Anniversary party ideas!?

Question

Hey,
My parents 24th yr anniversary is in a couple weeks, and I decided to throw them a small shindig (or barbecue. lol)
Does anyone have any ideas for this BBQ? food, games, etc?

Let me know!!

Thanks so much!

SuzieQ - next year for their 25th, they're renewing their vows, and pretty much getting re-married...so I don't think a little bbq will take away from that. lol

Lately they've both been really stressed bc we just got custody of our 2 small cousins, so they're basically raising 2 kids again, and we going to go away for their 24th anniv. but now they can't. So, I figured a party would be nice!

<3

Answer 1

Take them back in time to when they were first married in 1982. Research significant happenings in that year, style of dress, popular music, etc. and make that your "theme". Find the newspaper headlines on the day they were married and use that in the invitation somehow. As for games, research which party games were popular then. Have fun!

Answer 2

Okay I do have some good ideas. First decorate your house/ yard with their favorite two colors. Or maybe their original wedding colors (or some like that). Or you can always choose the classic Silver and Blue, Gold and Red or Black and White. Once you decorate you have the food already (BBQ). Always when having a party have chips and dips (this is for a informal gathering) veggie or fruit tray and some various snacks people can munch on while mingling.

As for games here are a few fun games that my family likes to play ALL the time. Upon everyone's arrival give them an index card that has one word on it. Do not tell them anything about the card just have them put it in a pocket. Then when its time for games have everyone who has a card-- you don’t have to give it to everyone just maybe about 10 people making sure one of the people are one of your parents. Everyone who has a car you have them stand up and they have to sing a song using the word on the card. A real song, maybe it from the 80s because that’s when your parents got married. Its fun because people are caught off guard and forced to sing in front of everyone. Its really fun. Especially if you have a lot of family members who like to have a good time.
Another good gamily is "Mom & Dad Trivia". Make a trivia game that are all about your parents life together, starting with simple questions like when did they get married, where was the wedding, how did they meet? Etc. You get the idea. People really like trivia and then have your parents verify all the answers. You can give people points as they answer a loud and give a prize to the winner.

On your invite you can also ask anyone to bring any old pictures they may have of your mom and dad.

I hope this helps. I am sure I have more ideas so pls email if you have any questions or need more help!

Oh one more thing a cake would be nice (everyone loves cake) and then you can go to bakery that will put a photo on the cake.

Answer 3

Did your parents honeymoon on an island? It would be cool to have an island theme, Barefoot BBQ.You can set up tiki torches in the yard. You can eat whatever you want...maybe BBQ chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, shishkabobs. Corn on the cob, potatoe salad, macaroni salad, you know BBQ food. That part doesn't really matter, the fun part would be in the mixed drinks and (scorpians, blue hawaiians, etc.) making everyone dress in Island style clothes(hula skirts, laes, hawaiin print anything, etc.) You could go all out and have a limbo competition (little kids would love that) You can pick up hawaiin music cd's real cheap at a party store!

Answer 4

try allrecipes.com they have tons of recipes and they have ratings from people who have tried them. I think things you could make in or heat up in a crock pot would be great. Borrow everyone's crock pots that way you don't have to worry about stuff getting cold. I would do a veggie tray (Costco's are great), and a cookie or desert platter (Port of subs has a great cookie platter). I would skip games, I would think the guests are old enough not to need games. Just go with food, drinks and let people socialize. Be sure to plan a toast. Most of all keep it simple, a BBQ means not fancy or fussy! Have fun.

Answer 5

Hamburgers, sausages, condiments. potato salad, a vegetable tray, cole slaw, cheese tray, cold cuts, butter, buns, ice tea, punch, do some chicken drumsticks done in Shake and Bake before hand and serve cold. Fancy paper tablecloths, napkins. paper cups, plastic knives and forks. Don't forget to have an anniversary cake for them. Have garbage cans around so people can toss in their garbage, saves clean up. Have a wedding picture of them on display.
Good luck. It is very thoughtful of you doing this.

