The Art of Celebrating 50: Designing a Dream Birthday in Marrakech
- Amy
- Feb 9
- 10 min read
I’ve spent most of my life creating experiences in hospitality, in spaces, and around the table. So when it came to celebrating the milestone of making it to half a century, I treated it the same way I treat everything else. With intention, care, and an understanding of how environment, rhythm, and human needs shape how we experience life. This wasn’t about throwing a party for the sake of it. It was about creating a moment people could truly arrive into and feel alive in.
Having celebrated most birthdays at The Pink House over the last 15 years (never taking for granted what a privilege that is) I decided to celebrate my 50th birthday with a large group of friends and colleagues in Marrakech. Not simply to have an obscene amount of fun, although that was certainly achieved, but to create something connected, calm, and easeful. So what follows is the key to creating the kind of celebration people joyfully reminisce about long after it’s over.
Start with intention
I really wanted to start the weekend inside our latest project, Starseed House, which was built for creation and connection.
Not only was this my milestone birthday weekend, but it also felt like the christening of the space that we have spent the last 5 years creating.
The itinerary was already full with party plans, and guests were arriving at different times, so I decided to spend the daytime of my actual birthday slowing things down with a small group of friends who had already arrived for the celebrations. We held a grounding workshop guided by Moroccan naturopath Sophia Lazrak, where we talked about intentions, made beautiful incense from natural raw materials, and created our own smudge bundles from herbs Sophia had grown herself.
I’ve shared more about this moment over on our Instagram page for anyone who’d like to dig deeper into that side of the weekend. It was the perfect way to begin the celebrations, because I’m not just a party gal. I’m also a spiritual one.
Pick your guest list wisely
When it comes to milestone moments, it’s tempting to invite everyone you know and simply see who can make it.
But the truth is, not everyone enjoys socialising in the same way.
Some people thrive in large, energetic groups. Others find them overwhelming.
My approach was to invite those who enjoy big social gatherings and created separate, more intimate moments, such as a lunch, a dinner, or a tea-and-cake date for those who prefer more one-on-one time.
This allows everyone to connect in a way that feels natural to them, rather than forcing a single version of togetherness. Also, leave out the invitations you feel you should send, and invite the people who uplift you and that you truly want to move through life with.
Choose venues for service first
First and foremost, choose venues that offer exceptional service and an atmosphere that truly matches the tone of your celebration.
Beautiful spaces matter, but without great service, a venue really has nothing. When service is immaculate food and drinks often follow naturally, and service is what makes an experience seamless. When you find a place that ticks all the boxes, you’ve hit the holy grail. That’s what I always strive for, on both sides of the coin, as a planner and as a lead guest.
As someone who has worked in high-end hospitality for the majority of my life, I see this as a non-negotiable. It is genuinely make-or-break. I also believe in the importance of a nervous-system-regulating ambience. Colours, fabrics, and, most importantly, lighting all play a role in helping people feel relaxed, present, and open. When people feel comfortable, everything flows more easily.
Do as much pre-planning as possible
Having an experienced planner is wonderful if you can and creating a vision board to help them deliver it for you is really useful.
In my case, I am the experienced planner, so I created my own vision for the party. I knew how important it was to be highly organised and to lock in as many details in advance as possible. That way, when the time came, I could simply enjoy myself and be a gracious host.
I had a detailed spreadsheet covering everyone’s arrival and departure times, where they were staying, any special requirements, and which daytime activities they had opted into. I also enlisted support from my partner, the venues, a head driver, a local friend who also hosts guests when they come to Marrakech, and my UK team. Each person had a clearly defined role, so everyone knew exactly how they could help.
Creating an itinerary and guide for the trip makes a huge difference too. It removes uncertainty, reduces questions, and helps guests feel relaxed and looked after because they know where they need to be and when, what they need for the trip, and how everything works once they arrive.
Think carefully about where everyone stays
Starseed House was the heart of the experience and a natural meeting point for everyone.
However, it only has two bedrooms, with a total sleeping capacity of six people. It can host many more, but overnight stays are limited to a tight-knit group.
To handle this, we hired local riads that were either on our street or just a stone’s throw away. This worked perfectly. It meant we were all in the same area, close enough to feel connected, while still allowing people to retreat to their own spaces or break off into smaller groups between the bigger social moments.
That balance between togetherness and privacy is crucial when hosting a larger group for more than just a night.
Get transport sorted in advance
I cannot stress how important this is.
Transport is one of those details that, if it goes wrong, can unravel the entire experience. If it goes right, no one even notices, because everything feels effortless.
We have a driver in Morocco whom we use regularly, and he’s fantastic. He also has a trusted network of other drivers and minibuses, which made scaling up easy. I sent him a clear plan of all pick-up times and destinations for each day and appointed him to oversee the organisation of all vehicles. My partner made sure everything ran smoothly on the ground, which meant I didn’t have to think about it at all.
That alone removed a huge amount of potential stress.
The question everyone asks: “What should I wear?”
My suggestion is to choose a theme.
Themes aren’t just fun. They are also incredibly useful. They help bring people together, act as an icebreaker, and create a shared sense of belonging, especially when not everyone knows each other.
Themes don’t need to be over-the-top. Something as simple as a favourite colour, or texture (sparkles!) can work beautifully. I try to choose broad themes so everyone can find their place within them without tipping into full fancy dress (although those can be brilliant too, especially with smaller groups who love dressing up).
In our case, we had three big nights:
Kaftans & smart casual (arrival dinner)
Studio 54 (late-70s disco era)
Leopard print (a favourite colour, obviously!)
It was so fun to see how everyone interpreted the themes. It created unity and great conversation throughout.
