Invite wording help

Adjudi-Kate

It's grandma's 90th birthday and we are having a party for 50 of her closest friends and family, all ages.  We want to encourage party guests to wear clothing (or even just accessories) from any year they choose - 1921-2011.  Hoping this will lead to some super cute pictures and a fun time.  Also it's something people of any age can do.

Any ideas for how I should word this in the invitations??   It needs to be clear and simple, make it sound like everyone is expected to make an effort with this (I don't want to be the only person wearing a flapper dress and have everyone else choose "2010"), and make it sound like it will be a great time!  (Which I really think it will be if everyone participates!) 

Thanks!

Wine Enthusiast

I would pick an era, theme the party around that and say something like "flapper attire welcome", rather then having everyone wear different eras.  Otherwise I feel like you'd need to theme it as a costume party but you probably don't want people showing up in like batman costumes!

sjb&apa

I think picking a theme would help here ... more specific than just "wear old/vintage clothing from some period between 1921 and now".

Maybe choose a specific year that was important to your grandma and have people wear attire from that time (like, maybe the year she was married, or the year she became a mom)?

Ask guests to wear clothing from the year they met your grandma? This would start the sharing of stories/memories which your grandma might appreciate.

Ask guests to wear clothing from the decade she was born - the 1920's? 

Ask guests to wear clothing in her favorite color?

Maybride2

I understand the desire to do this, but I really dislike dictating to my guests what they should wear to a party.  I'm not sure how you politely state on the invite that they MUST wear a costume/participate in the theme. 

If I don't own a flapper dress or tie-dye and bell bottoms, I'm not likely to run out and buy those things just to wear for a few hours at a birthday party.  And it's really not something that people of "every age" can do, not unless you expect them to spend even more money (how would I dress my 3.5 year old up to fit your theme?).

The only "theme" parties that I've been to that have worked are when the hosts supply the accessories to fit the theme. 

 

Adjudi-Kate

Hmmm.. All the guests we pitched this to were really enthused about the idea.  My 2.5 year old is wearing the cutest poodle skirt!  My husband has a vintage Def Leppard concert tee shirt he wants to wear.  I don't see how this would be any more imposition than doing an 80's party or something.  We'll provide some theme accessories at the party in case people couldn't find anything to wear and decide they want to participate when they arrive.  I think any costume party you go to, Halloween or otherwise, you don't have to dress up, it's just more fun if you do.  My mom and grandma are dead set on the idea, so there's no backing out now anyways. I'll let you know how it turns out.