Like ou, when my folks were married 25 years, I was in college.

I sent out semi invites. I invited everyone to join us at a restaurant for a pay your own way dinner. I explained that I needed a count for the table reservations.

Didn't have to make up a menu, everyone ate what they liked (none of this I hate fish!), and everyone spent as much or as little as they wanted. Some bought a bottle of wine for a group of them, others didn't. Had about 35 people, the restaurant I picked was centrally located to those invited, a place most of us had been to once or twice but not regularly as it was a bit expensive for a routine. So this made it all special. We were enough people that the restaurant gave us a side room to ourselves. They set the tables in a E shape, so everyone could chat with lots and lots of folks, not just 8 at a table. I did get some favors for place settings, and the cake. I got the cake from the restaurant, so I didn't even have to travel with that!

It was all I could do to gather enough funds to pay 4 dinners: mom, dad, baby brother and me!

BTW, don't know what you family is like. I made one HUGE mistake. I did not take a peak at the wedding album. I didn't invite the Best Man and his wife, until after a bit word got around and someone called and told me my Dad's cousin had been Best Man and I had slipped up. I had to make a very quick phone call. Long story short, they did NOT come to the party, and never spoke to me again, to the day they both died.

I didn't give the folks a present; the party WAS my present to them. It was a surprise until bout an hour before, when we were getting ready to go out, and I insisted Mom wear a dress she had wonr only once, to someone's wedding. And I asked Dad to wear a suit. They knew something was up at that point.

Good Luck!