25th Wedding Anniversary

[GirlinContempt]

This year, it's my parents 25th wedding anniversary (yes yes, I'm a child of sin).
I'm planning a surprise party for them. I'd like to share my plans and hear your thoughts :)


The invitations just arrived today, and I'm *thrilled* with them. So is my cat.

I just finished addressing them.
This is a proof before I made my changes, clearly I blotted out the street address and my cell number.


One of their favourite restaurants, Mise, does catering. The menu I've picked out is:

Cold Canapes:
Mild Yellow Curried Chicken with Cashews, Honey and Royal Gala Apples on Croustini
Venison Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Saskatoon Butter, Sundried Blueberries and Rosemary

Hot Canapes:
Filo Pastry with Spinach, Feta and Wild Mushrooms
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Seared Beef Tenderloin with Wild Rice Latkes and Beet Horseradish Coulis
Pork Tenderloin Skewers with Pineapple Sweet Chili Glaze
Golden Goats Cheese with Golden Delicious Apples and Walnuts in Filo Pastry

Also, probably:
An assortment of dips including Hummus, Eggplant Caviar, Tarama and Tapenade served with Fresh Baguette and Pita
Regional and Imported Cheese served with Dried Fruit, Nuts and Crackers

I've got my eye on some gorgeous petits fours for dessert, they're exquisite, perfect mini layer cakes. No pictures :(

For drinks, I'm serving both white and red wine, an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks, and I'm thinking of doing two signature cocktails for the evening. We have a fully (and I mean FULLY) stocked bar, but I'd like something special on hand.
I thought maybe a champagne-tini (champagne, Cointreau and gin) or a Holly Berry (lemon juice, gin, fresh raspberries and raspberry juice) and something else. I'm not sure yet. still looking in to it.

I'm going to pick up 6 or 12 Birds of Paradise, and do them in tall, slender vases around the room.


We just redid the living room, the windows aren't stained and finished yet (and so, no window coverings are up yet), the coffee table hasn't arrived so we're using old tables in the interim, but for a *general* gist of the room:



this coffee table will replace the two round tables:
"Modern cocktail table features a thick “floating shelf” of unfilled travertine supported by a wenge base. From Italy."

The flash makes everything look bad. It's actually really gorgeous, and will look much better once the proper tables are in and we get an area rug :P Anyway, that's just a general idea. I think the birds of paradise will be really striking set around that room.

And, of course, I'm coming up with a little speech, looking for pictures to have framed and set about (not up for a schmaltzy slide show or anything, I'd like to keep the 'cocktail party' feel going)....

Thoughts? Comments? Sorry, I know this is an insanely long post.

[ghostsofgiants]

1. Ooh, nice.

That sounds fun.

[GirlinContempt]

4. I hope it will be

guest list is at about 30 pre rsvp

[bushstole2000]

2. congrats

i hope you make it to 50 and more.

[GirlinContempt]

5. Thanks, but it's not my anniversary

:)

[Solon]

3. Looks like its going to be a beautiful party.

Your parents are going to love it!

:)

[GirlinContempt]

7. I really hope they do

:)

[Iris]

6. Love Child

not "child of sin"!

All the preparations are lovely! They will be thrilled!

[GirlinContempt]

9. haha, either way

:D

I really hope they like it!

[hippywife]

8. When my parents had theirs

we wanted to sneak in the priest who originally married him but he was ill, so we got a monsignor who had known our family for a really long time, like since before I was born. My aunt and uncle got them out of the house on the pretense of going to dinner and then my aunt played like they needed to go back because she wasn't feeling well. They came home to a surprise party and the monsignor there so they could renew their wedding vows.

Your menu sounds fabulous and I love the invites! I hope you all have a really great evening to remember. :hi:

[GirlinContempt]

10. Awww, that sounds wonderful!

My parents were married by a justice of the peace, with their children and their best friends Guy and Dan in attendance. No real wedding.

I'm sure your parents loved their party! I hope mine love theres! love love love all around!

And thanks, I liked the invites too, because they were sort of nice and simple, not too frilly, but professional. I got them from weddingpaperdivas.com The team there was amazing, fast, helpful, they have a gorgeous selection, really great. I was very impressed. I used a wedding shower invite :blush: cause you can customize any of the invites as much as you want

[seemunkee]

11. They will love it

You're a good daughter to do all that for them. I can't imagine that they could find complaint with anything.

