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From: CodyGramma
Date: 05-16-2005, 01:38 PM (1 of 11)
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My parents will be celebrating their 65th anniversary next month and we have decided to advertise for an open house and have a backyard picnic. I am making most of the plans and this morning I have been working on ideas for food and thought I would ask for your help with any ideas that have worked well for you. Any related ideas would be helpful...not just for food. We want to keep it simple and low budget. We would like to go with foods that don't require somebody to have to keep watching over like grilled foods...I was thinking hot dogs and brats (which can be put into a roaster and kept hot) and ham and salami sandwiches, a few different types of salads, some beans and maybe other casseroles and then some cheese and crackers, vegies and dips and then some bars and cakes. I checked on prices for canopies (tents) and they are way above our budget so all I can do there is pray for sunshine!! LOL My parents are in their 80's and I'm sure the better share of the crowd will be 60 or over so I don't know that we need much for activities but I spose there will be some children there....what do you think? If you have ANY suggestions at all ...I would greatly appreciate hearing them! Thanks in advance!! |
User: CodyGramma
Member since: 04-22-2005 Total posts: 133 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 05-16-2005, 05:50 PM (2 of 11)
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Make picture boards of any and everything during their marriage, ie their wedding, birth of kids, family vacations, kids school pics, kids weddings. Was your dad in the service. Go on goggle for the year they married and find out what the news of that year was. Do you have any City Parks near you with Pavilions that you might rent? I know the ones here in our City rent for $25.00 to residents. They have lots of picnic tables, grills, electric look-ups and bathrooms. Plus a playground for little ones. And you can always bring folding lawn chairs. Instead of gifts for your parents you might ask that their friends donate to something that your parents would want to share with, like the Humane Society, the Childrens Ward of the local hospital, the Red Cross, Cancer Society, etc Make sure you take lots of pictures. They will enjoy seeing the day over and over, plus they will be good memoires for you down the road. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: siwian
Date: 05-16-2005, 05:56 PM (3 of 11)
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I'm not sure what it is like in Wisconsin during June, but I know here we would have to have something for shade. I can picture an awning/canopy made from material and PVC pipes or 4x4's, but I can't find the directions for anything like it. The menu you have sounds great-do you know what kind of salads and casseroles you are having or do you need some ideas? In SW Georgia it is not a picnic unless you have fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw and baked beans. Not to mention the fresh churned ice cream and pound cake. (with all the toppings: hot fudge, chocolate, caramel, nuts, coconut, cherries, other sundae toppings, and Cool Whip). Activities for the older people could be as simple as pictures of the couple since the wedding and some general ones along the lines of "Do you remember?" This could be a game: have the pictures numbered and a page with the numbers and have them write down what/who is in the picture. At my parents' 50th the older people just wanted to chat and look at the old pictures. Of course, Bingo is always a good standby for this age group. You could have some simple prizes with big names. (I'm thinking about this-I'll have to post again later.) Younger attendees might enjoy: tag, horseshoes or other throwing games, leap frog, bug hunts, sack races, three legged races and hide and seek. Be sure to have a table cloth that everyone can sign for the couple. Maybe two depending on how many people are attending. I hope some of this helps. Have fun with your picnic. |
User: siwian
Member since: 12-27-2001 Total posts: 114 
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From: CodyGramma
Date: 05-16-2005, 06:47 PM (4 of 11)
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I totally forgot cole slaw!!! Thanks for reminding me! LOL And I love the idea of a picture board...there are alot of us kids, maybe I should have each of them bring one! We have decided to have it at my sisters house out in her yard which is very shady so we won't need a tent or canopy for that purpose...I was worried about rain more than anything...I will talk to her more about that and see if she has an alternative solution for rain. These are great ideas... thanks so much for posting!....keep 'em coming!! I have about a month to work out all the details...its the 18th of June. |
User: CodyGramma
Member since: 04-22-2005 Total posts: 133
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 05-16-2005, 08:08 PM (5 of 11)
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have people (who have them )bring their table umbrellas. (if they can) along with some lawn chairs...(I'm sure someone has a pick up or van that can be used to help out) have people who've known your parents for a long time, write funny stories or poems about their lives. Pictures past and present are always good.... Frisbees, balls, bats, gloves, footballs..cards...(for the kids....or kids at heart) Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 05-16-2005, 10:03 PM (6 of 11)
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Did they have a wedding with attendents? You could have them tell what your parents wedding day was like, if they can remember it!!! If your sister has a garage, clean it out to use as a back-up for rainy weather. Put the youngin's to work helping to get ready for the big party. See if you could find music from their dating years, probably Big Band or Frank Sinatra era- have it playing softly in the back ground. You just might have some "Rug-Cutters" attending. This is the era that loved to dance!!!! They might move alot slower, but I'm sure would still love to hear "Their" music. Even Polkas!!!!! And as I said before, PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES- and don't forget the Movie Camera- people can leave messages for your parents. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-17-2005, 12:46 PM (7 of 11)
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We did this for Mother's 80th birthday, but it would work for anniversary just as well. We had a lot of photos put on a videotape.. There is a company here in town that does it.. they add background music.. Duplicates bring the price down.. so the 3 of us got copies also, and it was so inexpensive.. You could have this done and then rig it up to play continuously during the party for everyone to enjoy.. Check your yellow pages.. our co. here is called Create-A-Video..Youngsters especially get a kick out of these..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 05-17-2005, 01:03 PM (8 of 11)
| You can also check out your local High School's Media Dept. My DS's school would do the "Viedo" thing as extra credit projects for the Media Students. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 05-18-2005, 06:11 AM (9 of 11)
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For my dad's 85th Bday we had a party at a park. We rented a pavilion There are 8 of us & we all picked a few favorite pictures (10 or so) they were put on poster board with rubber cement. DON'T use contact cement I found this out the hard way. For food we had steamer pans I bought at Sam's. We had sloppy joes, Mac & cheese, green bean casserole, meatballs, scalloped potatoes, vegetable tray, pickle tray, Cake & lots of cookies homemade by Dad. We had over250 people show up & no one went hungry. Have you looked into buying a portable tent? We got 1 at Home Depot last year for under $200 with sides that can be put on or left off. Great to have around for garage sales & Graduation open houses. That reminds my for that this yr. we are having shredded pork sandwiches. That you can do ahead 2 days & reheat the day of the party. Good luck & have fun. Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-18-2005, 10:05 AM (10 of 11)
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At my parents 50th we had mom bouquet re done so she could hold it when they resaid there vows. The driveway makes a nice dance floor, the garage a nice place to put the food. A cheap way to cover the top of the garage is to buy netting and drap it under the planks and secure with staples. If you have those tiny Christmas lights hang them from the trees to give off a romantic glow at night. One I went to they hung a white sheet up and had people behind doing a form of This Is Your Life. One way to keep cold food cold when outside is to find a larger container than the one the food is in. Then fill it with ice cubes and nestle the food container inside. If you can afford it have picture albums (blank one) with some paper. If guest bring photos and are willing to let the family keep them, they go into a page. The have them write something about the photo to be placed on the same page. We got some wonderful pictures that way of my parents friends and them when they were small. Some of the pictures we had to copy and send back the original, but that was fine. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: mamadus
Date: 06-05-2005, 04:04 AM (11 of 11)
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what neat ideas some of you have used for anniversaries and family get togethers!! I am always so impressed at how creative everyone here is!! I definitely may have to borrow some of your ideas for our next family reunion.... MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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