How to Plan a Surprise Birthday Video

A surprise video can be the best moment of the party. It can also be a scramble. Here's how to make it the first one.

1. Pick one person to run it

One contact. One folder. Too many cooks, and the guest of honor hears about it.

2. Start earlier than you think

Plan on six to eight weeks. Gathering photos and clips from other people always takes longer than expected.

3. Collect the good stuff

Look through old phones, family albums and cloud accounts. Send the originals, not screenshots. The photos nobody planned to take usually become the favorites.

4. Ask friends and family for short video messages

Fifteen to twenty seconds, filmed on a phone, held sideways. Tell people to say who they are and share one memory.

5. Add one inside joke

One is plenty. It's the moment the guest of honor remembers.

6. Test it where it will play

Know the screen, the sound and who presses play. Check them before the day, not at the party.

Want it done for you?

We make these videos and we do a great job. Want to save on costs? There's always MEvid.co: you invite, they record, MEvid edits.