Need Anniversary Gift Ideas

A night at a bed and breakfast is one they could enjoy together and gives them a night alone - there's nothing like being away and not having to deal with technology - no computers, phones, tv, etc...

It may be more 'work' than you can take on right now, but a photo album of their last 20 years together is always a nice idea (it depends on who keeps the family photos on how easily this can be done). Also, I heard a great idea of having their friends over the last 20 years (those whom have known them for a long time) each write a story about the couple that you can put together in a 'book'-maybe even read a few at the party. Everyone loves to reminisce, and anniversary parties are great for that! It will remind them of all the good times and good friends. Good luck and have fun!

You could gather photos from the last 20 years or so and take them to have a video made and you could show it at the party!

Hi J.,
How about an album or scrapbook filled with letters from friends, family, or anyone else you feel your parents have impacted. We've done this for a few people for these special milestone events, asking people to write some way that the people have touched them, or a wonderful memory, or what they most admire about them, and then had them email or mail the letters to us so we could put them all in a book. It's always been a great hit, and something they can look at over and over in the years to come. You can even read some of them at the party if the writers don't mind. Have fun.

Hi J.! My husband got his parents a digital photo frame recently, and to say they LOVE it would be the understatement of the century. He loaded a bunch of pix of us into it before giving it to them, and they've since added pix of the rest of the family. They show it off to everyone who comes to their house. But he didn't like the cheapest ones they make, which don't have quite the resolution of the slightly more expensive ones. It was around $150, I think, perhaps from Microcenter in Cambridge. I can ask him if you're interested. If you wanted to make it SUPER special, you could scan some old photos of your parents' wedding, your baby pix, etc, and include those as well (though it would be more work of course!).
That's the best idea I can come up with - good luck!
T.

One of my friends wrote the book, Present Perfect, and I am quoting some ideas from that book: " have a baker recreate a scaled down version of their original wedding cake", "same flowers as in the bridal bouquet", "pool resources for a more expensive gift-a vacation, second honeymoon, golf cart", "give a painting, photgraph, needlework, of something of sentimental value such as their first home" "create a memory album of family and friends, or treasured times" The book has several more pages including customary gifts for each year. The twentieth is china. I hope this helps. S. W.

Similar to what others have suggested - you could send out a pretty piece of stationary to a whole bunch of friends and family and have them write something nice about your parents, or a blessing, or something that they learned from your parents marriage or something like that. Then at the party, you could take a picture of each person/couple either on their own or with your parents and put it all together in a scrapbook. Then they have a lovely reminder about the party as well as all those nice messages.

Another option is a really nice picture in a frame with a large mat that everyone signs at the party.

Finally, we gave my parents the gift of a photo-shoot with my husband and my kids. They then could pick all the pictures that they like. It ended up being a really great gift. If you in are in the Framingham area, I know a photographer who is great and pretty reasonable. Be in touch if you would like her name.

What about that store Things Remembered (not sure if you have one near you) - but they engrave frames, champagne glasses, memory boxes.... things like that. Something physical to commemorate their acheivement on not only being married for 20 years but making it through everything that they have been through over those 20 years (including the cancer).

Here's what we'll be giving my parents on their anniversary- a digital picture frame. My parents live far away, and don't get to see the grandkids very often, so we thought we'd give them a picture frame where the photos are on a slide-show (you can regulate the duration of each frame), so they can watch the pictures go by while they eat dinner, or lie in bed, or whatever. We'd have to down load new photos onto a portable drive for them periodically, but I think with your new baby on the way, it would be a great way for them to share in the joy of grandparenting. You can also upload the photos from your FL trip. Good luck with all your plans, and have a healthy baby.

My husband's grandparents recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. I made them a scrapbook as a special gift. I had copies made from slides they had of their wedding and honeymoon trip. They had never seen them as printed photos and they loved seeing them in a new way. I did a page for each of them with pictures of them before they were married, then a page of wedding photos, honeymoon etc. Then did a page of their house being built and then their two children. Luckily I was able to find these pictures. I also had my husband's mother write a remembrance of how her parents met and included that with the pictures. I finished the book with some family photos, grandchildren etc. Leaving a blank page to fill in with photos from their anniversary party.
I am so glad that I did this- as only a few months ago my husband's grandmother passed away. His grandfather treasures the scrapbook.
Whatever you do for them- put your love into it and they will feel it.
-S.

The best gift I ever gave my parents was a photo album celebrating their lives. I did a scrapbook, but now you can create amazing digital books that are so much easier and take way less time. If you would like more information on how to do this just let me know and I can point you to some great websites.

For my parents' 30th we found a beautiful set of champagne flutes and had them etched with their names and wedding date. They had them for toasts at the party and now they sit in a lovely shadowbox that my dad built just for the glasses.

