16 answers

10 Year Wedding Anniversary Party??????

When we got married nearly 10 years ago we had no family present. We eloped to Jacksonville NC where my husband was stationed with the Marine Corps. Our 10 anniversary is around the corner and we are now surrounded by our families. I want to throw a little backyard cocktail party but with my oldest daughters birthday in the same month it's hard to balance the budget. I think our anniversary is a big deal and huge accomplishment and I want to celebrate it with the people that missed out on it the first time. I don't know where to start with this. We won't be inviting a ton of people just the family and a few friends. I would like create a intimate and fun setting and have no idea how. I also don't want to break the bank seeing as my oldest daughters 6th birthday is also in July. I would also like to renew our vows but don't know how that is suppose to work either. HELP!

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More Answers

Have the wedding anniversary party. We did pretty much the same thing when we got married. The celebration of the 10 year accomplishment was well worth the expense.
You should be able to talk with your daughter and explain to her that this is important to you and your husband. She will probably be happy with a simple sleepover with a few of her friends.
Hope this helps.
Happy Anniversary.
P.

1 mom found this helpful

CONGRATS! Maybe you can asks family members to help out by doing a potluck or something. Check out this website for ideas: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010312a.cfm; and http://www.orientaltrading.com/
The 99c stores are always an inexpensive way to go for decorations and platters etc..

Good Luck and best wishes!

1 mom found this helpful

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I would suggest throwing one big party. Join the celebrations....have a birthday cake for your daughter for her and her friends then a cake later on in the evening for the adults, or whatever way you want to celebrate it.

For my son's 1st birthday party we also had our housewarming party. All of my friends and family was there and I did not have to bother them with two parties in one month or the costs.

I think with peoples busy schedules they will appreciate this.

Good luck.

I am also a military spouse who wishes her family could be with us for the big moments, but knows thats not always possible. As far as birthday parties for little kids, they can get really expensive, especially when we've traveled home to have them! What my husband and I decided to do, since we have two kids and two big parties every year seemed unfathomable, was to have them about every five years for each kid. Since my husband missed both girls 1st birthdays, we had big parties for them on their 2nd. 5, 10, 15 years is when we'll do something big for each of them, but on the ones in between, we let them pick what they want to do without having to do it for a housefull of kids. 10 years of marriage is a huge deal and I'm sure your daughter wont feel neglected if you devote an entire day to her and what she wants to do, but then you and your husband get to have a day devoted to the both of you.

i agree with the mom who suggested a potluck. especially if it is close family and friends- they would probably love to participate! have people bring over their favorite munchie, good cheese, whatever, and their favorite bottle of wine (tell them $15 or less) burn a few great cd's and listen to your kind of music, and dress up a little! maybe splurge on a really good cake, your wedding cake! and to renew your vows, what would be eally cool is to write your own. what you promise to each other in the next stage of life. what you love about what has already happened. and some kind of inclusion of how your kids have enriched your lives. have fun with it, and congratulations!!

Hi J.. Oriental Trading has alot of fun themes for an occasion. The have party favors and accessories. They will have stuff for your daughters party also. You can go on line to Orientaltraing.com. You can call around for a Justice of the piece to renew your vows. If you need a small bouquet for that day or any flower arrangements go to justinroses.com and they have resonable pricing. Good Luck and have fun.

Hi J.,
You could invite your family to a backyard coctail party, but when they arrive your backyard is set up with seating like a wedding with the white wooden chairs (or whatever is least expensive to rent) with an aisle. You could print a program on your computer with something simple that tells the story you just mentioned above: "When we got married nearly 10 years ago we had no family present. We eloped to Jacksonville NC where my husband was stationed with the Marine Corps". Now it is our 10th anniversary and we are surrounded by our families and would love for you to join us in the renewal of our vows. You could include whatever you want and have someone hand the programs out as guests arrive. You can sprinkle rose petals down the aisle in advance, and at the end of the seating, have them sprinkled much more sparcely (like it is leading to a path). Once everyone is seated, you can have a Minister, Priest or whatever type of officiant walk up the right side of the seating, and once he is up front, you and your husband walk hand in hand down the aisle to some wonderful music, have the Officiant renew your vows. You don't need much, but if you like you can place a few pillars on either side of the Officiant and place large, full plants and incorporate some flowers into the plants (the flowers can be tubed with water in the tube) and this will cut down on the expenses for you. You can also sprinkle rose petals (or any type of flower petals) around the pillars. You can certainly go more elaborate, but this will save you alot of money, and have the coctail party afterwards as a celebration! You can do music as simply as a stereo or even a nice shelf top system if you have one. This is simple and accomplishes both goals of the renewing of the vows and your coctail party. The great thing, is it is a surprise to all of your guests. Have them think they are going to a coctail party and be surprised upon arrival. It is what the stars do! I'm a Wedding Planner and love to make peoples dreams come true whether they are a Client or not... Good luck!

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