Parent's 50Th Wedding Anniversary

We went thru ALL the photos from 50 years (siblings and parents together). THEN......we put together SEVERAL photo albums which we had at the open house/party for them. We had several family photos from different decades, etc. Having one album with "THE FAMILY THRU THE YEARS" is kind of cool. Make is as fun and creative as you want...captions "LOOK AT THAT HAIR!!" "CAN YOU STILL SEE AFTER LOOKING AT THAT SHIRT?" etc.

FUN FUN FUN.....lots of laughs going thru the pics AND we have the albums that we go thru whenever we want.

In addition, we had EACH of the grankids write something to the grandparents about their fondest memories with them. We made a special form, etched in GOLD. The little ones that couldn't write "DREW" and "SIGNED" one of the forms. One of the great grankids actually wrote on her mother's paper. We left it "as is" for the album.

Make it FUN and make it about FAMILY......its significance, it's history and its value......NOT the gifts!!

Hi K.,

You have many nice idesas posted already.

How about a package of goodies for them to enjoy on their car trip? Cookies, bottled water or juice, CDs, candy.

You could also tuck notes in it for them to read each day.

K. Z.

I read through the responses and a lot of them take a lot of work or seem kind of "typical". But just in case you are like me and are not crafty or don't have a lot of time, I would suggest maybe something quirky. For instance, get them gift certificates to the movie theatre and a card that suggests they go on a date! Or, maybe find a funny DVD they'd like and put it with some microwave popcorn and their favorite soda pop.

Sometimes in order to find something special we overlook simple things. Maybe a bottle of wine.....or a CD of love songs....something that reminds them of romance and their young love.

Anyway....good luck. You are a sweet daughter!!

What about some kind of decoupage collage? I plan on making my mom one of all of us kids and grandkids for X-mas. With the computer, you can scan in whatever pics you want and change them to different colors (ie:black/white, sepia, antiqued) and lay them across a piece of plywood. You clear-coat it after that. There should be some kind of instructions if you are not familiar with it on HGTV website or Better Homes and Gardens. You could make a story of their life to display as artwork. As a child of divorces parents, I admire them for their 50 years! I also have a friend who makes digital picture movies using photos set to music. It's called White Dove Photography. Let me know if you would like the number. Good Luck!

For my parent's 50th, we gave them a digital picture frame with special pictures on it.

Could you make them a scrapbook with photos from the past 50 years? Or a quilt? There are places that can take pictures and make them into blankets or quilts.

Some ideas...

Hi K.,

I'm one of 7 too!!! Don't you just love big families? Anyway, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2000. For their anniversary I put together a book of stories about my parents that were recorded by my brothers and sisters which included how they influenced our lives, funny stories that we remembered, and our most memorable family moments. I also had them submit photos for the book. The book was a nicely bound keepsake album that they could read through at their leisure and look back on the effect they had as parents on all of us. It turned out very nicely, and they loved it.

I used an online service to compile the stories and submit the photos. The service then took the album that I created, printed it out and bound it in a leather bound book. I think it cost $75, and all 7 of us split the cost.

I'm sorry though that I don't remember the online service that I used. There is a book out by Dennis Rainey called the Tribute, which talks about how to put something like this together as a tribute to your parents though, so you could check that out to get an idea of what kinds of things to write.

Staying married for 50 years is a great accomplishment in this day and age. Congratulations to your parents!
M.

See if you can find something from their wedding - an invitation or a photo - and do something special with it - have it framed, maybe.

Or if you have family photos from the past, put together a selection of them in one of those big frames.

Or see if you can get the local paper to do a feature article on them. Last summer our paper, in the local section, did a big article that told about this couple's life together, and they put the sepia photo of their entire wedding party in the paper. It was really cool.

I was going to suggest a photo album/scrapbook, but then I saw several other people mentioned it. This is something I did for my parents. I got together a bunch of old pics of them dating back to before they were married. As i went thru the album I enlarged different pics, like things from their wedding or them holding us as babies. I got the type of album were the whole page peeled back to hold various size photos (walgreens prints pics for like .$15 a sheet! or watch the sunday adds for other stores coupons). I printed different little sayings and captions on the computer and then cut them out and put them in with the photos. You can also use greeting cards to cut and use. I'm not sure how crafty you are but you can get as creative with this as you want or keep it simple. Either way it's special (what's better than memories for people that have everything?) and it can be very inexpensive. I think this is a gift they will cherish for many years.

Good luck!

