Planning

Each year you are together is something to celebrate - an opportunity to take a moment and acknowledge your commitment to each other. However, there is something just a little extra special about those Milestone Anniversaries - 10, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60…. A bigger gift… a bigger party… In today's society where marriages don't always last a lifetime - the couple that evidences that couples can be together for a lifetime gives the rest of us hope, inspires us in our own relationships, and deserves a raised glass of champagne with a toast to another decade together. Some couples choose to celebrate their Anniversary quietly, with just the two of them, others include friends and family to join in their moment. No matter who you include, the Milestone Anniversary is really about your relationship, surviving the bad, celebrating the good and bad, and the future you have yet to discover. For this Anniversary you celebrate your life with your friend, companion and lover. So find a little romance and celebrate a marriage milestone!

What is your "Party Picture"?

Will this be an a party for two or will you include friends and family?
What ambience are you looking for? Formal, informal, quirky, or traditional?
How much have you budgeted for the Milestone Anniversary Party? Typically celebrations of the Milestones (especially 25 and 50) are larger events - "Once in a Lifetime Celebrations" that may entail more than your usual soiree. When allocating your budget consider decorations, food, drinks, rentals, entertainment, activities, favors, photography...
How much help and support will you have from friends, family? Will you be hiring professionals to take on some of the responsibility such as catering, planning, photography?

Delegate, delegate, delegate. The less any one person is responsible for (especially the COUPLE) the more everyone can enjoy the event! Enlist your family and friends to take on small tasks that will add up to a LOT off of your shoulders!

How many people are you intending to invite/do you expect to attend? These numbers are not typically the same, be realistic in attendance estimates as this is the number that really matters.
What time of year, week, day will your Milestone Anniversary Party be? Are there any conflicts that will limit your event (such as holidays) or opportunities to budget boost by selecting less popular times or days at your venue?
How much time do you have to put your event together?

Picture it! - Take pictures! Print them! Share them!

When it's a Once in a Decade Anniversary party you really want to capture the moment. Have a plan in place before the event begins to ensure that the photos and video that you want happen, and that it inconveniences you, or your designated "photographer" as little as possible.
Consider hiring a photographer. A simple event that lasts a few hours is not going to have the same cost as an elaborate wedding. Bring in a photographer for an hour or two to capture the big stuff and the guests, and the costs will be drastically less!
Consider replacing your annual pose with a professional photographer for your event and using an amazing candid as that year's picture. (You may also request that the photographer grab a pose or two if you want something more formal). Your candids of your guests would also be great holiday gifts - what better gift than a framed professionally taken photo of your guests as a gift for them! This may offset the expense of hiring the photographer.
Disposable cameras allow your guests to shoot candids - moments you wouldn't have gotten yourself.
Designate a couple of guests as photographers, but make sure you meet all of their needs throughout the event as their duties will limit the opportunities to enjoy the party.

Theme

Creating a Sense of Cohesiveness and having a little FUN.

It's your Milestone Anniversary Party - the focus is on the couple, include at least a hint of romance! Consider themes with a romantic flair, or select something special to the couple.

Is there a place that is special to the couple, or a hobby they have in common? An interest or passion that would be fun to work with? A party about a couple should include - well, the couple!

Your Theme provides inspiration and cohesiveness - it simplifies your planning, and at the same time, evidences an attention to details your guests will appreciate.
The Theme begins at your invitation and continues through in venue, décor, tablescape, music, food, drinks, even your activities and entertainment.
Once you've selected a Theme that inspires you, consider all five of your senses. Find ways to invoke the Theme in each of the senses. This allows the guests to immerse themselves in the moment, shedding the every day for the mood you are creating. The key to successful party planning is creating a party that allows your guests to take a step away from their everyday life. Involving each of the senses aids in that escape.
Research your Theme to find inspiration. Try a search for the country, hobby, event, etc. that is the basis for your Theme.

Venue

What is your "Party Picture"? Is the venue you are considering going to work with it?

Options may include: your home, your backyard (open or tented), a restaurant, a hotel, a rented house, a park, or an event based venue such as the zoo or a museum.
There is something to be said for taking your party off site. It can be hard to feel the romance of your own party if you are distracted by the projects around the house you haven't finished or the wine stain blooming on your rug from an errant guest. Plus, if you are offsite, you don't have to worry about all of the clean-up that night or the next day! Finding someplace where you will be waited upon and can simply enjoy your evening may definitely be worth considering for this Milestone Anniversary party!

