40th anniversary party

festivegal2008

 My parents will be going on 40 years come June and I'm thinking of doing something for them.  It will be a surprise..

I'm just not sure if I should organize a full party where my sister and BIL come down, we invite the aunt/uncle/cousins and some of their oldest friends and neighbors (10-15 people); or if we should do a more low key thing where it's just H and I taking them to a nice dinner and inviting a few of their closest neighbors to join us (6-8 people).  My parents have no preference between intimate gatherings and larger parties. 

Just thought I'd ask for some thoughts, ideas or opinions.  Which do you think sounds better?  What would you do for your loved ones? TIA

RachieTK

It would be lovely to involve the rest of your family... you could still do a nice dinner for 10-15 people at a restaurant...

6fsn

Whatever you do, invite your sister and BIL.  Your sister may have some input or ideas too.

dougsbestgirl

I think a big party would be nice. It would probably bring together people from different times in their life that they don't get a chance to see all the time. 

I agree with pp- whatever you do invite your sister and BIL.  

festivegal2008

I'll be in touch with my sister this week. They live 4.5 hours away so as long as they have enough time to plan it shouldn't be a problem for them. I think what I'll do is have dinner at a restaurant with no more than 15 people. Thanks for the input!

Alispidali

That sounds nice- I think a small party is perfect!  For my grandparents 40th anniversary, my mom's sisters put together a photo montage video of my grandparents and each of the kids.  They had everyone mail in old pics of our grandparents and their family.  Then they brought them all to a video store and they put it together.  It was to music and we all watched and then they handed each family a copy of it.  It was really nice and everyone loved it.  Just an idea to make it more special

festivegal2008

Alispidali:

They had everyone mail in old pics of our grandparents and their family.  Then they brought them all to a video store and they put it together.  It was to music and we all watched and then they handed each family a copy of it.  It was really nice and everyone loved it.  Just an idea to make it more special

That is a really nice idea!! I could go through my parents' photo albums when they're up north having Christmas with my sister in 2 weeks and they'd never know the stuff was missing! As a matter of fact, I think Shutterfly does that. I could scan the pictures right there at my parents' house and put them online!

apparently

For my parents' 40th we threw them a wedding reception! Band, dinner, 100 people, cake, flowers, whole shebang. My parents had eloped when they got married and I know my mom was always wistful about not having a big wedding, so it was fun to do that for them.

We also gave them a memory book, and gave each person who was invited a specific question to answer. For example, for my maternal grandmother: "What did you think of [my father] when  you first met him?" For the witnesses at their elopement: "Describe the day [my parents] got married." Dates and spouses and others who didn't know my parents well were asked to do things like describe the party, leave a ring from a wineglass on the page, etc. I collected up all the papers and bound them into a book that night -- it is so much fun to read through the answers, and I know my parents really treasure it.