gellchom - Thanks for the reply. The indoor party was borne of so many years of late summer parties that have been much too hot for the comfort of guests who are a bit older. I love to cook and will probably do some of my best appetizer recipes with additions by professional catering. I guess I am most interested in what would have been served back in 1958 as a place to start. If I don't get much in that regard, I will proceed with my own recipes. Unfortunately, I am a control freak about food and usually give the caterer recipes I want done, but don't have time to do myself. I always enlist help with serving, re-filling bowls, freshening drinks, etc when I host parties. I want the party to have a casual elegance. I like the catering/service people to be a bit "invisible". Even my annual 4th of July party is so much easier with a couple of extra hands. I think it is money well spent as it takes alot of the stress away and enables me to mingle and enjoy the party so to say. I am definitely utilizing help in that regard. I am looking for some unusual or time-reflective recipes that were served in 1958. My parents had a modest wedding by today's standards. Their receiption has been described as something like a beef and beer to me. LOL While they had a modest wedding, they had attendants, etc. The receptions back in the day seem to have been less elaborate than those of in the past couple of generations. The lollipop lamb chops are a great idea as they really can be handled as an appetizer. Besides my dad loves lamb. I love your ideas. I am going to look into some music options. I am a bit limited space-wise for a quartet, so a single flute player would be lovely in the background. I had planned using fresh flowers for decorating and for my parents. I did a 25th and 40th anniversary party for them, dry runs for the 50th! Sangria is a great idea. I have many summer and winter sangria recipes, so I will dig those out. I am thinking a champagne toast before I serve cake. I am a bit stuck as to the signature drink. Don't want something martini-like as a majority of my parents friends take medicines for cholesterol and the like, so I am not sure how well hard alcohol mixes with different meds. I also worry about guests driving. With lite fare, appetizers and desserts, I don't think strong drinks would be a good idea. I was thinking maybe weak whiskey sours? The invite including a request for a memory or anecdote is another great idea. I planned on copying my parents' wedding album photos for display on the buffet and throughout the rooms in my home where the party will take place. Perhaps I can go through all my photos and incorporate them into the album and insert the contributions of the guests. I gave DH a surprise 40th b-day dinner party years ago, and the pics I had copied and enlarged for display were a huge hit. They were displayed in a subtle fashion - on the buffet, in the enclosed porch where the bar was set up, you get the idea. DH b-day party was an intimate dinner party with 10 couples and about 15 family members. DH hates attention so the surprise dinner party was just perfect and was hosted at the home of our closest friends. The party atmosphere was understated and lovely. It was more about great food (we all belong to a gourmet club so we served my husband's favorite meal). I didn't want to go over the top with peripheral decorating as my friends' home is beautifully decorated. I spent a majority of my budget on great food. I guess that is the "feel" I am going for with this party as well. A special album for keepsake would be wonderful. I will have to enlist the services of my SIL who is a big scrap-booker. She, I'm sure will have some ideas! I will also need to chose a unusual invitation. Once again, thanks for getting my brain functioning. I know it is a year away, but I like to have things planned to the T. A total list maker am I! Thank you again.

Nancy, I read your request for advice, all the replies, and then read your original request again. I was a caterer for many years, and will say this: I would have the party at 7pm. You are already planning on having some hot and cold hors d'oeuvres - add a few more, and call it a "Cocktail Buffet". This denotes heavy hors d'oeuvres, and your guests will/should know it certainly doesn't mean a full meal, but substantial enough that they shouldn't have dinner before coming to your house. My suggestions: COLD: Meat & Cheese platter - roast beef, ham, turkey, sliced cheeses (opt.) - with a basket of small, sliced rolls and condiments on the side Cheese ball assortment (3) - with a variety of crackers - perhaps some fresh fruit around the edges of the cheese platter. Artichoke or Spinach dip - served in Hawaiian bread round, using cubes of the bread to dip with HOT: Seafood Dip - crabmeat or shrimp - with melbas for dipping Little Smokies in sauce made of Chili Sauce & Grape Jelly (folks love 'em, even after all these years) SWEETS: I would have one platter of brownies, lemon squares, and small sugar cookies rolled in cinnamon-sugar. You could have coffee set up by the dessert tray. ******* None of the above is too difficult to prepare, and would provide your guests with plenty of choices. As for the games/entertainment - I think nowadays people like to chit-chat rather than anything else. Have some nice music playing in the background, low enough to be able to have conversations. Good luck!

I second Eld6161's suggestion of Right, Left, Center. It's strictly a game of chance wherein one rolls 3 die and, depending on the results, the die roller either passes one of their chips to the player on their left, or right, or does nothing. The "chips" can be coins if one wants to play for money (and those coins can be any set denomination) or some other type of marker. Three markers are a good number - there is no set "right" amount. Also as suggested, if the markers are not money, even a nominal prize at the end adds to the fun. The official games are about $7 and consist of 3 die and some miniature poker-like chips. OR, you could make-your-own for even less by using or buying regular dice (? the dollar store) and deciding that if X (pick a number) turns up then move a marker left, or if Y turns up (assign another number) turns up move a marker right, etc. Any other number and there is no move of a marker.

Rubyclaire, Here is the recipe for the sparkling rose punch. I make an ice ring with a Tupperware plastic mold and put frozen orange slices, frozen lime slices and cherries for color. 1 bottle (fifth) of rose 1 cup lemon juice 1 cup Triple Sec or Curacao 1 bottle sparkling water (23 or 28 oz) 2 bottles champagne Frozen orange wedges or frozen ice ring with fruit Pour rose, lemon juice and orange liqueur over a block (or ring) of ice. As guests arrive, add sparkling water and champagne. Add frozen orange wedges as garnish and to keep punch chilled. Hints: I have had good luck using extra dry champagne (Le Domain extra dry). Freixenet semi-seco works well too. Chill all ingredients well ahead of time so your ice ring doesn’t melt. I hope you enjoy it. I have a really old punch bowl and cups that hang on the side which I use when I make this. But any cups will do! Happy planning and counting down the days......