If you’re a glamour puss, hire a glam squad
Even if you’re not, it’s worth considering.
There’s no better way to start an evening than being made to look and feel your best without lifting a finger. It does two things at once: it gives you much-needed downtime as the host, a chance to relax and regroup between festivities, while enjoying the ultimate self-care ritual of being completely pampered to prepare you for the night. Offer to book this for your guests too. Not everyone will want it, but those who do will really appreciate it.
The key is hiring people you trust, being clear about the kind of glam you want, and leaving adequate time for it not to feel rushed. If you love someone’s work online and think, “I want my make-up like this” or “I love how they did her hair here,” you’re on the right track. Communicate clearly beforehand to avoid surprises. Pictures of what you want always helps.
Also, pick your outfits in advance. Have everything ready so all you need to do on the night is step into it. In my case, I designed all of my outfits and had them made in advance, which removed any last-minute chaos or ambiguity.
Set the soundtrack
Music shapes the emotional memory of an event more than almost anything else.
For the first night, I chose somewhere that played music you typically hear in Morocco, with a DJ playing EDM alongside traditional sounds, including live Gnawa music and belly-dancing tracks for the performer.
On the Studio 54 night, we went with with disco, R&B, and soul. For the Leopard Print night, we went a little harder with 90s and UK hip hop and UK garage. For Starseed gatherings I made playlists.
For the final night, everyone dressed however they wanted, and we went to a cosy speakeasy to see a live band perform a Herbie Hancock tribute. I chose this space for all the reasons previoulsy mentioned on what makes a great venue, and also because it feels like being inside someone’s candlelit living room. It was the perfect way to wind everything down whilst still having fun and making memories.
Add a gift with a personal touch
A customised gift is a great way to say thank you for coming.
For our final night together as a group, I hired a private club where my dear friend DJ Mr. Thing could play as late as we wanted without disturbing anyone.
For that night, I made customised cups featuring an iconic framed photo of each guest. They were received exactly as intended, with love, and instantly became another talking point, as well as a keepsake to remember such a special trip.
I bought bubblegum pink goblets and personalised them with miniature gold-framed photos. Because it was a hip-hop night with everyone in leopard print, they matched the vibe perfectly.
Don’t over-plan. Instead play the role of concierge.
This applies whether you’re celebrating for one night or a week-long extravaganza.
Give people space to explore, replenish, or simply rest. I planned all the evenings and offered suggestions for daytime activities people could opt into, such as sightseeing, getting glammed up with me, or doing absolutely nothing at all. That gave everyone the chance to move through the day at their own pace and gather for the carefully considered festivities at night. When guests did opt in for a daytime activity I produced digital posters and sent them in the group so guests had clear instructions for their chosen activities.
Let’s talk about money
This is the part people often feel awkward about, but it really doesn’t need to be.
Every culture is different, but for UK-based friends in particular, it is not expected that you would pay for a five-day holiday for everyone. What is important is clarity and accessibility.
The way I handled it was by covering certain key costs myself:
The first airport transfer for everyone
Welcome drinks
Organising the club
The photographer and videographer
The DJ and equipment
Gifting the grounding workshop and other thoughtful touches
And, of course, organising the entire experience, something my friends trusted me with completely and were happy to confidently go along with. I also made it clear that I didn't want anyone to not be able to attend for financial reasons and would help out where I could. So that took care of that.
I then chose venues that had everything I wanted but were still accessible and not out of reach financially for my friends. I hear from my clients all the time that collecting money is one of the hardest parts, but in my experience, managing expectations upfront is what really matters. And the people that really want to be there for you will be.
There are so many tools now, such as Revolut's feature to split bills and other well known apps offering group payments, that make this far easier than it used to be. I have many more thoughts on this, but as it’s not the most glamorous topic, I’ll leave it there for now.
That said, if you ever want help planning an experience or celebration, I’m always happy to share more tips on how to make this part feel easier and less uncomfortable.
Stay offline and document the occasion properly
Hire an experienced professional photographer and/or videographer to take the reins.
In this digital age, we experience so much of life through our phones, emails, apps, and even our most precious moments lived through a lens. For me, that simply isn’t the vibe. I would rather have high quality documentation that will live on rather than half baked footage and photos that can be easily be lost in the cloud.
So I asked guests to put their phones away and truly live the moment. Yes, this can feel uncomfortable at first for some, but it transforms the energy. People dance, talk, and connect without it turning into a manufactured content moment.
I didn’t grow up with a phone in my hand, and I’m conscious about championing moments that are meant to be felt, not performed.
Be Flexible
Even with all the preparation in the world, things don’t always go to plan.
As a host, it’s important to remain calm and agile, because the moment stress creeps in, it can affect the entire atmosphere and energy of a celebration.
Thankfully, most things unfolded exactly as I had anticipated. A few things outside our control did arise. It rained more than usual, which meant adapting some plans on the spot, and one group’s flight was delayed by a few hours.
We adjusted and had workarounds in place, and thankfully, it barely registered. Despite the unusually poor weather at times, it isn’t something that features in our memories at all. Everything else was so joyful, so well held, and so meaningful that it simply didn’t matter.
Lived and learned
Ultimately, the takeaway is simple. A meaningful celebration isn’t about excess, perfection, or performance.
It’s about intention. When people feel considered, grounded, and free to be themselves, connection happens naturally. Every detail only matters insofar as it serves that purpose.
That is what turns a birthday, or any gathering at all, into something truly magical.
Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with me and to all of those who helped to make this possible. This celebration is something that I will remember as one of the best times of my life for the rest of my life.
If this resonates and you’d like to explore creating something meaningful of your own, we would love to hear from you.
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