What about a scrapbook? They have tons of sites online where you can make them. I made one on Shutterfly.com for my daughter's first year. It's pretty simple to do. Just upload the photos and drag and drop.You can create your own page layouts and everything. I think they start at about $30. Or you could have their wedding photo re-touched and framed. I think JoAnne Fabrics does that, but I have no idea how much it is or how long it would take them to do it. For my grandparents 50th, we had a quilt made. Everyone in the family did a square and then we paid someone to put it all together. Again, no idea how much that would cost. If you could all chip in together, you'd be able to do more.

Hi,

My Grandparents celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2006 and I made them a scrapbook. I included pictures from when they were young and their wedding. I also had a page for each of their children and grandchildren (9 kids and 24 grandkids) with pictures thru the years. I also had pages that were themed (christmas pics, their hobbies, the farm). They loved it, my grandfather passed away this past May and he told my Grandma that he loved having the book to look at and remember while he was sick. Hope this helps, you can even get your other siblings to help (don't feel like you don't have time - my grandparents anniversary was 1/2/06 and I didn't start until december) Good luck. J.

How about putting together a scrapbook from the day they were engaged, through births of children, births of grandchildren, 25th wedding anniversary...up to present day? A friend of mine did that for her parents and I thought it was the best gift given that day. It was beautiful.

If it were me, I would want a more sentimental gift from the heart. Sounds like you all have a large family and a gift I would treasure would be a photo album full of memories. Do you scrapbook?

If not, why not write a loving letter, or collect memories from all your siblings from the years together? Gifts from the heart are more treasured than anything store bought. Just put some thought behind it and I am sure you will find something they will really enjoy.

You could do home movies, videos of them through the years, do a photo collage, all sorts of fun, inexpensive things that they would really like.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Blessings to you. T.

I make customized wood signs/ plaques. 90% of what I've made are for Wedding/ Anniversary gifts. You would be able to get a 6x24 sign for $20, or 8x24 for $22. Check out my blog if you would like to see what plaques that I have made.
www.thekotabox.blogspot.com

Thanks,
D. :)

My husband is the youngest of ten siblings and we threw a party for his parents 50th just recently. If you don't want to do a party, you could create a scrapbook together. Everyone could throw in pictures and fill out a questionnaire with questions like "what are your favorite memories of mom and dad" and "what wishes do you have for mom and dad on their 50th" and any others you think of. Then one person could edit it all together with your responses and photos and other goodies.

You could also have a family photo done of all your siblings to give your mom and dad. Or have a photo done of each of your siblings families and then frame them all together.

You could also all consider going in on a memorial type gift. Like having their name put on the bench in a park or buying a memorial brick on a project they enjoy. Do you parents go to a church? Possibly their church would accept a donation to put up some kind of small religious statue or plant some flowers in your parents honor (and their names could be put with a plaque next to it?).

Good luck!

Hi K.,
What a wonderful opportunity to show your love for your parents. The most meaningful gift we have given my husband's mother is a picture of the four children. She cried and cried and it is in a place of honor above her fireplace. Best of luck.

We gave my husband's parent a portrait of the whole family. He too has 7 siblings in the family with 23 grandchildren. Each of the 7 contributed to the cost and it was kept down. By no means was this an easy task but it did get done. Two of the sisters and their 10 children did not make the first round of pictures. They had to schedule with the photographer and they were blended in later. With much stress it did turn out great. The parents are in the front and everyone else is surrounding them.

Good Luck!

Hi K., I realize it's past the anniversary, but in case you are looking for future gifts, have you ever thought of putting together a storybook? I became a consultant with Heritage Makers in January and love the products! My website is www.MyPhotobookStory.com.

The templates are 100% customizable and is all online - no downloading!

Watch this 5min video to give you an idea of what we are about! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irdqtq7mF6Y

Please contact me at ____@____.com for more information.

Maybe all the siblings can go in together to get one super nice gift - something they wouldn't buy for themselves.

Or you could buy a gift certificate to a really nice restaurant in the place they are going for their vacation.

Can you restore one of their original wedding pictures?

I am a photographer but I do not do this type of work. Even a family portrait would be nice. You can view some of my work at www.momsmark.com Click on the Captured icon.

You can also contact me at ###-###-#### or ____@____.com.

Goodluck !!

For my parents' 50th anniversary, I created a DVD video montage of pictures of them over the years set to music. We started with their wedding, then added photos of the kids as each was born and the family grew. (There are 5 kids.) I used 2 or 3 songs-- and I think about 50 photos, but you can make it as short or long as you want. If you have a computer, it is really easy to do these days. Just buy a softare program (they are not too expensive $20-$30) and it's as simple as "drag 'n drop." Another idea: you could send out a letter to all their friends and family asking them each to write a letter to your parents, relaying anything from how much they mean to them or some funny story or incident they remember sharing with them. After collecting all the pages, just compile it into a book and give it to them. I think these are the best kinds of gifts-- they come from the heart and your parents will keep them forever.