How many guests do you expect to attend? - anniversary party planning

Offsite options will let you know capacity maximums and minimums
When entertaining at home consider - REALLY consider -how many guests your home can comfortably accommodate. Can open your primary rooms to maximize space, or can you expand into your outdoor space? Don't overestimate the actual capacity of your home.

Invites

A picture of the happy couple, with a 20th or 30th or 40th watermark. That image is enough to let your guests know what they are celebrating with you. Your invitation sparks the mood and provides a tantalizing peek into what you are planning. Make sure your party picture is reflected in the invitation you send.
This celebrates a couple - consider using pictures from the past or present (or both) - something that captures the spirit and love of this couple. Be creative and have fun.
Don't forget the practical stuff! - anniversary party planning

Time of Party
Location of Party
Party details such as meal served, if it's a surprise, or dress requirements
You can request items from your guests, such as pictures or stories about the couple that can be put into a memory book or be used in the party itself.

Invitations go out 2 to 4 weeks before your event, however, it never hurts to send out a "save the date" notice earlier to ensure that your guests have a clear calendar! This is particularly true for a Milestone Anniversary that only roles around once a decade!
How formal does your Party Picture require your invitations to be?

Printed - all the bells and whistles
Printed - basics
Printed (and designed) at home with invitation software
Prepackaged with details filled in
Treeless invitations sent by e-mail

Include a link to your Party Page with party details, directions, and RSVP information.
Have a system to track RSVPs - make it simple and DO NOT rely on RSVPs for your totals!

RSVP Tracker on your Party Page
Notebook by your phone
RSVP Cards

Send a "Party Reminder" a week or two before the event - this will provide an e-mail version of your party details and directions in case your guest loses the original copy.
Thank you cards can coordinate with the invitations or the theme. However, a great idea would be to take a "now" picture of your couple and use that as the cover of your thank you card. They can either be alone, or, if a group picture at the party was taken this would be a great way to say Thank You AND to provide a picture of everyone at the party for your guests own scrapbooks.

DressItUp

Decorations - A couple of balloons or the whole enchilada, it's up to you! - anniversary party planning

What do you need for your venue to fit your Party Picture?
Try to incorporate a few photos of the couple - perhaps a wedding picture and a couple of shots of the couple as they have grown together, loved together, and changed together. Don't forget children, grandchildren, and other pictures that evidence the life their marriage has created.

Pictures, small printed stories, items evoking memories during the couple's life together - all of these things can find their way into your décor. Sprinkle story cards throughout the room, encouraging guests to roam the space, and mingle as they reminisce or find a moment of shared joy when they read something inspiring about the couple they are helping to celebrate.
If you have a blank wall, consider projecting a slide show that continuously loops during your event - it's a fun element that becomes part of the décor.

Don't forget your Theme. It is the easiest way to get inspired - simply ask yourself "what brings my Theme to life?" How can you inject the details into the décor and tablescape?
Little touches can have big impact, so think it through and remember the fine details as well as the large strokes.
Select three or four colors that you will primarily be working with - this defines your color scheme and will keep your space from looking chaotic.
Walls, furniture, lighting, centerpieces, linens, chair backs, tablescapes (see below), even the ceiling and floor can all work into your decorations. No surface is off limits when it comes to decorating!
Don't forget to incorporate your food, beverages, and even your entertainment into your decor.

Tablescapes - Your tables are your prime real estate, maximize the effect! - anniversary party planning

Presentation is key in entertaining, and the table is the frame for the refreshments and meals that you will serve. Make HOW you serve as important as WHAT you serve.
Not only are the tables the primary presentation for the refreshments, but they are also the focal point in the room.
Determine how your tables will be arranged - do they need to accommodate a formal served meal, a meal served family style, a buffet meal, or are they simply a place to sit for guests enjoying light appetizers and conversation? Start by building the design.
In decorating, the obvious focus is the centerpiece, however, don't forget to consider the linens, place settings, crystal, place cards, napkin presentation, and even chair accoutrements. Each of these are an opportunity to add a touch of flair involving the couple or your Theme.
Functionality!

Consider your guests when dressing your table. A large centerpiece will either be a visual obstacle, or, will be removed during the meal, and therefore is a waste of resources. Keep it low, or keep it high if guests will need to see each other across the table!
Don't do something that will look great but cause discomfort for your guests - uncomfortable linens, being poked in the back by chair accoutrements, or napkins that look nice but hurt the face! Don't err on the side of appearance at the cost of comfort.

