40th wedding anniversary party

pearlsasinger

I know this isnt strictly for debt busting but i want to plan a party on a budget while still making it special.

]Its my parents 40th wedding anniversary, not till next december but I want to budget for it to make it special for them, they have had such a hard time over the past few years, hopefully this will be special.

They are not big on pubs or anything like that, so i thought a buffet in a local hotel and hiring a dj for after, (Im a dj so i can get this discounted and get one of my colleagues to do this for me).

I need to plan a guest list, and make a budget for this but dont really know where to start

any ideas?

whitewing

Will this be a surprise party?

If not, the first thing I would do is speak to your mum and dad and work out a guest list. Maybe have definite invites and possibles, and do it over a few weeks as my experience is that things change a little when you think about it. I would think there would be people who you may need to invite even though they would be unlikely to come.

Then once you have rough numbers, think about when you would like it to be. On the anniversary itself or the nearest weekend etc. That may make a difference to numbers.

Then start looking at venues. That may depend on whether alcohol will be served. Church halls can be very reasonably priced but may not allow alcohol.

pearlsasinger

thanks for your reply, yes im thinking a surprise.
My parents are very modest and will not want me to go to any trouble or spend a lot of money on them, so i think it needs to be.
I have done a rough idea of who to invite and i have roughly 60 people or so.

I am thinking perhaps a masonic hall, cheap drink, we can decorate, have a dj and make my own buffet.

whitewing

Bumping this up for more replies.

It would be worth popping in to the old style board for buffet ideas. For winter buffets, I think a popular suggestion over there is to include a pot or two of soup with crusty rolls.

I also know a friend who went to a buffet in the winter that included baskets or bowls of chips (I assume from the local fish and chip shop).