Hold onto your cowboy hats and saddle up, y’all, because I’m about to spill all the beans on the surprise “Vintage Rodeo” 40th Birthday bash I threw for none other than the man, the myth, the legend himself, TIM!

So, when Tim’s big 4-0 was looming, I initially thought of keeping it low-key. I mean, I asked Tim what he wanted, and true to form, he said he wanted a fall hunt. But let’s be real, that didn’t exactly give me a clue for his actual birthday celebration! Initially, I was leaning towards a quiet dinner with a handful of friends, but you know how it goes – one idea led to another, and before I knew it, I was knee-deep in planning a full-blown surprise shindig at our place! 😅

Now, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that once I get an idea, I’m all in. So, there I was, left to orchestrate this entire affair without Tim catching wind of it, and with just a mere two weeks to pull it off!

Here’s the lowdown on how I wrangled together Tim’s Vintage Rodeo Surprise Party. 🤠

First off, I needed a decoy for Tim. Luckily, one of his best buds agreed to fly in from out of town to surprise him the day before the party! So, Tim would think that was the big surprise. Then, I scheduled a tee time for them the next day (giving me ample time to hustle and set up for the party 😉).

Once that plan was set in motion, it was all about getting down to the nitty-gritty details.

Top of the agenda? Entertainment, naturally. I knew we needed some live bluegrass tunes to set the perfect vibe, and thankfully, a friend pointed me to Craig Thompson Music. Miraculously, he was available and even roped in another musician pal to form a dynamic duo. Let me tell you, they stole the show! We two-stepped and hollered ’til the cows came home!

But that was just the beginning. From there, it was all about those special touches – and I wasn’t holding back.

Lighted “HOWDY” sign? You betcha. Tim’s mug plastered on everything from cups to banners? Absolutely. And let’s not forget about the rodeo flair – not one, but two bull roping challenges, because why settle for just one?

I sourced all the custom Tim swag from Etsy, snagged the floating bull from Amazon, and as for the standing bull? Well, I DIY’d that bad boy with a sawhorse and a Yeti Bull Head. Don’t worry, I’ll be dishing out all the links at the end of this post!

Next up, DRINKS! I wanted something extra special, so I hired a bartender and whipped up some fun rodeo-themed drinks for folks to sip on. We had “Highboy Hank,” a nod to Tim’s beloved vintage truck, and the “Naughty Cowgirl,” just to keep things lively.

Then came the custom cookies featuring Tim’s cherished vintage trucks, a rodeo-themed guestbook, 40th Birthday Balloons, and a plethora of other rodeo-inspired decor!

Once everything was booked and ordered, all that was left was to execute the surprise.

As luck would have it, rain decided to make an appearance on the big day, but thankfully, Tim and his buddy were still game for golfing (thank the rodeo heavens 😅), leaving me with ample time for full-on decorating mode! The guests trickled in, and we were primed and ready to spring the surprise on the birthday boy!

As Tim pulled into the driveway, we were all lined up, ready to let him loose!

And let me tell you, the look on Tim’s face when he strolled into a driveway teeming with friends and family was worth every ounce of stress and secrecy.

From there, the night was a whirlwind of laughter, drinks, and cherished company. A few folks had to call it early because of sick kiddos – but a handful of us partied like it was 1999 and stayed up until 2 AM! I can’t remember the last time we did that, but it was sure a night to remember.

For those of you who want to recreate a “Vintage Rodeo” themed party, – I’ve got you covered with links to all the essentials. So grab your cowboy boots and saddle up because the party’s just getting started!

Amazon Links

Etsy Links

Until next time, keep the spirit of the rodeo alive friends – because life’s too short not to celebrate in style. 🤠🎉

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