40th anniversary ideas

LisaT Posted: Jan 23, 2003 02:09 PM

40th anniversary ideas

We (the siblings) are planning a suprise 40th anniversary party for my in-laws (which is why I'll be in NY in Feb).

Its a small dinner party (20-25) at a restaurant. What kinds of things can we do to make it more special?

Here's what we've thought of so far:
having all their kids there (which means us and one of Al's sisters flying in from CA)

having a corsage & bout for them to wear

doing a slideshow of pictures from their wedding, and through-the-years...kids growing up, graduations, wedding, grandkids.

what else can we do? 40 is ruby, but I don't know how we'd incorporate that.

some sort of favor? maybe flowers on the tables? playing their song?

Any great ideas?

NovemberSue Posted: Jan 23, 2003 02:39 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

How about a book where everyone in the family writes a nice memory they have of them.

Valenia Posted: Jan 23, 2003 02:51 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

I think the photos are a great idea. Any chance of recreating their wedding cake? If there are photos available, I think that would be really nice.

Are they the sentimental type? If so, I like the idea given by NOVEMBERBRIDE, and would suggest creating a book in advance with a page made by every child, grandchild, and close friends with photos, memories, quotes, and crayon pictures from the littlest ones.

stacedz Posted: Jan 23, 2003 02:58 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

Lisa...can you get their wedding photo and maybe make magnets for favors or attach the pic as a tag that reads '40 Great Years and counting' to candy or maybe flowers they used on their wedding day?

JENHOS Posted: Jan 23, 2003 03:14 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

We did it for my parents 40th which was a year and a half ago. We had it at the Milleridge. We did the slide show and had a few suprise guests appear.
We had to tell my dad because we were juggling my moms chemo treatments along with it so he had to know. So we had several people that my dad would never have expected come. People who live far and that the hadn't seen in awhile. We also rounded up as many people in their wedding party as we could. Their best man made a toast and we played their wedding song. It was really great!!!

JENHOS Posted: Jan 23, 2003 03:14 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

Oh we put their wedding picture on the invite. It was a cute touch.

Claud2001 Posted: Jan 23, 2003 03:22 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

Lisa - this is something that my family did several years ago for my grandparents' 50th anniversary.

It's similar to your slideshow idea, but we took a step further...we collected all the pics of their wedding, children, grandchildren, weddings, birthdays, new homes, etc....basically all of the important events in their lives and had the photos set to video with music. It came out so touching, and they can watch it whenever they want to.,

I'm not sure if you have time to put it together, but I just thought I'd mention it.

bearsbabe_113 Posted: Jan 23, 2003 04:39 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

My parents celebrated their 40th this past September and we had a small dinner party like you're planning. For the ruby, I got ruby red balloons, a dozen red roses for their table and my sister put together a collage w/all pictures of them from their wedding, birth of us, grandchildren, etc. For favors I got those silver picture frames (the long ones) that have toasting glasses etched in them and then fits a wallet sized picture in it. For the picture, we put a copy of their wedding picture in it and my sister decorated the whole thing. I got the favors on www.wholesalefavors.com.

LisaT Posted: Jan 23, 2003 07:05 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

you guys have some great ideas - I'm going to run them by my sister-in-law, and see how many we can incorporate.

Thanks!

2003wedding. Posted: Jan 23, 2003 07:13 PM

Re: 40th anniversary ideas

jenhos had some great ideas!

what about a colage-with pics of the entire family

maybe blow up a pic from their wedding day

maybe you could have a mini bride (like our
centerpieces from the gtg-someone post a pic for lisa!) of her wedding gown

a scrapbook of 'through the years'--putting in pics of family, friends, things from what they did together (like program from a show,(it doesn't have to be the exact one-can be a replica) etc.)
if i think of any more-i'll post!
oh i thought of one more thing--(something i love) what about something like sonicstef did w/the sign in platter/plate----u could have everyone who attended the party sign it and they would have something to remember their anniversary by!