Needing Ideas for In-law's 40Th Wedding Anniversary

A photo/video montage DVD from Unforgettable Slide Shows. www.unforgettableslideshows.com
Take care,
A.

Hi S.,
I have an idea for you, after 40 years together, I am positive your in-laws have told your family many stories of their time together as husband and wife.
Buy some stock paper, and bind it together using hole puncher and some string. Make it as small or large as you want. Have family members write down a story they heard from Mom and Dad, and what they took from it. For example, did it make them laugh, did it teach them something or help them with something tough in their lives to cross over.
The Grandkids, also can just write down on one or two words that describes their Grandparents, or have them write out a sentence starting with "I am so happy God brought you together because:..." Be creative with this, treat it as a memoir to what their life together gave others.
My parents love cards written with our own words, and I have done this in the past with or special events in our family. It's a keepsake that keeps on giving.

Good luck! and Congrats! to your in-laws, they are a great example of triumph in marriage.

Sincerely,
J.

If you want to keep it simple, I'd vote for treating them to dinner at a nice restaurant. It could be just you and your husband and the 2 of them. Request a nice table when you make the reservation, dress up to make it special, and give a wonderful toast.

Someone may have already suggested this, but what about a coffee table book? You could get all sorts of pics from their life and have them scanned and sent to one of those book making places. Chapters on each of their children and their children. Pics from their dating days/wedding days onward. It would be cherished forever, and much cheapter then a trip!

VickiS

We're doing something really fun for my mother-in-laws 60th this May...renting a two story party barge from Just For Fun on Lake Grapevine. It's $600 for four hrs, but we're splitting it with my husband's sister to help defray costs. Perhaps siblings can help you out as well? They provide tables, coolers, the captain and the grill - we're doing hot dogs and burgers - very casual, but maybe you can "class" it up a bit with a better menu! :) Also, you can get the guests of honor matching captain's hats - that might be really cute!

Hi S.,

Here is the website of a great friend of mine who does gratitude gifts that are meaningful and affordable. Hope this helps, everyone I know who has received gifts from this website are speechless! check it out. www.parachutepromises.com. If you purchase from them tell them The Happiness Chick sent you! www.readyforhappiness.com K. Brandon

S.,
I always felt it was rather wonderful when people wanting to celebrate a big milestone anniversary would take the time to gather stories and memories from all the people who knew them back when, and then someone take the time to assemble them, type them up or archive them in some meaningful way, a la using scrapbooking techniques, and give the couple (who usually don't need ANYTHING in the way of more stuff) a wonderful, unforgetable, book of memories, photos, and writings that have a celebratory aspect to them. Takes more labor-intensive effort to get such a thing together, rather than money, but would be something they would treasure.
I think, at this stage in my life, I'd love that more than almost anything anyone else could give me, as I've forgotten so many things in the way of details and stories from our family's past. Just an idea that appeals to me.
B.

Have an outdoor barbeque or luncheon with friends/family. Take photos of the event and make a scrap book. Prior to the celebration, find photos of prior to their marriage, then the wedding, and certain events thereafter to organize for a scrapbook. At the BBQ or luncheon, ask certain people if they would like to say something positive about the couple. Then have these speakers state whatever. It would be really neat if you could get their wedding attendants to be at the celebration as well. Good luck!

What about cooking them a nice dinner? or sending them out to one on you? Look at www.gliffik.com/J. check out the glass cubes...you can personalize them with their names and wedding date with interlocked wedding bands (or whatever you want) celebrating their 40 impressive years together all for about $40. It makes a nice gift and can have an arrangement in it or candy. Most things ship within 2 days. If you have any questions just contact me through the website! Good luck and I hope you find the special something that you are searching for. God bless!
J.

Make sure to buy them a special anniversary card that they can keep, maybe include some photos in it from their wedding if you have them.

Have them dress up for dinner and then give them a real surprise:
You can fix them a special dinner (or buy it), add fresh flowers,candles, some romantic music on a CD or if your budget allows it: a guitarist or violinist serenade (unless you or your husband can perform a song).
Set their home table with fine linens and china for two.
If they don't have the nice china, buying China for two is affordable compared to giving away a vacation package. (China is not just for holidays, as anytime you are with family and friends.... it's a special time, tell them to use it often.... for their dinners or at least Sunday dinners).
Add the flowers, play the music, serve the dinner and leave!

Instead of a full on trip how about just a night at a nice hotel in Dallas or Fort Worth with dinner reservations to a nearby restaurant? We did that for our in-laws once.
Tickets to an event at Bass Music Hall would also be nice if that is something they are into.
Good luck!

Do you all live in the same town? If so have a nice little dinner party for them and invite a few special relatives and/or friends. Will your husband help you cook? If they live out of town is it affordable to take your daughter for a visit? As a gift don't worry about spending a lot of money. The video montage sounded perfect, but a photo book would work well too. Writing a poem with a special card or a framed photo. If the dinner party overwhelms you take them to dinner and a movie. Keep it simple, but take the time to tell them how much you appreciate them.

My inlaws celebrated their 35th at the Moose Lodge which is big and relatively cheap I believe. They had a DJ and a Hawiian theme with fruit, punch, and sandwiches. They are from Indiana so around here it would probably be the VFW. My husband is a DJ and our business is listed on here under 1stclassdjservice. You can visit our website for pictures and testionies. www.1stclassdjservice.net
We can do the party, if you decide to do one, for $150 an hour which is 25% off since you are a mamasource member. As far as a trip, I've heard that Hot Springs and Eureks Springs are really nice getaways. Whatever you decide to do I'm sure they will be grateful for such a great daughter in law.

Steph.

A week-end bed and breakfast somewhere they'd enjoy. or
Tickets to some special event or show, with dinner included maybe?
Do they live in an area where they have had friends for quite awhile? If so, have a little party with their closest friends. That may be hard to do, so I'd probably opt for one of the two first suggestions. I'm sure others may come up with more ideas from you to choose from.

The senior adults at our church usually celebrate anniversaries with a reception from 2p-4p usually on Saturday or Sunday and serve only hor d'oeurves and drinks. Some very good frozen hor d'oeurves are available at Sam's and can easily be heated up. Also a veggie tray and/or fruit tray would be available at a grocery store or some place such as Jason's Deli. These items would be fairly inexpensive. You could hire teenagers to help out with keeping the table full and picking up dishes. Another very appreciated gift is simular to some already mentioned. Send a letter to everyone on your in-laws Christmas card list or in their address book. Include a blank sheet of paper and a self addressed envelope with a stamp. In the letter request the person write about memory they want to share and if possible also share a picture of just the person you sent this to or one of them with your in-laws. These letters and pictures can be placed in an 81/2" X 11" binder or scrapbok that contains sheet protectors. This is a book that keeps giving and some of the remarks about the influence your in-laws have had on others will astound them.