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This post is all about 21st birthday ideas.
A 21st birthday celebration is something that is dreamt about for years and talked about for years after.
The birthday girl/guy can finally legally go into a bar and no longer has to worry about that terrible fake-ID failing them.
Whether you’re celebrating your friend’s 21st birthday or it’s your own birthday, there’s a lot of pressure to nail this celebration.
Of course you can just hand over a bottle of alcohol and call the birthday celebration complete, but there are so many 21st birthday ideas that can make this birthday a memorable one (at least in the beginning ;).
This post shows you the best 21st birthday ideas for a night you will never forget.
21ST BIRTHDAY DECORATIONS:
1. Temporary Tattoos
These tattoos from xo, Fetti are adorable! This site has the cutest decorations for birthday parties. You can find so much other cute decor to add to your 21st birthday celebration.
2. Make A Photo Booth
You can’t have a 21st birthday without a photo booth and big balloons, can you?! Everyone will have a great time taking photos for your birthday in front of a super cute backdrop!
The balloon sets are the best because you get so many decorations a long with them!
3. Jello Shot Tower
How fun would this be?! This can be done super easily by filling this mold with jellos and putting the little jello shots can just be put on a cupcake stand.
Anddd here is a jello shot recipe that looks amazing for this decoration.
Read this next ā 35 Insanely Fun 18th Birthday Ideas For The Best Day Ever
4. “Lets Get Wasted” Barbie Cake
This “Let’s Get Wasted” cake with the barbie and alcohol surrounding her is too good, and so popular to make for your best friend’s 21st.
This cake is so easy to make and any friend can handle making it. You can order Barbies from Amazon for less than $10 dollars here.
5. Birthday Sash and Crown
Not only will this sash make for very cute photos BUT it will also lead to many free shots. Everyone should know it’s your 21st birthday, right?!
6. Photo Booth Props
It wouldn’t be a true 21st birthday without a million pictures right?!
Every celebration needs a photo op and these props would be the absolute cutest in all of your photos.
7. LED Neon Birthday Sign
Isn’t this neon light so cute?? And not super expensive compared to some of the other neon lights out there. This decoration would be adorable for a 21st birthday party, and I am sure all of your guests would love it.
8. Birthday Banners
Birthday banners are the perfect decoration without spending a lot of money. Both of these are under $10 and can be used over and over again.
21ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS:
9. Custom Tito’s Label Bottle
This Tito’s bottle is perfect for the vodka lover! They can keep it as decor after they finish off the bottle as well, or keep refilling it so they can use it forever.
10. Shooter Bottle Display
This gift idea doubles as decor and a super fun gift! Shooters are always a great gift for anybody turning 21 so they can sneak alcohol into other events, lol.
11. Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses
If you or your friend who is newly 21 loves tequila shots, this is a must have! They are the best shot glasses for tequila and look SO cute to display on a bar cart or somewhere else in the kitchen.
Read this next ā The Best 21st Birthday Themes That Your Friends Will Never Stop Talking About
12. Margarita Mix Kit
To go alone with the tequila theme for a little bit longer, this margarita kit includes everything you need to make amazing margaritas. Margs are one of my favorite cocktails so I know I would love to be gifted this kit.
If the 21-year-old in your life is a fan of tequila or margaritas, this would be so fun to give them to teach them how to make really good cocktails!
13. Glitter Alcohol Bottles
How cute is this?! This is a favorite for 21st birthday ideas. The good thing about this gift is you KNOW it will be put to good use.
To make this you need:
- Alcohol bottle
- Mod Podge
- Glitter
- Rhinestones (you can add this around the label and the head of the bottle)
14. Birthdate Candles
This 21st birthday gift is a really creative idea, and would honestly also be good for any birthday.
These candles are so pretty and would look so cute in anyone’s home.
15. College Cityscape Wine Glasses
These wine glasses are so adorable and perfect for the girl who loves her college town. If your friend is 21 and you’re celebrating at school, this gift would be awesome for her!