[GirlinContempt]

14. haha, i hope so

with my mum though, you just never know

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. Looks good. Sounds yummy. Have fun and

congratulations to your the parents of a Love Child :D

[GirlinContempt]

15. I think the food will be really good

It's a really interesting restaurant
http://www.where.ca/Winnipeg/guide_listing~listing_id~3659.htm

[joeybee12]

13. Sounds lovely

Send them my congratulations.

[GirlinContempt]

16. Will do

:)

[GirlinContempt]

17. .

[Donk Yore]

18. you forgot to say

bring the critters!

[GirlinContempt]

19. Huh?

[RFKHumphreyObama]

20. Please forgive me -I don't mean to be offensive but

I think you may want to consider blotting out your parent's names on the invitation and in fact every detail of your address except the province in which you live. You've blotted out your house number and cell number but it would still be quite easy to locate since you have included the suburb where you live and the names of your parents. You've also included the names of you and presumably your sister (?) -are you sure you want to do this?

Otherwise the invitation looks very well-done and professional -one of the nicest designs I've seen in years. The menu looks to die for, the flower arrangement you suggest looks nice and your house looks like the perfect setting for such an occasion (depending on how many guests you invite of course). I think you've done a first class job:thumbsup: Good luck -you sound like you'll be a great host

And your parents will love it. Congratulations to them on making it to their 25th and may they have many, many more years enjoying each other's love and affection

[GirlinContempt]

22. We're all over the internet

Public business owners, easily search-able through the newspaper, our two public websites, etc. Thanks for your concern though :) If anyone really wants to find us, they will. My cell number isn't public, but everyone knows my name. I'd just rather not make it easy ;)

Thanks for the compliments! I'm really hoping everything goes well :)

[RFKHumphreyObama]

23. OK, cool

Just wanted to make sure you were comfortable disclosing the information:)

I'm sure everything will go really well and you, your parents and your guests will have the night of their lives:) Good luck once again

[GirlinContempt]

24. Oh yeah, I getcha

:) Thanks

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. fancy. i like it. happy valentine's day~

[GirlinContempt]

26. Thanks!

Happy one to you too

[livetohike]

25. They will love it!

You're a wonderful daughter for doing this. Have a great time :-).

[GirlinContempt]

27. I really hope they do!

I'm very excited about it, I hope everything goes well

[yellowdogintexas]

28. what a lovely thing to do. I hope the event is wonderful and everyone

has a terrific time.

Ours is March 13 1983 was a good year!

[GirlinContempt]

29. Theirs is actually the 17th

I just wanted to hold it on a Saturday :) Sounds like it was a good year!

So it's your 25th too? Are you doing anything special?

[yellowdogintexas]

34. don't know yet, depends on if my husband is back out in the oil field

in Wyoming or Montana, or if he is here.

We may decide to get together with all his brothers, sister, nephews etc.
We may decide to just go have a nice dinner with our daughter, or see a play.
whatever strikes our fancy

[GirlinContempt]

37. Well, I'm sure whatever you do

it'll be great :)

[Phillycat]

30. The invitations are beautifully art-designed.

Are you a graphic artist?

[GirlinContempt]

31. Oh, I didn't design them

:) I picked them out though, does that count? :D

[Phillycat]

33. Course it does!

You have good taste.

[GirlinContempt]

35. Aw, thanks

:)

[jojo54]

32. Excellent!!

It seems like you thought of everything.

And I must say, you have the fireplace of my dreams!!!

[GirlinContempt]

36. Yeah, it's pretty rad

original to the house, so about 120 years old, oak. Even the tile is original.

[rug]

38. Beautiful invitation but it's hors d'oeuvres.

[GirlinContempt]

39. Not if you speak french.

The ovres or whatever was a typo, and I fixed it, also changed in to the common hors d'oeuvres, but as a french speaker, I defaulted.

I should have fucked everyone up and said "pasapalos"

[GirlinContempt]

40. Yay!

I just sorted out the flowers, I have the vases, I bought a ton of picture frames for photos of them, sorted out the desserts and had samples (TO DIE FOR) and got a deal!

I also picked up a lovely guest book and a nice pen for signing, lovely square black plates, and pretty burnt orange cocktail napkins.

My caterers will provide glassware for the bar, which is a relief, and everything is going smoothly!