Planning a 25th Anniversary Party

Last month at the end of August, my parents were married for 25 years!  

In celebration, we threw them a small dinner party at our apartment and invited close family and friends.

Because it was their 25th Anniversary, obviously I needed to work silver into the party decor.  But I really wanted to add more of a specific color so that our apartment would go from just being "our apartment" to being this party space.  

Two things really set off the main colors I chose to work with for the party:  first, four colored glass vases I found that just looked great for an end-of-summer party, and secondly the color of an emerald, which is the stone in one of my mom's favorite rings from my dad.  

For vase filler, I decided to not go out for expensive and plain flowers at the grocery store, and opted to walk through the field near our apartment complex to find some interesting plants.

This one particularly was my favorite, found growing near some trees.  

It has such interesting seeds and formations!

I also found some wild sunflowers and rustic brown filler, but alas forgot to take photos.

These scrapbook accordion fold and bunting helped me to tie the warm and cool pallets together.

While none of the colors are really the same colors, the mixtures of blues/greens and pinks/reds were the connecting factor.

One very fun aspect of the party was this "He Said, She Said" game I created for guests to complete.

I simply took quotes from each of my parents from facebook and made the guests guess which person said it.  Some quotes are obvious, however after 25 years of marriage, it seems couples really do start sounding more like each other, because there were a few trick quotes thrown in there!

 We strung up seafoam balloons with 25th silver hanging decorations from Party Galaxy, and silver tassels across the living room hanging on a seafoam ribbon.  This really helped create a festive atmosphere!

Would you have thought these little tassels were made out of tin foil?  

See my "happy" banner?  That one is from Oh Joy's collection from Target.  Love it!  And the 25th was made by me on vellum paper and ribbon.

Here is a tutorial to make the same kind of banner, and HERE is a printable for the same 25th pictured here.

I made this alternative countertop board to set on my stovetop for parties when we really need more counter space than we do a stovetop.  It worked great!

These colorful, reusable, party straws also helped me tie in those same end-of-summer colors.  

Also by Oh Joy...I think I'm obsessed.

I forgot to take the picture before dinner, so here is the party kitchen after dinner!

On the menu was chopped brisket sandwiches, jalepeno cornbread, macaroni and cheese, and a Simon and Seafort's salad.  For dessert we had strawberry and blackberry cheesecakes!

Tyler made a new friend and chess buddy (my little cousin)!

Whoops!  Way overexposed! 

But as you can see, our normally spacious-to-us apartment is pretty crowded when you pack this many guests inside!  The more the merrier!

And if you have a friend who attended the party who is an aspiring photographer, then she might take a few wonderful family pictures for you!  Thanks Ashley, you're doing some great work!

A great portrait of my parents after 25 years of marriage!

P.S. If you're looking for someone who can do your hair, makeup, AND photography in Oklahoma, Ashley is your girl!  Check her out her facebook page!

Another photo taken by Ashely of Tyler and I with my parents!

I had a great time preparing for this party in our home, and I think everyone who attended had a good time too!  

I think sometimes a space that's just *almost* too small can help everyone get to know each other a little better and interact more, and I'm grateful for all the fun conversations that were had that evening!