Parents' 50th Anniversary - help!

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 07-25-2006, 08:14 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Unfortunately the slide show is going to be impossible because I just won't have time. We won't get there until after 10:00 am Saturday morning, and as soon as we get there we're all headed off to the reunion. I know where my mom keeps her photo album, and I know where she has a favorite picture of the two of them, so I'll try and grab these two things.

I really like the idea of balloons and the banner. I'll check out a party store and see what other decorations they might have. Does anybody know if regular latex balloons will stay blown up overnight? I'm thinking I'll have to pick everything up Friday night because we'll be leaving early Saturday morning to drive up there. I now the mylar balloons will last, but what about the regular ones.

I was thinking it would be neat to have everyone stand up and say a few things about what they remember about my parents, whether from the "old days" or from more recent times.

Can't do too much since I don't want to make my mom mad after such explicit instructions on not to do anything, but I think you've all given me some great ideas to make it a low key celebration that they'll appreciate. Thanks!!!

PS - I'll let you know how it goes.

**Prairie Purrs** · 07-25-2006, 08:39 PM

My sister and I just went through this--our parents absolutely insisted that they didn't want us to throw them a 50th anniversary party and threatened not to show up if we did. However, we knew that we had to do something because we didn't do anything special for their 25th anniversary, and we've been hearing about that for 25 years!

So we had an informal party at my sister's house. We rented a tent for the backyard and decorated the tables with lots and lots of gold Mardi Gras beads (some in plastic champagne glasses). Besides being festive, the beads were lots of fun--everyone ended up wearing some!

My sister put together some wonderful slide shows, but since there's no time for you to do that, here are a couple of collages we put together with printouts of photos my sister had on her computer:

We had your basic picnic-buffet food. Much to our relief, the folks had a great time--they got to visit with some old friends they hadn't seen in years, the relatives didn't get into any fights, and the weather was perfect!

**Prairie Purrs** · 07-25-2006, 08:48 PM

Another thought (if you can't do a photo collage ahead of time) would be to put a "Happy Anniversary" banner at the top of a big piece of posterboard. Then take along your digital camera and get hold of a little battery-operated photo printer. Take pictures at the reunion of everyone with your parents, print the pictures on the spot, and stick them on the posterboard. You can have everyone autograph the pictures if you like.

By the end of the day, you'll have a wonderful collage!

**moosmom** · 07-26-2006, 10:42 AM

You've got some wonderful ideas here. I have one suggestion. How about getting a big piece of white poster board, copy your parents' wedding picture, put it in the middle and attach a permanent marker and prop it up on an easle. Along with the guest book, have everyone attending write a little something on the board. Once the reunion is over, have it framed so they have a momento. Any way of getting a hold of any of the wedding attendants to see if they can surprize your parents?? Just another suggestion.