How do you give a cheaper but sophisticated anniversary party for parents?!
How do you give a cheaper but sophisticated anniversary party for parents?
I am a single parent but make a decent living. I want to throw my parents an anniversary party in 2 years for their 45th wedding anniversary. I didn't have the money to do it for their 40th so I'd like to start planning now. How do you have a party without spending so much money on things such as the entire bar tab, etc.? I'd like to have an evening party but can u ask the guests to pay for their own drinks? Or do I have to cover the tab?
Answers:
My grandmother and I hosted a surprise 40th b-day for my mom. We had it at a local supper club, they gave us a per plate charge and served family style. It was actually pretty economical and no clean up! You can state on the invitations, Cash Bar available. You may want to provide wine with dinner or champagne for a toast. You can do an open house style party, but by the time you pay for the food, preparation, and all of the time you will have to invest, it may be a wash as far as cost. Then of course you have to clean up after it is all done. Check with local venues, you may be surprised.
Why don't you have an Open House?
Host it from x time to x time, have finger foods and champagne and call it a day.
If you have a home with a yard a good route to go is home hosting - rent a large tent, tables and chairs , even china and glass wear if you wish - to keep food costs down have a buffet with a carving station it is usually about 8-10 per person over a seated affair which can run 18-25 for the same foods because of added servers. Serve only beer and wine and have a champagne toast after the meal and serve a cake reminiscent of their wedding (shop around even large grocers are doing cakes now for terrifically low prices and they are really tasty). Have guests provide you, at least 6 months in advance anecdotes and pictures as well as music they have associated with your parents - combine these together for your parents as a scrapbook or video. Have the music played by a DJ for dancing. Depending on your area it should run about $5,000. Good Luck!
Book a table for two of them with candle lit dinner. when dinners over invite their close friends to your place for a surprise wish , and only simple treats for all. make arrangements to pick up your parents after dinner over to your place where all their close friends would have assembled.
My sister and I put together a 50th anniversary party for our parents. We invited 50 people and did it in our own back yard. We rented big round tables with linens. We also rented the dinnerware. Since it was held in the early evening we made center pieces by taking fancy gold ribbon and pinning it onto candles of various heights with roses picked from our gardens in the center of that. We had white lights in the tree's and bushes. We served wine with dinner and champagne with dessert. We had a cake made, and on the cake table we had a beautifully framed picture of their wedding day. For the meal we did it buffet style. On each table we had a basket (purchased at a craft store for like $2. bucks a piece) for rolls and a family style salad bowl. The main course was roasted pork loin, baked potato and roasted asparagus and garlic green beans. For dessert the cake was served with ice cream, coffe and teas. Everyone had a wonderful time. It cost a total of about $500.00 for everything, but I truly don't think we could have done better for that price.