Answer 6

Check out this site!!

http://www.party411.com/anniversary.html

You should start with a theme, then go from there. A good game is sharades with words having to do with marriage.

Here are some games for couples, but it all depends on your party, the theme and who is going... HAVE FUN!

Games for Couples

Who's Your Mate? - Have one person from each couple leave the room. The host/hostess tailors some planned questions to the group and to certain couples. The other half of each couple stays in the room, and answers questions about their mate/date. They're supposed to answer each question the way they think their mate/date would respond. They need to write each answer down, so that when their partner returns he/she can give their own answer to each question. Assign point values for each question that is a match. Then reverse roles of the couples for the next set of questions. The couple with the most points wins a prize. Make sure the prize is something they can share!
Musical Partners - You need to have an even number of people to actually participate in this game. (The odd person, or the host, can be the one to stop the music). Turn some music on, and begin the game by selecting 2 people to dance with each other (fast or slow). Have someone turn the music off at different intervals, and tell the 2 people dancing to select new partners. Continue to play the game and select new partners until everyone is dancing.
Tie a Yellow Ribbon… - This is a great way to introduce everyone if you have an even number of people at your party. Buy some yarn or ribbon, and cut the ribbon/yarn up into various lengths (at least 100-400 uneven pieces). Put everyone into pairs, and have them search throughout the house to find as many pieces of ribbon/yarn as they possibly can. They must work with their partner to tie each piece of ribbon/yarn together to create one long piece of yarn/ribbon. Whoever has the longest piece of ribbon/yarn at the end of 5 minutes wins the game (It is OK if not every piece of ribbon is found).
Mix and Match - Before the party begins, find a lot of oversized clothing (both male and female). Try to include everything from pantyhose and lingerie to shoes and hats. Make sure that there are even amounts of both the male and female clothing. Mix up the clothes and put them into one laundry basket. An area is then designated as the finish line. There is a person in charge of timing the couples with a stopwatch. When that person says, "Go," the first couple runs to the basket of clothes to get dressed as fast as possible. The woman puts on the men's clothing, and the man puts on the women's clothing (over their own clothing). As soon as they are both dressed they have to run to the finish line hand in hand. Each couple goes through the same motions, and the couple with the fastest combined time wins.
Bag a Mate - At some time during the party, separate the men and women. Put the men in one room, and the women in another. Put a large paper bag over each person's head, and send both sexes back into one room. There is no talking allowed, and each person must "feel around" to find his/her mate. There are no real winners or losers (unless you really grab the wrong mate). Note: When placing bags on the heads of your guests, you have the option to provide eyeholes or not.
Grab a Man - This is a quick game to pair up couples (if they are not already paired). Blindfold all of the women, and have all of the men walk around them in a circle. When the host/hostess says, "Go", have the women each grab a man. When all of the men have been caught, have them remove the blindfolds.
Give Me Some Sugar - Partners must face each other with their hands tied behind their backs. Blindfold each player, and then put a sugary treat in one partner's mouth (it could be a snack cake, candy bar, doughnut, etc.). If the treat is wrapped, they must somehow unwrap the treat, and feed it to their partner. The couple who finishes the entire treat first, without using their hands wins a prize!
Daiquiri Race - Blindfold the men and line them up on one side of the room. Place the women on the opposite side of the room with a frozen daiquiri. The object of the game is for the women to take a spoonful of the frozen drink, carry the spoon by the handle in their teeth, and feed the drink to their partner. This game has to be done without using any hands, and the first couple to finish their drink wins! (This game is also a lot of fun with ice cream instead of daiquiris).

Answer 7

Personally - I think that having a shindig of any size would really take from 25th Anniversary next year. That's their silver anniversary you know!

Answer 8

Check out the Food Network. The have great recipes online. You can look like Madam Fancy-Schmancy.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

We threw my parents a huge surprise party for their 25th...pig roast (along with pheasants, turkeys and other things), I think we made it kind of a potluck deal with many people bringing dishes, they were given a horse carriage ride around the block, lots of alcohol (if not for that, I may be able to give you more details).

Answer 10

Doritos with Pace Picante sauce.