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XP: Parent's 25th Wedding Anniversary
I posted this on my local as well... I need as much help to get started as I can! I know that we're starting early but it's just the two of us and I've never even been to a 25th Anniversary party so I don't know what to start.
My Sister and I are getting a head start on ideas for a 25th Wedding Anniversary party for our parents next year, October 2012.
Right now we're just thinking of location ideas, what kind of atmosphere we want and guest list numbers.
Anyone have any experience planning a party like this? What did you do? Has anyone ever been to one? I've never... what do you do at parties like this?
My DH's Grandparent's are having a 50th Anniversary party in a few weeks and it's just casual, potluck style with their friends and family. That's similar to what we are thinking for my Parent's.
Here is what we know so far.
*Guest list of 150 (family & friends)
*We don't want it at my Parent's just so that it is easier to make it a surprise
*We will rent a block of rooms at a local hotel to make it easier for out of town guests
*It's just my Sister and I planning (no other siblings) with my H and her BF helping us with some of the heavy lifting stuff.
*Possible party locations are hotel banquet rooms (but we're afraid that may seem too stuffy and not so casual) or legion/VFWs
All advice or help is appreciated!!
Re: XP: Parent's 25th Wedding Anniversary
Here's a post from a couple weeks ago that's worth reading.
Do you believe enough people would show to warrant the giant shindig you're brainstorming for? Do you think your parents would want a big party? Have you talked money with your sister?
I've never been to a 25th. People I know who've celebrated it have generally just gone to a nice restaurant for dinner or away to a B&B for a weekend.
Just from a practical standpoint, I don't think potluck will work for this. 1) There's no telling what 100+ people will bring. You could do the "If your last name starts with A-H, bring an app" thing, but conceivably there's lots of the same name. 2) If you're talking about hotels, that means these guests are from out of town - where and how are they supposed to cook? 3) I don't care for the idea of making out-of-town guests, who've already spent a pretty penny on a hotel and travel, provide their own dish.
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We had a 50th Anniversary for my parents, and started planning a year in advance. It was a sit down luncheon with choice of three entrees, passed apps, open bar, dessert bar, favors, grandchildren did a slide show of the family, toasted the couple, and it was a huge surprise!
We asked ourselves- What would Mom and Dad like? From there, we looked around to find a nice place for a good price and to select the right date. Starting a year in advance allowed us to get good prices on things b/c we always kept our eyes open for what we would need (invites, kids bags, favor boxes etc). A Sunday afternoon lunch will be less expensive than other times of the week end
We looked in local magazines to get ideas of places, and here on the knot too. It may give you options that you never even thought of; that is what happened for us.
Also, remember roughly 1/3 of your invited guests will probably say no. I think that is the norm.
Good luck, have fun and enjoy!
150 people for a 25th anniversary party? Really?
Honestly - if you're truly looking at that big of a guest list and want to serve actual food, you're basically planning something akin to a wedding reception. A potluck simply does not work for that large of a guest list - especially if so many of them are coming from out-of-town that you feel it necessary to reserve a block of hotel rooms.
So start looking at this like you did your wedding reception planning - come up with a realistic-ish guest list, start looking at catering options, start looking at venues to book.
As far as what guests do at such a thing........I've never been to a 25th anniversary party. But the few 50th anniversary parties I've been to were held in churches/similar venues, with some sort of catered lunch, and were pretty much open-house style things.........people came, ate, talked with the couple and mingled for a bit, then left. There wasn't any organized activities or anything.
I meant potluck style in that it would be simple foods such as pulled pork sandwiches, bars, salads etc... that my Sister and I would cook.
Sorry, I should have clarified. You have valid points though if I was thinking a true potluck party.
ETA: Thanks to everyone for their replies and suggestions. 150 for the guest list was just what we came up with when we were running through our Parent's family and friends. We definitely have a lot to consider and plan for.
Again - if 150 is anywhere close to how many guests you anticipate, you need to start treating this party like more of a wedding reception than a casual get together. That's my best advice to you - spend the next year planning and saving for something of that magnitude.
I agree with Maybride on this.
Have you done much entertaining? We're all veteran entertainers and wouldn't attempt what you're describing.
I mentioned your post just now to a friend whose parents cater BBQ in Ohio. A pork butt or shoulder (the parts used for pulled pork) feeds 25. You'll need 6. Since a pig has 4 shoulders, you're talking about a pig and a half. That's just a ton of effort to try to DIY at the house with a couple slow cookers. She said her family charges $40 for each shoulder/butt, so times 6 is $240. Add another couple hundred dollars for sides. You'd be much better off paying to have this catered with BBQ than trying to DIY.
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