Hi! I think a good idea is a gift certificate to a restaurant. This way they can celebrate their anniversary somewhere special on their own too. I would get one to a special restaurant, a place they might not ordinarily go by themselves. Another idea is a gift certificate for a massage/spa package. That is a little more expensive though. Another idea is a gift certificate for a show or to a place that has plays or entertainment. Or, you could pick something you think they would like and purchase the tickets for them. Another idea is a Bed and Breakfast gift certificate. But again that could get pricey. When our in laws celebrated their 50th, we gave them a photo album with some pictures of themselves, and pictures of their kids and grandkids. I also asked people to share a note with memories of the couple and/or a photo. Then I put the album together and the day of their party people also signed the album. I had a copy of their wedding photo put in the front of the album. This made a nice keepsake for them. It was a lot of work to put together, but with everyone contributing it made it easier. Hope you find something here that helps. Good Luck to you! I am sure they will enjoy the party and whatever you do!

you're already doing something big by going to Florida with them. How about composing a poem (doesn't have to rhyme) about what they mean to you, and having it written up by someone who does calligraphy, or having it printed with a pretty font on nice paper, and frame it. Then at the party, you can read it out loud as you present it to them. My sister and I did this for our parents, and they loved it.

A nice simple gift would be an ultrasound picture of your baby in a picture frame for them. It would mean a lot to them. To make it special you could find one of those frames that have writing on them like "grandchildren" or "I love grandma and grandpa." I have seen ones like that at Kohl's, Bed, Bath and Beyond, or Linen and Things.

One thing that always goes over well is a really nice photo album that you put together yourself. It is not super-expensive, and will be cherished for years to come. Some photos of your changing waistline would probably make it extra special for them!
Good luck!

If you have time, you could always paint something at a pottery place. Like a platter or cake plate or whatever you think they may like. You can also have pictures scanned onto the pottery, maybe their wedding picture and have everyone sign around the picture at the party, then you bring it back to the pottery place to have it fired.
good luck

A couple of ideas:
Have all the guests send you a photo of them and your parents and/or a paragraph of a fun memory they share with your parents. We did this for my dad's 60th bday and it was phenomenal.

Or you can put together a photo album capturing important moments from their 20 years of marriage: wedding day, first home, birth of their children and then grandchildren, other important milestones. We did this for my parents 25th and they loved it. You can make it as long or as short as you want.

Good luck. Its wonderful that you are so thoughtful and appreciative of your parents.

Creating a scrapbook of their lives together is a very heartfelt and sentimental gift. Contacting family & friends over the years, asking them to jot down memories & see if they have any photos to be included. (You can always copy & return their original photos if necessary) The fact that you are all going on vacation together just means that there are perfect moments to photograph!!!

Good Luck & Congrats to your parents!!

Dear J.,

For my grandmother's 90th birthday, we had everyone in the family write a letter to her and send a picture. Then my aunt put together an album with the letters and the pictures.
A friend of mine did something similar for her husband. She got as many family members and long time friends to write and send pictures. When she turned 50, her husband did the same thing for her.
These albums told a life's story and I know my grandmother kept hers by her side until she passed away. She loved reading it often and to friends.

It is something very personal, affordable and full of menaing.

You can also have a movie made from pictures, letters and family movies.

A.

What my Boyfriend and I did for his parents 5oth anniversary gift was to look through their albums and pick out pictures of the family through out the years. We scanned the pictures we chose, typed the year and who the people were in the pictures, printed them and put them in 2 huge frames we bought. It was a total of about 100 pictures (you could do it on a smaller scale if you like or just 1 big frame). For the big center picture in 1 frame we put a picture of them on their wedding day and on the big center picture in the other frame we put a nice wedding poem and was sure to put Love...Us. We displayed them on 2 easels, covered them with black sheets and revealed them at the anniversary party. They were a great hit with the guests,looking back and his parents loved it. It was months of work, but it was worth it. They have them hanging on their walls in their house.

Well you could call everyone and ask them to chip in for plane tickets if they could all give 100 dollars you could raise atleast 1000 dollars, enough for a small trip.
Or even a weekend getaway.

M

J., I have two ideas (for which I have given both to my Parents--and I have overheard them telling people how much they cherish these gifts.)
One year, I had my sisters and brother list as many memories as they could think of. Like when Dad read us bedtime stories and always used different voices, and when Mom took all the cushions off the couch and made the living room a cool tented playhouse. We listed them all on beautiful paper, and we each read a page outloud to our parents, and at the end we thanked them for all our memories and that it was because of them that we were thankful.
Another year, I scanned (you can also put your pictures on a disc, and drop it off at a CVS, and they will make it) a bunch of pictures, of my parents before they were married, wedding photos, pictures of us --you get the idea, and it was set to music, and towards the end, you can have them put the song, "When two people fell in love" by Brad Paisley, and you can end it with the words Thank You... Just a few ideas--Good luck with the Anniv. and your pregancy. Kim

Hi J.,

I sent a beautiful breakfast basket (with tray) to my parents and had it delivered the day before their anniversary so that it would be available to them the morning of. However, I really like Kelly D's suggestion of finding something for them to do together alone in FL on your vacation. It is a wonderful treat, and, they really won't be expecting a surprise party after that!

