A seven-step guide to throwing the perfect sign night
By: Ava Pravlik
Credit: Hailey Linfors
Junior year of college is often marked by plenty of significant milestones. Maybe you’re securing your first internship, studying abroad, or getting accepted into the master’s program of your dreams. But perhaps the most highly anticipated part of the year is none other than the tradition of the “sign night.”
A quick crash course on sign nights for those who are unfamiliar: Here at the University of Florida, it’s tradition to celebrate 21st birthdays with elaborate parties complete with themed decor, drinks, stickers and a sign that the guest of honor will wear around their neck for the duration of the night.
This event is typically organized by their friends, which can certainly be a daunting task. Not sure where to start when it comes to planning your best friend’s big day? Look no further. Here are seven steps to help you organize the perfect sign night.
Step 1: The Theme
The theme of the sign night must be decided before all else. Think about your friend’s favorite artists, their hobbies, their favorite drink or their plans for the future. If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with an alliteration: “Mia’s Magical 21st” has a nice ring to it.
Step 2: The Guest List
Time to spread the word about your friend’s big day! The easiest way to send out the invite to a sign night is by creating a private Instagram page or Facebook group and requesting all of the potential guests. As the account owner, be sure to curate daily posts as a “countdown” to the party.
Step 3: The Sign and the Stickers
The most important piece of the puzzle is designing your friend’s sign. This is where you can truly let your creativity shine. Create a sign that matches your theme and features anything that makes your friend unique: their favorite drinks, snacks, singers, movies, pets, etc. Bonus points if your sign has a special shape to match the theme: Think cowboy boots, champagne bottles, or even a sign shaped like the number 21. You’ll also need to design and print some stickers featuring photos of the birthday king or queen to distribute to all of your guests. The easiest way to keep track of your entourage once you leave the pregame is by identifying who has stickers plastered on their arms and legs.
Step 4: The Tasks
Perhaps even more important than the design on the front of your sign is what’s written on the back. Here, you must come up with 21 tasks for your friend to complete throughout the night. Some classics include signing 21 strangers at the bar, making 21 Snapchat story posts, or calling your 21st phone contact.
Step 5: The Setup
No party is complete without snacks and a signature drink. A perfect sign night features a pitcher of something sweet and colorful. If you’re feeling extra crafty, a batch of Jell-O shots is always a hit among guests. Make sure you decorate the apartment space with balloons and other decor that matches your chosen theme. And don’t forget to put out a few bowls of your friend’s favorite snacks.
Step 6: The Reveal
Now, it’s time for the moment everyone has been waiting for: the sign reveal. Make sure you plan for this to occur about an hour into the party so that all of the guests have had time to arrive. The guest of honor will stand with their back turned to the crowd and then spin around to behold the magic of their sign. A mandatory photo shoot will follow.
Step 7: The Bars
Once your friend has their sign, it’s time to hit Midtown! Your goal for the night: get them behind the bar at their favorite establishment so they can play bartender and make their first legal drink.
Follow these steps and your friend is sure to have a night to remember…or not.
Ava is a third-year Advertising major and French minor at UF. In her free time she enjoys long-distance running, cooking, and of course writing.
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