| 50th wedding anniversary planning can be a | | | | you can compare apples with apples. When you |
| bit stressful! 50 years of making friends and | | | | have made your decision you will need pay a |
| family can mean that there would be lots of | | | | deposit to the venue to secure the date, and |
| people to invite and the expectation of a | | | | make sure you read the contract! |
| great party as well as a big mixture of ages | | | | |
| can add to the pressure. Not that I am trying | | | | Now that the venue is booked you will need to |
| to put you off! If you plan your anniversary | | | | organise invitations and possibly |
| party then there will be no need to panic. | | | | accommodation. It would be a good idea to |
| | | | contact local hotels for prices so that you |
| You first need to think about the type of | | | | could include a list of possible places that |
| party that your golden couple would enjoy. My | | | | your guests could stay in the invitation. |
| aunt and uncle had a big party, organised as | | | | Don't get involved in booking accommodation, |
| a wedding, complete with dancing but my | | | | let your guests do that otherwise you may |
| grandparents enjoyed a family meal at one of | | | | find that this will take up most of your |
| their favourite restaurants. Which would they | | | | time. Get your guests to reply with any |
| enjoy? | | | | special dietary requirements |
| | | | |
| When you have worked out if you are inviting | | | | Discuss catering with the venue or with the |
| everyone or just family you will have a rough | | | | caterer when you have your replies so that |
| idea of numbers. You will now need to find | | | | they have all the details of children's meals |
| the venue! Look at local hotels and function | | | | or special needs. You will need to confirm |
| facilities, get menu samples, bar prices and | | | | numbers a couple of weeks before the party - |
| if not included, the room hire. Also ask | | | | check with your venue as to what is best. |
| around, a local community hall could be just | | | | |
| what you are looking for in space and also | | | | Organise any decor - it could be flowers, |
| facilities. A number of community centres | | | | balloons, candles and either book with the |
| have their own kitchen and just ask that you | | | | decor company or get your volunteers ready! |
| clear up afterwards. This could save you a | | | | You may want to get into the venue the night |
| fortune. If the couple are members of a local | | | | before to get everything in place. Make sure |
| social club or golf club they may have | | | | your venue knows this as they may have |
| membership discounts to hire the room, plus | | | | another function on. |
| this is a venue known to them and the service | | | | |
| would be great, you may even get a few | | | | If you want to have a special 50th |
| extras. | | | | anniversary cake then you will need to book |
| | | | this with a baker in advance, some people |
| When you are looking around any of the | | | | have replicas of their wedding cake or the |
| possible venues think about the size of the | | | | wedding cake they always wanted, others will |
| room - is everyone going to be seated at | | | | have fun cakes that show off their |
| tables. The location - is it easy to find for | | | | personality. |
| your guests that are travelling, is there | | | | |
| overnight accommodation if needed? And the | | | | Venue booked, invitations sent and received |
| decor - would you need to spend lots to make | | | | back, numbers confirmed, decorations done, |
| the room look nice? | | | | cake ready at bakers, all that is left is to |
| | | | have a great 50th anniversary party! |
| When you have all the information, the next | | | | |
| stage in your 50th wedding anniversary | | | | Suz Daykin is the Editor of Anniversary Gifts |
| planning is to collate all of the facts; | | | | By Year, the complete guide for anniversary |
| prices, sizes, ease, minimum numbers etc. We | | | | gift ideas and how to organise great |
| find the best way to do this is to have all | | | | anniversary parties. |
| of the information on a spreadsheet so that | | | | |