Opinions needed

Merin

Ok, with the school year starting, it's time for me to start thinking about / planning my parents' surprise retirement party.

If YOU were going to attend a retirement party, what would you prefer it to be??

Afternoon Open House with picnic type food?
Evening event with appetizers/drinks?
Something else entirely??

Any other tips or ideas for me?  I'm planning to reach out to my parents friends/coworkers/networks to help with the guest list, as well as to get stories, pictures, etc. to have there.    Since they're both in education - do I stick to just colleagues or do I delve into past students and stuff too?? I feel like if I go that far I could have a billion people there!  eek!

So yeah, just looking for opinions, advice, etc.   I'm sure I'll be asking more in the future when it comes to more of the detatils too.

Sunidaze

What do you think your parents would like?

Punk*Mommy

I'd do an evening thing.

I'd just handle colleagues, friends, and family. Don't make it any harder on yourself!

Merin

BrandySun:

What do you think your parents would like?

None? LOL!   They don't like any fuss made over them, they always are all about other people.   But as far as parties/events that they've gone to, I've never really heard them express a preference.  :-

 

Lady*Timot

I think it depends on the person.  When DH's grandfather retired we took him out to a nice steak dinner.  No hoopla cause they aren't those kind of people.  My parents I would do an evening thing.

allobosc

I agree with PM.

I went to one last year.  It was just us staff members (and our S/Os, or kids) and the retiree's family.

We met at a restaurant and ordered off a limited menu.  We were expected to pay for our own meals, which everyone was completely ok with.

Perhaps a slide show would be fun too if possible to set up.

Now I am missing the lady who retired, she was our secretary and THE sweetest lady in the entire world.  Made every morning I saw her a pure joy.   

houndbaby

I would do the afternoon open house with appetizers/drinks. I think getting old pictures and stories is a great idea, I would probably just stick to coworkers though, they would probably have some pretty good stories to share about the students anyways.