Place settings and crystal will depend on the type of event you are having. From the finest china to high quality plastic ware - it depends on what your Party Picture is.
Finally, remember your FOOD. Food, beautifully presented, is the reason d'etre for your tablescape to begin with. Your food should play a role in the design of the space.

Food/Drink

Refreshments - The heart of the party, amusingly, is the stomach! - anniversary party planning

What time of day will your event be and how long will it last? This determines quantity of food you need to serve. Can you get away with light hors d'oeuvres and snacks or do you need a full meal? Or, if your event lasts long enough, do you need both?
If serving a meal, how will you serve it?

Formal seating - guests select a meal in advance and are formally seated. Need servers, a set timeframe, and typically more expensive if budget is an issue.
Family style - dishes are served as they would be at home, allowing guests to select what they want while at the table. Timeframe still set, but serving is simplified with this option.
Buffet - Allows guests to mingle while they eat, adds variety to the food selection, and guests can graze throughout the event, reducing rigidity of schedule.

If the event is not at a venue where food is served (such as hosting at home), the question to ask is, can you cook?? And, more importantly, DO YOU WANT TO? Preparing and serving the food is incredibly time consuming and can severely limit your ability to enjoy your own party. This is particularly an issue if you are hosting your OWN Milestone Anniversary Party. Consider several options:

Make ahead dishes that only require reheating or mild prep work.

Store bought items re-dished and garnished is a great cheat!

Have the event catered (compare costs if you are cooking as a way to budget boost - you may be surprised how similar the costs are for the amount of effort you save!)
Have it catered and pick up/serve yourself (this is less expensive for a Budget Boost).

Hire some local teens to help serve or stick to a buffet.

Have a plan to keep everything hot, or cold, as necessary.
Try to avoid dishes that a portion (15-20%) of your guests won't like. If you know of any special issues, try to have an alternative that will accommodate your guest's needs.
Plan out beverages. Use the Drink Calculator to determine how to allocate nonalcoholic, beer, wine and bar drinks. Don't forget water!
Consider a couple of "signature drinks" to simplify the bar.

This is a perfect opportunity to inject the couple or the Theme into your party. Either have drinks that are named after the couple or about the couple, or, allow guests to taste the drinks and come up with their own name - with a prize for the most original, or the funniest. The recipe can be printed on cards at the bar "compliments" of your couple as a little party memento.

Have a plan for guests who consume too much - the safety of everyone depends on it.

FunStuff

Entertainment - When you want more than just your stereo…

What's your Party Picture, and what's your budget??
A Milestone Anniversary is the right opportunity for that most dreaded of things - the slide show!

Project it on a wall or have it running on your television throughout the party with textboxes explaining what each picture is. Guests can watch at their leisure.
Or, consider a short (maximum 20 minutes) presentation injected with humor and music to keep it fun and accomplish the goal of showcasing the couple's life together.

Consider your Theme - is there a specific type of entertainment that would compliment it?
DJ's, musicians, palm readers, celebrity impersonators, dancers, bands, acrobats, clowns, the possibilities are endless. Explore what's available and get quotes, it may not be as expensive as you might think to make your event even more memorable.

Activities - Get people talking!

Even adults can be shy. Help your wallflowers by giving them ways to approach other guests and enjoy your party. Don't be afraid to get a little silly - even if the guests are laughing at your quirky party game, they are still laughing together.
Begin with something simple and subtle as an ice breaker while guests arrive. It gets your mojo flowing and avoids grouping of guests that may leave some folks on their own.

It's an Milestone Anniversary, so consider a quiz for guests to test their knowledge of the Couple's life together, and have a prize for the guest who had the most questions correct. Or, do something more generic, like a romance quiz, or guess Hollywood couples by clues or scramble the names… The possibilities are endless.

Have a plan for lulls as your party progresses. If conversation kicks in and your guests keep the mojo hot on their own, great - but have a couple of activities in your back pocket for lulls.
Check out the "Party Fun" page for activity ideas you can tailor to your event and Theme. Remember, games and party activities are not just for children. You'd be surprised how quickly you can get adults to let loose a little and have some fun.

Prizes/Favors

A little something to remember your event by…

A party favor thanks your guest for spending their time celebrating your Milestone Anniversary. It also provides a little reminder of your event.
Favors are NOT required - but it's an extra touch that shows attention to detail and gracious hosting. Consider the occasion, the Theme, and the group you brought together for inspiration.

Celebrate Good Times!
It's a celebration. Mark your calendars and plan a wonderful party. Choose from paper goods, favors and party items for a memorable event.
Have a great party!

25th Anniversary

50th Anniversary

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