70th Birthday present and party ideas

bbford

It's my mum's birthday in just under 3 weeks so cutting it fine!

I would like to get her a crystal photo of grandchildren, any recommendations?

Plus, unsure what to do re:party

Mum is fairly new to area and not many close friends, due to bereavements and distance, but thought of having a small hall party in the afternoon ie 5 - 8 so that elderly neighbours can attend and friends that have travelled have the option of going back the same evening if they wished.
Would playing background music do(steal band) or should i hire a DJ
Caribbean food that we would do and decorate in that theme.

Would really appreciate ideas for party - would love to amke it special for her, so please share your thoughts and experience!
Many thanks!

Rachel85

Might you be better having an 'afternoon tea' style party? Say 2-5? That way you wouldn't have to feed people so much :rotfl:

sneggy

what about a "this is your life" book from old friends & familly, a friend of mine had hand written note mounted into a photo album a great gift & cheap too

bluenose1

I am planning a 70th party in my house for my MIL's birthday, personally I wouldn't go to the expense of a DJ but just play background music , from memory all the older members of my family used to do at parties was moan about the music being too loud.
I have looked on ebay and there are some good 70th birthday balloons and serviettes etc.
I am hoping to get some photos of MIL from when she was younger and (not too sure what I will do with them actually.)
Good luck

lavender_girl

Hi, I organised my mums 70th last year.
This is what we did. -
We got paper plates and bowls from ebay (either stick with one colour with various shades or complimenting colours like gold and burgundy) whats your mum's favourite colours?
Napkins twice as much as many people coming for buffet and cake.
I got some round fresh flower oasis's and made 10 displays of flowers, to go along the two rows of tables. I went to tesco to get reduced flowers etc...2 nights before the party and made them up the day before. I also had some bowls with floating candles (so flower, candles, flowers candle display dotted along.)
I then got some balloons to tone in with colour scheme and some musical print balloons as that is one of her loves. I had 3 to every balloon weight and dotted them along the tables. I bought a helium cylinder for this, but for a few - you can buy the balloons and have them filled with helium on the day from Clintons. I am doing this for a party I am decorating next week. A bundle of 6 balloons on a weight is £6.00 but they also have numbers so if you wished you could get a 7 and a 0.
I also bought some banqueting roll in white to cover the tables as the party was in a church hall, and am really pleased that I did this as it finished the effect nicely.

I also did a little key-ring gift for each guest as something they could take away too.

We had a cake with her favourite flowers as the decoration.

We took lots of photos of the night and made her a personalised photo book from photobox as a reminder of her special day. My Mum belongs to a choir, so we had some singing and little music pieces during the evening. That was a real highlight for everyone so the steel band sounds great!

One of the things I thought of doing (but ran out of money) was to have a signed plate that everyone could sign that your mum could have as a keepsake. You can get these done through your local ceramic cafe.

Next week the party I am decorating for is for the choirs 20th anniversary, so got all the basics such as plates, napkins etc...got some mini crackers through tesco today at £1.25 for a pack of 8. I went to my local hobbycraft and bought some gold and red decorations that were in the sale for 35p each and got some little battery powered mini twinkle lights that I can run down the middle of the table. I am punching music notes out of various gold and red cards to sprinkle on the table, and made some music napkin rings by cutting up some music wrapping paper, you could use any wrapping paper for a cheap, but nice effect.

So if your mum has any interests perhaps you could include this in the way you decorate.

Anyway sorry to go on, but just thought I would share a little about what I did, hope some of it helps.
I do hope that whatever you do that it will be a wonderful occasion for your mum.

TC

wjane

:jThis was my initial reaction on reading your post lavander girl. I would say you can surely ask me for a favor because you simplified things for me. I was totally out of ideas in making arrangements for the 75th birthday of my mom and now I know what to do. Am going to follow each and every step that you did and I can anticipate everyone patting my back for the arrangements. As the whole implementation would be done from your mentioned ways you can simply ask me for any favors as said earlier for making the prospects of such a wonderful event.