Hi again, I did find the pics from folks 60th. Their ann. is in May & I got 4 in. pots of petunias that were in full bloom at our local Green Arrow nursery were they give "free" plant wrappers. I had put a lovely floral 9x12 placemat-paper in same pattern as napkins & set plant on it as centerpiece for each table & surrounded plant with 4 of the votive candles I had made. I sent plants & candles home with guests. We didn't light them-fire danger with little ones around. All of us kids provided the food (5 of us) & I made lemon tarts & pecan tarts along with bakery bought whipped cream icing cake (mom's favorite, custard & strawberries in center) I made up a memory board of sheet cake cardboard from cake supply store covered with 4 fancy white rectangluar? paper doilies & pics of what "additions" had happened since 50th. There were couple of births, weddings ,graduations. For 50th you could make 1 of reunions, swim party, trips they took, their kids, Xmas,whatever they have done past 50 yrs. I had about 15 pics on this 1 & on 50th about 25 as I had wallet of their wedding (eloped) things they liked to do, dad's plane, hunting, mom's sewing, crocheting, etc. Whatever pics you have! It makes nice conversation piece. I finished board off with Victorian cutouts & silk flowers. Very easy! Just used scotch tape so everything was removable & if pics came from someone else could return them. I took close up's of Memory boards so they could have pics for memory photo book!! Jan

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.

Thanks for all your suggestions. A theater gift certificate seemed to be the best solution for this couple. Yes, I thought about sewing something delicious for their home, but I have never been inside and have no ideas as to their taste! All these years, their parties have been held out of doors in the yard overlooking the water, (they even have a separate party restroom), so their interior decorating taste is still totally unknown to us. Thanks for all your help!

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions! Thank you for the link Deborah. I completely forgot about putting in the bottom. I am feverishly taking notes as I read. I've got flowers, balloons, photo board, slideshow, dj, photographer, videographer lined up already. We too are having the party in a private room at a restaurant. I didn't think about non-alcoholic bubbly, so thank you for that suggestion. I love the memory jar or the asking for memories ahead of time. It might be fun to even have some people lined up to present their memories out loud. We've got some very funny people in the group! Lydia! Ever since I have known my FIL, he has been a chocoholic. He LOOOVES Hersheys and has been know to eat one of those giant bars by himself (and still manage to stay fit, LoL!) I looked into the minis and I think we will order those. How many do you think we need for 80 people? The nice thing about those attending is that there is not one person that hasn't been in our (their) circle of friends for less than 20 years. Practically every one of them attended our wedding, so I am almost positive there will not be any awkward moments. In fact, there will be a lot of catching-up among the guests who haven't seen each other while we wait for my inlaws to arrive. I don't think I will need assigned seating, but will just reserve a few tables for immediate family. I also will just the arrival time on the invites and have my inlaws get there about 20 minutes later. I am on the fence about party favors. We'd rather put the money toward good food, drink, and entertainment. I will check out the invitation websites listed. I've decided that making my invitations won't save that much because I don't have the computer program. I'd have to buy that plus the paper and envelopes, PLUS take the time to learn it, design it, etc. For about $100, it is worth getting them made, I think. A little about me: Former prop. mgmt assistant, turned teacher, turned SAH mom, turned homeschooler, turned remodel addict, turned part-time volunteer teacher again, all the while working as fitness instructor and now personal trainer and care-giver to my aging mother! Somehow, I still manage to maintain my sanity, LOL! I am so excited about this party! I will you all know how it goes. But before that, I am sure I will be back with more questions. :-D