In October of 2012, my sweet parents celebrated their 60th anniversary! If you’ve read this post, you know that my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year earlier. So, it was especially important to all of us that we plan the most lovely and meaningful celebration for them possible! For their 50th, we had held a huge event… very elegant and grand. There was a wedding reception feel to it, it was catered, and there was a tiered ‘wedding’ cake as well as a ‘groom’s’ cake! We invited 300 people.
Well, fast forward 10 years and much has changed. For their 60th, we wanted a more intimate setting, so I offered to host the fall anniversary celebration at our home. Yet we still invited over 100 family and friends!
Held on a gorgeous Sunday Afternoon in October, the event was a great success!! Mom and Dad were thrilled to see so many of their friends and family! We had around 80 people pass through our home that day!
Set up like an open house, the time was from 3-5 in the afternoon, and folks could just come and go as they wished. The guest table was set up in the foyer, and held nostalgic photos of the couple as well as the guest book and favors. Inside each favor bag was a wallet sized photo like the one in the oval frame on the table, along with a thank-you bookmark expressing our appreciation, not just for their presence that day, but for their presence in Mom and Dad’s lives.
The hors d’oeuvres were served buffet style and included both sweet and savory, a lovely vegetable tray and crisp apple slices with caramel. Beverages, served from the kitchen, were coffee, tea, water with lemon and hot spiced cider.
And the décor was just as yummy! Working with white pumpkins (my favorite!), the fall-themed table was decorated with a centerpiece and large silver and frosted glass candlesticks. On a homespun tablecloth overlayed with a length of brown striped chiffon, the base of the centerpiece was gold mesh ribbon used as a runner in and through the pumpkin-laden basket. For a fun touch of gold, I scattered golden Hershey’s kisses (w/almonds) randomly on the table, and filled a large glass vase with them as well! Also scattered on the table were sheer organza fall leaves {from the dollar store – shh… don’t tell the guests!}.
See more photos of the centerpiece here.
Mom and Dad were so happy that day, and thoroughly enjoyed each friend and family member that took the time to celebrate with them on their anniversary. They talked about that day for months afterward.
Here is a photo of the couple on their special day:
I love seeing the joy on their faces in this picture! It makes everything we did that day SO worth it! Have you hosted a big celebration for someone in your family? I’d love to hear about it!! I read all your comments!
Have a wonderful day!
