Planning my parents a 25th anniversary surprise party?

Question

Im going to be planning my parents a 25th surprise party. Im thinking about renting a hall but dont know how to decorate. The food can be prepared by me, my cousin, my grandmother and brother all ahead of time, we are thinking italian style foods but dont know what exactly. Any ideas on how to plan/execute it, keep it a surprise, food recipes taht can be made ahead and reheated?? Im also on a VERY strict budget!! Thanks so much!!!

Answer 1

Tell them you want to take them out to dinner for their anniversary, and when you get there it's a whole surprise party with all their family and friends.  Or you can get someone else in on the plot (aunt, uncle, friend, etc) and have them plan on doing something with them that day while you and the rest of the gang get ready for the bash.  They then bring your parents there at a certain time.

For Italian food, I suggest a big pasta dish of either baked rigatoni or something similar with fresh sauce and cheese, garlic bread, meatballs in red sauce, italian sausage, chicken scallopini with lemon caper sauce, salad, fruit salad, stuffed mushrooms, and then maybe some other finger food apps--spinach artichoke dips, cheeses, crackers, etc.  Then of course some type of dessert.  You could do Italian pastries and cake.

For decor, I would suggest compiling TONS of old photos of both of your parents from when they met and were dating, all the way until now.  Pictures of them can include family members and friends that have come into their lives along the way.  You can frame them, or copy them and make cool posters.  Blow one of them up big and highlight it.  You could hang them along the walls or put smaller ones on the tables.  Good centerpieces for the tables can be pretty glass vases/bowls with colored crystal rocks on the bottom (not real crystal, just translucent with whatever color you want) and then have floating tea light candles.  You could also do flowers if you prefer.  Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Food a pasta bar. Two basic pasta and four different sauces. Get help from family for favorite recipes and prep. Ask siblings of either parent or old family friends to write down memories of what their first impressions were of the prospective bride/groom were at the time of marriage and put in a box. Draw out and ask guests to guess at author.

Create a gift tree by spraying a branch silver, place in bucket stuffed with newspaper sprayed silver tied with bow.  Ask guests to bring decorations of scratch off tickets or gift cards to decorate in lieu of packaged gifts. Decorations can be any old plastic flowers leaves pine cones sprayed silver an tied with wired silver toned ribbon set on tables like bouquets.

Answer 3

I did an Italian theme recently, and decorated my backyard as an

Italian restauraunt. Big Lots had patio lights that looked like grapes on clearance, I got fake grapes at the Dollar Store and bulk material in red check for the tables. The basic colors were red, green and white.

I sprayed foam core with blackboard paint and made a menu in chaulk. The cakes were cupcakes in the formation of grape clusters and airbrushed as green and red grapes. You could use a real chaulkboard, it probably would've been cheaper... and regular white twinkle lights would also work perfectly. White table cloths with red and green toppers would be fine. Grapes and wine became the binding decor to pull it all together. I had real glass wineglasses on the tables and a bottle of sparkling red and white grapes juice on them. The real wine can be at the bar, or another safer place so minors don't help themselves.

I love the Pasta Bar idea someone came up with and the backyard of a freind is a good idea to save $$. You could use that for any alcohol which is a large part of the budget. I invited 60 people with a total spend of less than $500.  

Answer 4

A simple decoration theme that is still elegant not cheap and corny.  A flower arrangment, Card basket, RSVP Invitations, simple balloons, ribbons (not crepe paper), simple table decorations.  

Colors are silver and white (with some black).

Photo albums: Wedding, College, Throughout our life together.

Food will be brought by the guests in a potluck style.  Informed what to bring when they RSVP to my cell phone, or email.

Answer 5

Some suggestions to go with some already great answers --- Can the celebration take place at a friend's house? The pot luck idea can be coordinated so there's a little bit of everything - salad, meat, side dishes, bread and the cake for dessert.

Or why not a cold cut plate with cheeses and a plate of breads and rolls so everyone makes what they want. Offer wines and beers at a nominal fee to keep costs down. Other beverages, like a homemade punch (ask gramma) would be free.