60th Wedding Anniversary

13 years ago

My siblings and I are seeking ideas to recognize our parents' 60th wedding anniversary. We've goofed, thinking that we had another year and that this month was going to see their 59th. Ten years ago we did a family portrait with my sister and brother coming with their families from their respective states. That won't work this year with several away at colleges. We aren't looking for some type of family get together either, as other relatives are too far away or old/ill. (My husband and I are actually it for relatives in the same state as my folks.) I suggested a weekend at a bed and breakfast at the shore, but my sister pointed out that our father would have the burden of packing for them and getting her in and out as she became a paraplegic about 4 years ago. Plus my sister didn't think the idea of the shore in late fall very enjoyable, anyway. Any ideas? What have you done, seen/heard of, been the recipient of, in the way of big anniversaries? Thanks!

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Comments (13)

kayjones
13 years ago
This site has a LOT of great ideas for a 60th wedding anniversary gift:

http://www.drdaveanddee.com/anniversary1.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Celebrating a 60th wedding anniversary
marie_ndcal
13 years ago
We too will be celebrating our 60th next July, but do not want anything special, but not for the same reasons you might have. DH's health is just ok, but I have suggested maybe a family get together, but in your case maybe you could have friends and relatives send a special picture with some memories from the past. They put it together either on a DVD or in an album they could look at and share. And/or if they send pictures of their own family, you could take those pictures and form a collage and frame it. Or make up a calendar using different memories from the friends and family for each month.
If you Mom cooks or use to, even receipes, old household hints, and if they ever traveled just some pictures of places they have been. You can even get them off the internet.
Hope that helps a bit
Marie
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Hi - My brother and I had a 60th anniversary party for my parents last August. We decided the following: - tell them about it ahead of time (we, too, had given surprise parties before) - have it at an actual place/restaurant (as opposed to back yard barbecues) - ask them to choose who to invite - - they know their favorite friends more than we do. We didn't limit them to a particular number - they should have anyone they want there. - make it a more formal event (not formal dress, but not a casual cook-out) - make it a brunch, because many/most "older" people are less reluctant to drive at night. We anticipated our parents saying "oh, no - - we don't want a party", but were pleasantly surprised when they thanked us and agreed. It turned out wonderfully, and planning the event turned into a nice thing that they got involved in together. After a few weeks they gave us a list of about 40 people (more got added subsequently - they were trying to hold back so as to reduce our expense - but we really only ended up with about 50 people there). I made up some photo boards. I just bought some display boards from Staples and taped nice family and friends photos to them and put them around the room. I also created a wedding memories board. I got my nephew and niece involved so that they felt a part of it, too. We did a great thing (it wasn't my idea - so I'm not bragging!) ... we went out and bought flower pots, scanned and printed several old photos of my parents, my brother and I, friends, beloved pets, etc., then cut them into flower shapes, glued them back-to-back with a pretty pipe-cleaner in between, and stuck them into florist "stuff" (I don't know what you call that green stuff) in the flower pot, and filled the pots with Hershey's kisses. Those were the centerpieces, and people were out of control about them. Oh - - and I had the kids paint the flower pots first(they were terra cotta). My parents loved it, too, because the kids were really involved and not just tag-alongs. Also, I made up a list of "How Much Do You Know About ..." (my parents) questions. I had questions and multiple choice answers - - some were funny. I printed them on pretty party-type paper, and during the "pre-brunch" time - - socializing, cocktails, the kids passed them out to people who were mingling. It really got people talking to each other trying to figure out the (sometimes obscure) questions/answers about my parents. Then we went over them after the meal and got people involved and joking about what the right answer might be. (This was something my folks didn't know I was going to do - - they were laughing at the questions, too). Oh - I also had a surprise limo arrive to take them to the event. This is a wonderful thing - - imagine being married 60 years!!! Congratulations to your parents. Remember that the family can have as much fun planning the event as you do at the event. Best regards, Suzieque
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Your questions: Is the 60th a big deal? Absolutely yes. How wonderful that you've been given the opportunity to celebrate a amazing milestone that few couples have the chance to reach. Please give your inlaws my sincere congrats on this amazing accomplishment. And I do feel so sad that you've apparently decided not to take advantage of this opportunity. The people you're hurting most by chosing not to go are yourself and your husband. How much of an explanation do you have to give? Normally, for most social situations, I'd agree that a polite, we cannot make it would be enough. However, something like one's parents' 60th anniversary is so monumental, so important, that not to go DOES deserve some explanation. However, I can also understand your reluctance to offer YOUR explanation since it basically comes down to 'it's inconvenient'. For a 60th anniversary? Most would move heaven and earth to be there, most would get up out of their sick bed, most would be glad to take a day off from the clean-up you've described, because PEOPLE are more important than THINGS. I'm sorry if you think my reply harsh, but surely, if your inlaws are celebrating their 60th, you must be in your 50s or 60s and you have enough life experience that you KNOW those of us who are appalled that you'd even consider skipping such a very important family event... are right. I know it's not what you asked (I did answer those questions), but please, for YOUR and YOUR HUSBAND'S sake, please reconsider your decision. Your inlaws will be hurt if you don't show--but they'll get over it because that's what parents do. You two will have years of guilt that you cannot get past, because there's no good reason for NOT going to this very special family event. I'm not being harsh, I'm being honest. And just the fact that you asked the question, in the way you did, shows me you're already aware of the guilt you're feeling over your decision. It's not going to get easier. And if you're embarrassed to tell family members the reasons behind your decision, you need to think about why that is.
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I've scanned in close to 450 pictures since the first of July to my puter (thank you hubster for a huge hard drive!) ...It started when her kids asked for pictures from our Moms picture box which I got when she passed away 23 years ago...I got old pictures from my other sister and a sister in law so I've been a busy bee the last few months..Her kids had a DVD put together for their party this weekend (I can't wait to see it!) I'm guessing I'll probably give them a digital frame so those pictures can run all the time...My sis is computer hopeless so whenever it's time to add pictures one of her kids will probably do it for them! Thanks for all your suggestions and yes Woodsy it is quite an accomplishment to achieve 60 years as husband and wife! They were married at 16, neither of them ever got their high school diploma...that in itself is amazing and they managed to stay together and raise 5 kids...now they have 9 grandkids and 9 great grandkids!
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carabubble
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you, Kayjones, I'll be taking a look at that website. Marie-ndcal, we'd actually been thinking of scanning some of the pictures they have and giving them a CD? DVD? with the pictures set to music. A friend at work says she can help me do that. It'll be tricky trying to sneak some of their pictures out without them being aware. I'm hoping one of my sons can help distract them.
susie53_gw
13 years ago
For Christmas our daughter had a collage made and framed for us of all the 3 families. What a wonderful surprise. You could have everyone send you pictures. They do them at most drugstores like CVS or Walgreens. It was a wonderful surprise. I had her do another one for our home down south. It was only $20.00 and I bought the frame.
jemdandy
13 years ago
A group photo is still a good idea even though only a few can be present. The years are passing quickly and ones present today might not be alive next year. So, do not hesitate to photograph whomever is present at the celebration this year - It is important.
azzalea
13 years ago
Since the family is so scattered, what about you and yours going to spend the day with Mom and Dad, and taking your computer--and then having the others make video calls to them at different times during the day? Work out the schedule ahead of time, so everyone gets the chance to call, see Mom/dad/Grandma/Grandpa on their very special day. And so The Anniversary couple has a little time to rest between calls, if they need it.