16. Fun Drinking Games
Drinking games are SO fun for nights in or pregames with your friends before going out. They also make the absolute perfect gift for a 21st birthday. There are so many to choose from but these three are so popular and so much fun to play!
21ST BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES:
17. Attend A Bartending Class
How fun would this be?!
Learn how to make all your favorite drinks and learn some really cool bartender tricks that you can pull out at your next party.
This is a great idea because it fits the 21st birthday theme perfectly but isn’t something that most people do.
18. Night At The Casino
Go to the casino or play Bangla Bit88 at home!
How many times have you been at the casino, stepped on the red carpet, and was asked to leave? (Okay, maybe this one just happened to me)
Now you finally can legally go to the casino and have the night of your life (don’t go broke though ;)). If you are hosting a casino-theme party, you may look for online slot games that you and your friends can enjoy.
19. Go On A Trip With Friends
Going on a trip with friends sets you up with days of memories and celebrations.
Some of the most popular travel destinations for 21st birthdays are Las Vegas, Miami, LA, and Nashville.
I went to Miami for my 21st birthday and it was amazing.
20. Go Clubbing
Go clubbing!
Visit a bunch of your local clubs and have a great time with all of your friends.
Remember though, don’t binge drink right away! That would lead to throwing up WAY too early which would be no fun.
21. Bar Hopping
This is an obvious thing to do on your 21st birthday but so much fun.
Check out all the top bars that you used to never be able to get into and explore how fun they really are.
Going bar to bar keeps the night exciting which is a must for a big birthday like this.
22. Paint Wine/Shot Glasses
If you are not a crazy drinker, than this is the perfect 21st birthday idea for you.
Go to the Dollar Store and get a bunch of wine glasses for all of your friends. Head to Michaels and get the painting supplies and you have just created a relaxing night with your friends!
Here’s a tutorial on how to paint wine glasses.
23. Have A Nice Birthday Dinner
Invite your friends and family to your favorite restaurant. You can enjoy spending time with them and celebrating your big day!
Plus, you usually can get free dessert (and many even a free drink!).
24. Airbnb Weekend
Renting an Airbnb with your friends in the city for the night or weekend is a great, lowkey way to celebrate your 21st.
There are so many cool and cheap Airbnbs practically anywhere that would make this a really unique celebration.
25. A Pedal Tavern
These peddle taverns are SO fun and if you have never heard of them or done one before, you have to!!
They are honestly so hard but so funny if you do it with all your friends. The tavern drops you at several different bars as well so it’s also kind of like bar hopping.
26. Go To The Beach
Have a boozy nighttime campfire by the beach.
Bring s’more ingredients and jello shots and you’re in for the perfect night.
27. Go Camping
This is another great cheap idea to celebrate your 21st birthday where you don’t have to worry about anyone driving.
Going camping with your friends is so much and can lead to memories you will remember forever!
28. Go To A Concert
See if there are any local concerts you can go to to celebrate the big night. Concerts are great to go to because they give off such a good energy.
After the concert, hit up some local bars.
29. Spa Day
Need I say more?!
Spa days are the best and exactly how I would want to spend my 21st birthday (with a mimosa in hand of course).
A spa day is also a great relaxer before a crazy night out.
30. Have A Themed Party
A themed party is so much and can lead to some really creative costumes.
The best themed parties I have seen: 1920s, Vine themed, and Hawaiian themed. (Check out this post for 101 more party themes).
31. Go On A Booze Cruise
Rent a boat or hop on your friend’s boat and go on a booze cruise with all your besties.
Booze cruises are so much fun and can lead to some skinny dipping in the middle of the lake.
32. House Party
Invite everyone over for a house party. These can get crazy, but what 21st birthday isn’t?!
Make it a themed party and you’re in for the best night.
33. Go To Las Vegas
Las Vegas is fun AND Las Vegas is cheap to get to.
Going to Las Vegas for your 21st birthday is the epitome of birthdays and really can’t be beat by anything else on this list.
