My aunt and uncle are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. I'm really close to them and I'd like to do something fun and different for them. They live in Florida, so I'll have to ship it, and time is closing in fast! I was thinking about finding 25 of something, but I'm not coming up with ANYTHING! I'm usually pretty creative but I'm just at a loss. Also, money's tight these days, so that's a factor. They are very cool, laid back, child-of-the-60s type of people who are ridiculously smart and love to travel. Since March, my aunt has had a partial mastectomy and heart surgery, so they've had a rough year and I'd like to help make it end on a positive note. Any suggestions?
Seeing as how they got married in 1983, why not try to find 25 things that were popular the year they got married. For music, you could always go to the FYE website and download songs for $1. Or maybe do a song a year that you think they might like that has been put out since they were married.
I have seen these kind of collaborative scrapbbopks where you send a page (one of the pre-done kind where you just have to slip pictures into). You go around to friends and relatives and pass out the pages with a deadline. They fill in a couple pictures and write out memories they had with your mom and dad..you could do each of the 25 years starting with their wedding day or just have 25 pages. I think it would be nice for them and you yourself might learn alot about your parents that you did not know about. Then you put it together and send it out. Even if you could not find one you could do it yourslef by susung the pre made scrapbook pages and puttin it into an beatiful scapbook yourself. I got one page to do for a baby book for a friend it was a cute idea.
Hi M.,
I think that is really nice of you to think of your aunt and uncle, and to get them a gift. I think a gift certificate to a restaurant would be nice. They may be able to go out on their own, but, I am sure they would appreciate that. My brother in law and sister in law live in Seattle. I looked up restaurants in that area, looked at how they are rated, and picked one out and sent them a gift certificate as a birthday or Christmas gift. They really enjoyed trying out a new restaurant. You could also send them a nice bottle of wine, or champagne. The only thing I can think of that would be 25 of is 25 pieces of chocolate from a specialty store, or I did see someone make a money tree from 25 one dollar bills, at an anniversary party. Hope these suggestions help! Good luck!
I don't know how much money you have to spend, but I was just at Sam's Club and they are now selling travel pkgs. for under $200 Disney or Las Vegas were the two I looked at. I think they were 3 days/2 nights at a nice hotel. It might be nice since they like to travel. I did not read the fine print to see if this just pays for the room and that was all, so check it out, it might work & take your aunts mind off the rough year they just had. Good luck
old photos that you can do a photo show/dvd with. or do it of your kids. get out some great music they would appreciate and throw it together. It's easier than it sounds. There are lots of online services that you can load it onto. They will watch it and laugh and enjoy. they will appreciate the personal nature and the lasting quality.
Enjoy it.
one idea might be to make them a cd of music from the 60's, or of their favorites. It's personal and something they can enjoy together. Also, if they have a relationship with your kids you could make a calendar of photos or a video of you all together, etc. You could also think about a donation, in their honor, to a charitable organization. I'm sure whatever you come up with will be special for them.
Hi M.,
well, what I did for my parents 40th wedding anniversary was to purchase a nice sterling silver picture frame (8x10) and have it engraved with the date on one side, and on the other, "Happy 40th Anniversary!". My brother and I threw a surprise party (I'm not suggesting you do that!) and we got a very nice picture from the party and put it in the frame for them. I don't think the frame was that expensive - I think you can get stuff like that at the mall at someplace like "Things remembered" or some similar name, or check out your local jewelry store...
Of course, my mom is super sentimental and LOVED it - I am not sure from what you said about them if that would float their boat, but sometimes it is nice to look back and realize that life is pretty good! Or to see how far you have come! Maybe even a nice picture of you and them, or a collage of you and them over the years? If you need more time, you could always send a card with a note that says - gift on it's way...
Anyway, don't know if that appeals to you, but thought I would throw it out there.
Good Luck!
E.
I really like the idea Gail I. suggested. Something along those lines that would be fun to make...Honor their anniversary with a nice framed collage (or shadowbox) of 25 items and/or photos representative of the trips they've taken over the years, or cute photos of them together, keepsake type items that remind you of them. AC Moore may be a good place to get a few scrap book type items that remind you of them. Get some patterned papers for the background that you think would appeal to their style and tie in the whole project. You could also stencil over the collage a few meaningful/inspirational words that will show them how much you value them. They are lucky to have such a thoughtful, caring niece! Whatever you decide I am sure they will be appreciative that you put so much time and thought into their specaial day.
How about a memory book? If you are into scrapbooking, then you know what to do. If not, a photo album would be just as nice. You could start with pictures of you family (especially the kids). You could also do pages of pictures of beautiful places that you have been, or would lilke to go to, or that have inspired you in some way.
I have made some beautiful collages from travel magazines (you can still find free brochures at a travel agency (yes, they do still exhist) or a local AAA... or in magazines. You can also find images on-line and print them if you have a decent printer.
Last year, for x-mas, we gave our parents scrapbook albums. I did 2 or 3 pages in each book, then sent another page or two during the course of the year. I didn't feel the pressure to fill every page. I can continue to give this gift for years.
It only takes some time and thought and creativity (not a lot of money) and it will mean so much more than anything that you could buy for them. There are also lots of ways that you could get your kids involved and I bet that you could think of 25 of something for a special "anniversary page".
Good luck!
A friend of my parents gave them a photo session for their 25th & I thought it was a great gift. They went & got nice pictures of each of them individually & together.
How about creating a blank scrapbook for them, with 25 pages, all with different fancy scrapbook paper. Include a package of scrapbooking "tools" like a paper punch, picture corners, fancy-trimming scissors, etc. They can record their favorite trips this way.
If that's too pricey, how about writing a little poem or verse about them, and have it done up in calligraphy or other fancy text, on fancy paper, and frame it?
Good luck
Hi M.
I do not know what part of Florida they are from...but I have relatives in Sarasota and Jupiter. In the past I have given a gift of tickets to their local theatre for a night out. I know that they absolutely loved it. Good luck with your gift
J.
What about 25 small packages/envelopes of different things instead of the same thing? You could do envelopes with artwork from your girls; packages with framed photos, a bottle of wine, chocolates, and other small items. You could number them for the 25 days leading up to thier anniversary.
How about 25 scratch tickets?
