<p>We are contemplating ideas for my in-law’s for their fiftieth anniversary. We thought of a cruise, but several of the children are not in a position to contribute, so everyone is buying individual gifts. I think they would like something gold, but I am at a loss trying to think of something special. Have any of you chosen something your parents really enjoyed?</p>
<p>My parents have really enjoyed photographs of their grandchildren. Maybe you could get a really beautiful frame & arrange for a photographer to do a family portrait – inlaws, their kids & theri kids’ families/ That would be a very nice gift. The other siblings could contribute too or help throw the party where everyone would get together for the photo.</p>
<p>How about a weekend at a resort, costs a lot less than a cruise, and you can still be pampered for 2 days. Or a limo ride to go in to see a show in the city.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. My MIL is nuts about photos, and they live in PR, and slow season is coming up. A weekend away might be very affordable.</p>
<p>For my parents 50th anniversary, I wrote to many of their friends, asking them to send letters, poems, notes, memories, old photographs, whatever they wanted to contribute to a book that I then compiled for them. This turned out to be a wonderful gift-- so many incredible things were sent- even old HS photos of my mom, photos from dinner parties from decades ago… My dad and I looked through the book again this past fall, as my mom died a year ago. Unfortunately, several of the folks who sent contributions to the book have also passed away. It was very touching to see/read all the things people wrote, and is a memory/gift my dad cherishes.</p>
<p>Gold is harder for a man than a woman. For the woman a charm bracelet with one charm representing each grandchild or whatever is nice, for the man…not so sure…</p>
<p>It is my inlaws 50th this year as well…I like the collection of memories idea. My inlaws want things that are “edible or disposable” as a rule, but they love reflecting and sharing…My sister-in-law is making a quilt from the entire family. Each family is contributing fabric, ideas, photos on fabric, an array of things…</p>
<p>What we are doing is showing up…we have missed the important family events for 12 years, and we will all be there “with bells on” for this one!</p>
<p>I agree that memories are the most valuable gift. For my parents’ fiftieth, we put together a DVD, using photos from their childhoods & families, their wedding, their kids, & their trips and vacations. Each section was set to different music (ala Ken Burns/Civil War style). We played it at an anniversary party we had for them, then gave them & each of my siblings’ families a copy. The DVD brought the house down. Some sections – the childhood & families brought tears; the others raucous laughter. Four years later, my parents still call every now and then to say they’ve watched the DVD again, and they’re still overwhelmed. I think this was the best gift we could have given them.</p>
<p>Something really special is takng pictures of the grand kids and having a portrait made of them…something special because it is hand done…</p>
<p>We also took picture and did a collage type of poster and had it framed… tons of picture all in one place…</p>
<p>another thing is make a CD of music from their youth, which is the fifties…</p>
<p>something that may be nice are season tickets to the symphony, the opera, plays…those can make for special evenings or matinees…</p>
<p>for gold- cufflinks, a new watch…</p>
<p>Do you remember the Brady Bunch and the anniversary present…hehehehe</p>
<p>Thank you all for the many wonderful ideas. We are meeting with the brothers and sisters next week and will see what we can do. Roby: I SO identified with your “showing up.” We have been the wanderers in our family. The season tickets, DVD, CD, cufflinks, and bracelets ideas struck chords too. I’ve forgotten the Brady Bunch anniversary, Citygirl; please refresh my memory.</p>
<p>The kids all got together to take a portrait and Jan did something and they had to do it again, but this time she had braces, and of course the parents noticed but didn’t care… Too brady bruch…another time they were doing an engraved platter and didn’t have enough money, so they went onto a singing competition show, and sang one of those sugary songs…all turned out perfectly of course</p>
<p>For my in-laws 50th a few years ago, the children and spouses got together and planned a big party. We (secretly) contacted all of their old friends and neighbors that we could locate and arranged for them to attend. Some were quite a distance away and couldn’t afford to so we chipped in and paid for their airfare. We contacted a local hotel which had a beautiful party room and held it there, as well as reserved the number of rooms we needed for overnight guests. From everyone, we asked that no gifts be given other than any photographs, mementos, or a nice letter about their relationship with the in-laws. We gathered everything together and I made a big scrapbook to present to them the night of the party. On the night of the party, we told them that we (children and grandchildren) were taking them out for a nice dinner. When we arrived, we headed to the party room and everyone else was waiting. It was nice. We had the caterer prepare the same dinner which the in-laws had had served at their wedding reception. A friend who is a professional photographer attended and donated his services to take photos, a la wedding photos, which when developed, were included into the scrapbook.</p>
<p>I bought a very nice scrapbook and will work with my talented SIL to put it together. I had envisioned a big party with friends similar to the one you describe, alwaysamom, but my MIL says she wants something small-just her kids and their families. Considering all five kids are married with children, it should be fairly big any way. Thanks again for all the ideas.</p>
<p>For my in-laws’ golden anniversary (with their 60th coming up next year), the three kids (and significant others) rented a large house at the Heidel House resort in Green Lake, WI. MIL is from Wisconsin originally, and lots of relatives live in the Midwest. Plus one kid was on the East Coast, another on the West Coast, and the third in Illinois, so this was a good halfway point. The house accommodated all of the immediate family members and their families. Other relatives and friends could also stay at the hotel part of the resort. In addition, travel arrangements were paid for by the kids. We arranged for catering through the resort and bought a beautiful, homemade cake from a woman who baked out of the home (and delivered for free!). A boombox played tunes from their courtship so that folks could dance if they wanted. Bocce ball games were held in the backyard. Folks had submitted photos, anecdotes, etc., that we then assembled into an album that was shared amid lots of champagne toasts during a “cruise” around the lake on a large boat the resort owned. We encouraged folks to come by inviting them to help us celebrate 95 years of marriage–my in-law’s 50, older SIL’s 25, and our 20 that year! Of course, next year it’ll be 125 years combined.</p>
<p>Patty, I did the same as jym for my parents’ 50th and wrote all their friends in order to compile a special memory book. We also had a nice,but small dinner party at a favorite restaurant at a favorite weekend resort of theirs (they did not want a large party). We set them up to 2 nights there for their “gift” plus the dinner party with a beautiful cake. They loved the book the most, though. When their house burned 2 years ago, amazingly the closet where “the book” was stored did not burn and we only had to replace the outer part. It was the first thing searched for in the rubble…</p>
<p>Whatever you do, large or small, is great. Gifts are not so important; the big thing is being able to CELEBRATE!!! 50 years together is quite an accomplishment, not the least of which is having both parents surviving. There are many couples who are not fortunate enough to make it to the 50th Anniversary!</p>
<p>Congrats to your in-laws! I hope everyone has a wonderful time!</p>
<p>So true, Irishbird (I am an IrishAmerican “bird”). I think my MIL has the right idea. She just wants her kids to be there. We are excited to be making the trip. I am sure it will be a very happy occasion.</p>
<p>For MIL who is not computer literate and no desire to be, we purchased a Ceiva from the family. The SIL who lives closest periodically reminds us to send in photos so MIL always has new and updated photos of everyone. It really works nice for me to forward digital pictures my children sent to me.
<a href=“CEIVA - Learn More”>CEIVA - Learn More. Good Luck</p>