Other ideas are to do a google search (you can also specify for which # anniversary) and look at endless ideas in your price range. Red envelope is a company that I like, as well as Uncommon Goods.

Each year for our anniversary my husband finds out what the "topic" for that year is--linen, pottery, crystal, etc--and tries to find an unusual gift that fits. In fact, for the crystal one, he found crystal perfume jars and a crystal tray and each one had the theme of a heart--it really didn't look cheesy at all and was so sweet. (I filled each with different colored water since I don't wear perfume.) But a variation of the 20th anniversary theme is also an idea.

Good luck--you are doing something so very special!

I agree with many of the other responses about a photo collage or album. I've seen many that are scrapbooks, with phtos intermixed with poems or letters or other statements from family members about how your parents inspire them, great memories, etc. The posting about the pottery place reminded me that my stepdaughter has a set of plates that her friends did prior to her wedding - the wedding party and a few other close friends. If you had 8 or so family members or couples or even kids who each designed a plate, you could give them the set. Each one is different, but signed on the bottom by the artist(s). Unless your parents are downsizing and not wanting more "stuff" it might be a nice idea that they could use every day. If your mother has had such a tough year, anything that celebrates life and family would be wonderful. I think gifts of the heart are the most special, and something they can treasure in the years going forward. Having something to appreciate for years to come is a nice message for anyone who has faced cancer or any other life-threatening disease. Enjoy your busy next few months!

When my parents had their 40th anniversary, we found a few old pictures of them together at the beginning of their marriage and blew them up and put them in nice frames. We placed these at the tables at the party.

I don't know exactly what your budget is, but scheduling a hot air balloon ride for them might be really special.? Good luck!

What we did for my parents 40th anniversary was put together a picture book. My sister collected old photos...I scanned them in, then she put them in a creative memories album. You can also put them together using a program such as Shutterfly. This is a memory that goes a long way...it's not too expensive...but very time intensive. Good luck!!

ps. My parents LOVED it!!!

J.,

Ok, take a few deep breaths. My goodness you have alot going on! Congrats to you on your first baby! And especially to your Mom on her recent battle over cancer.

What are some of the things that might be on your parents wish list? Is there some place that they have always wanted to go or things they wanted to do but just didn't make the time?

I have been married for 33 years and one of the best anniversary gifts my husband and I received was a certificate for a hot air balloon flight. We went during the fall and being in New England the view was spectacular! It was a wonderful overnight trip complete with picnic lunch the day of the flight - everything was part of the gift.

Good Luck! Make sure you get some family or friends to help you with the planning.

JoanneG

Hi J.,
you mentioned you're all going on vacation together before the party....what about looking into something just the two of them could go off and do together in FL while you're down there? Depending on which part of the state you're visiting of course - you could get it all set up for just the two of them to swim with the dolphins, or go on an afternoon mini-cruise with dinner; or even just dinner with roses/music and maybe a little photo album on the table of some pictures of them through the years - all set up somewhere at a really nice restauraunt. That way, when they come back, they can tell everyone at the party all about it and it would be meaningful because it would just be the two of them.
Just some ideas -
K.

What about a slide show of pics with music? It is a priceless gift that can be put on dvd cds and given to guests. treasured forever! If you work with the right person clips of video can be added. Contact local photograohy stores. Usually resonable.

scan in old pictures and make a scrapbook!

Hello J.,

Your parent’s upcoming anniversary this year sounds like a very special one. If you don’t mind me sharing, my mom recently went through breast cancer, colon cancer and liver cancer (3 surgeries within 15 months). She is cancer free now, knock on wood, but we had a big scare there for a while. So, I understand how you feel about wanting to make their celebration extra-special. I would like to suggest a personalized gift from my embroidery website: http://www.mercadventures.com/keepsakes.htm. I could make a nice pillow with your parents name and anniversary dates for as little as $20 and as much as $40, depending on how elaborate you’d like it to be. I hope I don’t sound like a sales pitch, but I mean it when I say that such gifts do touch people’s hearts and they are always proud to display them at their home. Every time they look at it, it’s like a reminder of your love and thoughtfulness. Please let me know if I can be of any help, otherwise, have a wonderful time at the party and a safe vacation trip this summer.

I have always found a scrapbook to be a wonderfully meaningful gift! There is just something about seeing your life photos & all the wonderful memories! I always find this type of gift to become what everyone is drawn to at the party! Don't worry about making it fancy or anything! Just keep it simple & photos that bring back special memories from the past 20 years!

Hi J.,
How about a collage of pictures or a video with music...my family put together one for my cousins 25th..they said it was their favorite gift! ~ D.