If you’re planning a surprise birthday party, there are a few things you need to know to make it successful. Most essential is that it indeed, be a surprise! You’d be amazed at how often the cat gets out of the bag long before the party. The surprise is perhaps the best feature, so don’t blow it. One way to make sure the guest of honor is out of the loop until they walk in the door is to swear everyone to secrecy right from the start and let them know that all communications about details, planning, questions, answers – in fact, anything pertaining to your surprise birthday party, must be conveyed through email. This locks up loose lips.