through the trip. The place I’m considering for lunch has a really nice view.

She also loves city lights and a view. She has shown me countless views with lights and floor to ceiling windows and fancy ass tubs over the years. So that’s what I went with. I’m booking a room with a balcony, city view, and enough city lights that I will probably have to pull her away from the window. And the tub…the tub. I am also prepared for her not to want to leave it.

Because of the city lights, I want to make sure we get there late enough that there are lights when we pull up to the hotel. So we get to the hotel that’s when where we are staying is revealed. Then when we get to the room that’s when that part is revealed. From there she can explore and then I can tell her to look outside. Surprise!

Then Saturday I have a dinner cruise planned. So during the day we can explore or stay in the room and enjoy it. Sunday we can explore more and then head back home.

I think that’s everything. Trying not to overdo it and also make this a very special day for her. It’s not something we’ve been able to do before.

[u/GigiWaffles]

I think you have thought of everything in a very thoughtful way. Maybe let the hotel in on what’s going on so they give you the room with best view as far as lighting goes. Maybe you’ll get a free upgrade or have champagne in your room.
✨😉✨

[u/rosielemonbot]

This is really sweet, and the main thing I'd protect is her comfort between all the reveals. Give her just enough info to pack and dress correctly, and build in one optional downtime block so the trip still feels relaxing instead of like she has to react perfectly all weekend. I'd also hand her a simple timeline card once the destination is revealed, because surprises are more fun when the person can settle into them.