A prepaid gas card from a major company would be surely appreciated since they are going on a trip!! Gift cards from restaurants are always good too.

K.,
Something to do while driving would be a nice gift. What about a CD of the music from their era (big band, swing, classical) or even a book on CD? Also, have family members and friends write down a favorite memory of this wonderful couple (or send it via email), and you compile these and place them in a memory book for the couple to read while on the road. My sister did this on sheets of filler paper and placed them in a photo album (use the white filler paper that comes with the photo inserts) on several different family occasions. Since they are in a book, it makes a nice coffee table or nightstand book.

You don't mention a party, so maybe you could host the whole family for Sunday brunch on the 21st (since it's hard to get everyone together on a Tuesday!). There's nothing like family time! When my grandparents had their 40th party, my mom did a money tree with Susan B Anthony dollars and then made bow ties to hang on the tree too with $1 bills. Of course there were $40 total on it.... their best man and maid of honor were among the guests :) I also liked the suggestion of a gift cert to a restaurant at their travel destination. Good luck.

Hello, I would think that they could use a gift certificate to one of their favorite places to eat out. We just had our 49th and we went to see a movie then to dinner. It was very nice. You may just want to send flowers. Good Luck and Congratulate your parents.

Try getting a gift they can use on their trip? LIke gift certificates for restaraunts along the way. Maybe go in with your sibs and get a digital camera if they don't alreay have one.

You could go to the game place in the mall, they are everywhere for christmas. ANyway, they have a monopoly game caled familyopoly. IT is blank and you fill in the street names with memerbs of the family and photos. IT is kindo of like a scrap book and game in one. Or try to get a photo from earlier in their relationship, wedding photo etc. and a more recent photo of them together. Take it to a photo place and have them mounted as a then and now in a nice dual photo frame. Old Time pottery has frames on sale and they ususally have a pretty good selection at a really reasonable price. Like most parents, they will more than likely love a gift from the heart that has been made with loving hands as opposed to a cold expensive gift. Good luck, let's all hope we see a 50th with our loved one someday!

Hello
You could get them a really nice travel journal to tuck pictures, notes, maps & momentos into they may collect along the journey.

S.

41 SAHM of two boys.

K.... Since you have 7 siblings I thought you could all go together and get a big gift...a recliner chair, a vacation, a dinner and show. A cruise would be great, but I know that is a lot of money. Good luck! It's the thought that counts. M. B.

I would give them Vivix. It something they probably do not have and may not think to get for themselves. And is an out of the box idea. I can give you more information if you like. My number is ###-###-#### or ____@____.com

You got some terrific ideas.
One very valuable gift our daughter and son-in-law gave us for Christmas last year was a gift subscription for Snow Plowing. Since my husband can't do that much heavy work anymore it really comes in handy and was the most useful gift we've ever received.

K.,

There is nothing better for a milestone anniversary than a scrapbook! Gather up some old photos and ask family members to share their favorite memories of your parents over the years. If you need help, feel free to email me at ____@____.com

My parents renewed their wedding vows on their 50th & all of us kids participated & helped with putting it together. That's probably too much to do in such a short time. My Mom put together her own scrapbook, but what my oldest sister did was..... She sent a letter and some scrapbooking paper & ideas to all of their friends and relatives, asking them to write a memory, a funny story, a picture or something from the past. My parents loved it. They got to see pictures they had never seen, remember funny stories they may have forgotten, and got in touch with friends they hadn't heard from in a while. The people sent them back to my sister & she just quickly put them into a scrapbook for them(or a notebook would do if you are strapped for time). Some people just sent pictures of their family, but that was ok too. If you are in the Columbus area, I could help you put it together. I am a Creative Memories scrapbooking consultant. (Not a very good salesperson - more of a scrapbooker supporting my own habit - so no pushy selling on my part - unfortunately for me. LOL)

What everyone always loves to get is a CD to music and pictures of their 50 years together. You can have a nice dinner you and your siblings plan and then play it for everyone...but make sure you get the tissue box out!
You will need a scanner, and old pictures, and if you do not have the software to do it (you may and may not even know it) you can ask around someone you know will...it will be a bit time consuming but if you take focused time and concentration it it will be well worth it, also it will be virtually FREE!! Aside from a shared dish you bring to the collaboration dinner : )

C.

Halmark is a great place for that. I went there when my girlfriends mom and dad had there 50th. I got them a glass bell that had there 50th on it. plus there was miniture bottle of wine that says happy 50th in it. Hope those ideas help.