I just attended a 25th anniversary and it was great... my younger cousin (20) hosted the event in honor of her parents (my aunt and uncle). Now keep in mind she is a full time university student paying her own tuition on a small budget. Because she was on a very tight budget she decided that she would have an open bar (which is fine by me as I am there to celebrate the 25 wonderful years that my aunt and uncle have shared.) Secondly she decided she would have everyone pay for their own meal... this is how she worked it out... she asked for $35 from each guest... $20 to go towards the meal, which was very good... and the remaining $15 from each guest was pooled together and given as one gift from the entire family to be put towards my aunt and uncles trip to Hawaii. I know it seems we paid for everything... but that is not the case... I think people sometimes overlook the other hosting details that add up... such as the venue, decorations, favors, cake, centre pieces and etc. She also hired a photographer, which I think is more important paying for than the bar... the photos are lifetime memories that will help remind our entire family of the amazing time we had that day/night. I am happy she kept my aunt and uncle in mind that day... it was there day and if that meant I had to spent a little bit of my money to make sure it was everything they dreamed, then so be it I LOVE MY FAMILY. I almost forgot... we raised $1800 toward their trip to Hawaii. Pretty good, eh! (Yes I'm Canadian.) Think about it! If I had to go out and get a card that's $5... gift wrap and bows $10-$15... a gift is approx. $50 or more if you want something worth buying... this would have added up to a lot more money. So basically I saved... I paid $35, $20 to my meal, $15 toward the Hawaii pool and approx. $12 on drinks the wine was free and set on the tables. So if you do the math based on buying a gift at $50 and the card and bow at $15... I saved $23, WOW! Sure she could have left the bar out all together, but I think it's best she gave her guests the option to have a few casual drinks or not. I mean really what does it really cost for a few good casual drinks approx. $15. Just my opinion! Have a good day!

Hi, thanks for your replies. gellchom - The party is only small (approx 30 people) but I like your cupcake idea. rob333 - I would prefer to do one cake if I can but have thought that two polar cakes would have to be used if I can't come up with a relevent idea. The only thing is, as I am making them myself, my time (without my son being around) is limited and would be quite stretched if doing two cakes (it is a surprise party). donna_loomis - I regret to say that unfortunatly my father and youngest son do not have the classic 'grandad-grandson' relationship as he still works full-time and although thier relationship is close, they do not spend enough time together to have a shared activity. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

My company just celebrated it's 50th anniversary and we did it with a Sock Hop, complete with diner food. The music from the 50's is great and impossible to listen to without moving, singing and laughing. We all dressed up in poodle skirts and leather jackets. We found a cheap video of commercials from the 1950s and that was hysterical. Look up a list of what happened in 1959 and it will give you more ideas. The 50's were rockin'! Nobody really wants to be reminded that they are getting old so why not celebrate the year he was born instead?

Will the party be inside or outside? I have decorated with all white, crystal/glass, silver, and gold, with lots of little candles, and it gave a very elegant and glamorous, but not Christmas-y, look. I got the idea from some web site; can't remember which. Anyway, it was just for decorating tables for a dinner party for about 18 people, but you could extrapolate. It was a challenge, because it was a birthday dinner for a dear friend who had recently been suddenly widowed just before a big birthday for which she'd had a big party planned (and of course cancelled), so we needed it to be nice and special without being too traditionally festive, KWIM? Anyway, I collected all the small glass or crystal and silver vases, candle holders, pitchers, jam jars, and so forth in the house -- even pretty or plain jars. You want lots. I put clusters of white mini roses in all of them and put plenty of white votive candles in each group. Then I wound around strands of garland made of sparkly stars. It all twinkled and reflected without using any lights. I used the same decorations for a dinner the day before a wedding, too. You could do something like that, just stay away from too obviously Christmasy stuff; definitely no red or green. Maybe blue or black tablecloths? I used white. You can also rent a few potted trees and put tiny lights in them and put them around the perimeter of your space. Stay away from evergreens; think more tropical or something like ficus. Happy birthday to your husband!