Here's Everything You Need to Throw a Grown-Up Birthday Party

Birthdays are a cause for celebration no matter your age, but birthday parties can understandably become more difficult to plan as you get older. While there's the option to still decorate your entire home in glitter balloons and pink décor in homage to your celebrations in years past, you may be looking to throw a more grown-up fête. Luckily, we've rounded up the best, most elevated birthday party essentials so you can throw an age-appropriate event.

While there's a lot that can go into throwing a memorable birthday party, the first step is always sending out invitations in a timely manner. In the age of technology there's something to be said about sending an invite by mail, which you can easily do thanks to these printable black and white invitations. Once you download the file simply edit the font size, color, and style to your liking or add additional images or texts as you see fit. The simple, modern, and elegant design makes this an Etsy bestseller for good reason. ($8; etsy.com)

No adult party is complete without a signature cocktail, and no signature cocktail is complete without a curated set of bar tools. This stainless steel seven-piece set comes complete with a cocktail shaker, a knife, a double jigger, a bottle opener, a strainer, and a utensil stand so you can shake, toss, and stir your birthday drink of choice like a professional mixologist. ($45, usually $79; macys.com)

Your signature birthday cocktail deserves more than just a plain white napkin. These Etsy hand-stamped and embossed napkins will look stylish whether they're stacked on your bar cart near the refreshments or placed by the h'orderves for easy grab-and-go eating. From the cheeky text to the endless color options, these tableware essentials are sure to enhance your décor, and keep crumbs at bay. (From $6; etsy.com)

An adult birthday party calls for an upgrade from traditional party snacks, like chips and dips, pretzels, and vegetable plates. Impress your guests with your own charcuterie board, complete with this ceramic cheese marker set that lets your guests easily identify the cheese selection. The set includes a pen and four markers, that you can clean and update from party to party. ($12, usually $25; amazon.com)

Give this classic birthday décor staple a stylish and environmentally-friendly upgrade. Available in evergreen, willow, khaki, and gold, this biodegradable confetti will be a welcomed addition to party favors and will look great adorning your tables. If you're planning a surprise party, be sure to have this confetti on hand. ($12; etsy.com)

Plastic cups may have sufficed in the past, but your grown-up birthday party calls for a toast-worthy alternative. Raise your class to another amazing year past with these stemless gold-tone rim wine flutes, currently on sale. ($17, usually $29; macys.com)

No birthday celebration is complete without making a wish and blowing out your candles. While the number candles that decorated our cakes when we were younger were certainly cute, these tall, gold birthday candles are an elevated solution. Available in a pack of 12, these five-star rated candles will stand out atop a white icing adorned cake. ($3, usually $4; etsy.com)

If you've spent all week planning out a gorgeous birthday dinner, then be sure to complement your job well done with an equally stunning dining set. The 20-piece flatware set includes four salad forks, dinner forks, dinner knives, spoons, and teaspoons. The reimagined vintage English design comes with satiny champagne finish fit for celebrating. ($85, usually $170; macys.com)

Forgo a flower arrangement and make your birthday sweets the focal point of your party's tablescape. This elegant stand, complete with a delicately ruffled edge, will display your cake or cupcakes in style thanks to the glass dome top. ($55, usually $92; macys.com)

Step one: Plan the perfect appetizer. Step two: Display said appetizer on this stunning plate. The Lenox Eternal Appetizer plate is made of timeless ivory china with an elegant gold banding, perfect for showing off your first course of the night. ($14, usually $19; macys.com)