And a VERY happy day to them--what a glorious achievement for them to be celebrating.
kayjones
13 years ago
If you decide to use Skype, know that you can capture/take pictures while Skyping - just click on the symbol in the middle of the bottom of the screen. Take a bunch of pictures and make up a photo album - they will love it!
kayjones
13 years ago
Here are the instructions on taking pictures on Skype:

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA11061/how-do-i-take-a-picture

Here is a link that might be useful: Take snapshots while Skyping
susanjf_gw
13 years ago
why not celebrate the entire year? give them the gift of 60 minutes a week? that could be a planned meal together, shopping, cleaning, ect...that way the family who are not in town, can visit when able, without anyone getting too tired, ect...
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
13 years ago
When my mother turned 80, someone gave her a digital picture frame, and she loves it. New pictures can be added at any time.
dollydolots
13 years ago
We celebrate our 60th Anniversary next July 18th.
Our 2 Daughters are planning something for us but
we won't know until the day. All I have to do is
send the guest names and thats it.
Dolly
carabubble
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, folks, for all the ideas. I especially liked the ideas about people skyping in throughout their big day and taking pictures from that. I emailed my sister and we're going to talk on the phone tomorrow night to go over some of the ideas. My sister lives 8 hours away and my brother 5, so you can see we're dealing with distances!
joyfulguy
13 years ago
Here's a suggestion for your future benefit.

My son has sat me down a couple of times and had me tell the recorder about my life when I was young, about the house that we lived in, taking a bath in the galvanized wash tub behind the stove on Saturday night, doing farm work at age 10 when the hired hands went off to war, etc.

Such a project would be valuable to you and the other families in future, I imagine, possibly especially for the grandkids (and theirs - if the equipment in those days will still reproduce [if you'll pardon the expression] current recorded material's carrier).

ole joyfuelled

60th Wedding Anniversary

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