Need Ideas for 65Th B-day Party for Mom

Love this kind of stuff. A couple thoughts:

1) Collect old pictures and have someone help you to put it on a slide show. The hall should have access to putting up a screen and it would be nice to see all the pictures, over the years of your mother with all of her loved ones - family, friends, etc... Or , set a lap-top or tv in a safe spot to "scroll" a bunch of pictures of her, to music.

2) For a 50th birthday party, for a centerpiece, we went to an old fashioned candy store (or you can go on-line and buy old fashioned candy from their era (Ferrara Pan Candy Company, makers of lemon heads and boston baked beans, is right in Forest Park). This was a great conversation starter. We just had cool glass container (purchased from Pier 1, who has a big sale right now, and placed them in the centers of all tables. Attach helium balloons for lots of color. Give away the centerpiece at the end of the night. Use some kind of fair way to "give it away"... maybe it will go to the person who has a birthday closest to your mom?

3) Since you have a DJ, just down load some of her favorite songs, in advance. Some special songs that you know of are fun.

4) Cute little refrigerator magnets with two pictures on them (one current/one past) is fun, with a cute saying. These can be used for party favors. Don't make them all the same. Purchase business card magnets - one side already has adhesive. You can scan and print pictures from home or color copy them at an office supply store. 100-pack at Staples is a good price.
http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_Business-Card-M...

5) The DJ will have a microphone available (ask him if others can use it - sometimes they don't like that or they will bring their own stand). You may want to allow some time for others to give a tribute, tell a funny story or just say some kind words. If you want this to be memorable, let a few people know you are doing this so that they can be prepared for a little semi-impromptu moment. Even someone writing a quirky poem about her can be fun, if done in the right taste.

6) Regarding decorations: What does your mom like? Favorite colors? Favorite holidays or hobbies? Does she have a collection of anything? Famous entertainers that she likes? Put up things that remind you of her. Let your decorations tell a story. If you only have a small area, make it an "All about Mom" corner. Some guests will know her a lot better than others - it's a great time to have people celebrate and learn about her life.

7) Get cheap white or solid colored tablecloths (preferably paper top with a plastic back). Then buy a roll of banquet table cloth (40" x 100' for about $10-$15) , at any party store, in a different color and add a 40" x 40" square of color on top of it.

Good luck.

Hi there...

Here are some ideas I have used in the past for bdays,etc.

For table decorations we had different pictures of the bday person in frames on each table...good conversation piece, fun to look at...gets people moving around to see other pictures. You can get inexpensive frames that still look nice at a dollar store..sometimes Khols or Michaels or even Target or WalMart.

I don't know how formal your party will be,but we had TShirts made for my Grandmothers 90th bday. We took a picture of my Grandmother riding a motorcycle with her grandson when she was 87 and put it on a Tshirt with a cute saying. We made them for family members only. That was fun! You can get tshirts at WalGreens or Michaels-very inexpensive.The photo paper for the tshirts isn't bad cost wise. It takes some time to make the shirts, but it's easy and everyone..including Grandma...loved them.

This may be a little expensive, but it's a good one. There are companines that will put together a message/stories for the bday person. We did this for my cousins 40th bday. His wife hired a videographer, we all had to call in with funny/memorable stories about my cousin. It was then incorporated into a video for him.

My Aunt also made a picture slide show with music for my Grandmothers 90th bday. Picutres of the family, friends, etc. Everyone got to watch it at the party.

You can have a guest book and have everyone sign it and leave a message for your Mom. This is a nice keepsake for her and an inexpensive way to give her a nice "gift".

For a party favor...you can purchase small photo albums and have disposable cameras on each table. Each guest can take their own pics and fill up the photo album with the pics from the party.You can even number the cameras, keep a record of who has what number and develop the pictures for the guests if you'd like. You would have to ship them or give them to the guest after you develop the cameras. This might cost a little more. On the photo album on the table, you can have one picture of the bday person in the album.

Here are some ideas from a couple of parties we had for my parents.

Decorations:
Copy a cute picture of your mom when she was young on one side and fun information about the year she was born (price of stuff, popular songs/movies...) on the other and laminate them and put them in a stand on the tables.

Photocopy pictures of your mom, her friends and family throughout her life and hang them all over the room.

Entertainment:
Slide show with pictures throughout her life including current friends and family.

We also played a game..."Who knows Mom best?" We asked questions about her life-where she was born, nicknames, college attended, hobbies, etc. For the prizes, we went to the dollar store and bought stuff that represented my mom. (a deck of cards because she used to play bridge, garden tools because she loves to garden, a small soccer ball because she always goes to the grandkids soccer games, a Cubs magnet because she is a Cubs fan, you get the idea. The guests actually had a great time trying to guess the answers to the questions and also hearing the reasoning behind the prizes.

Also check out www.adultpartyideas.com. They have lots of great ideas. Good luck and have fun!

1) Plan a color theme which uses a combo of 2 solid colors that you can get plates, table cloths and tissue paper in. Alternate the colors on each table. So one color for table cloth, the other for plate. Then do the next table opposite.
2)Wrap napkins like a fan and place them in the cup, or fold like a fan with a little tie and place across the plate. (I personally like turquoise and lime green or hot pink for the 2 colors).
3) For table decs, You can buy clear plastic party loot bags (25 for a dollar) and put a (we saved wine cooler bottles) clean bottle wrapped in tissue paper to cover up the label. Place loose contrasting tissue to make it pretty. You can then buy a few bunches of flowers and greens and place them in the bottle. These can be your table prize at the end of the night. Choose a place with a dot, or a birthday closest to moms.
4) Plastic bowls can be placed on the table with pre-wrapped Happy Birthday butter mints that are sold at most party stores.
5) For entertainment~~Send out a request for a My favorite memory of _____________, on card stock. I buy the block stock at Jo Ann fabrics, which has small 4 x 5 or 5 x 7 squares in multiple colors. Ask the guests to send them to you. Give a week or two due date, to help make them do it right away. The card stock is nice because in the thrill of the day, it is a lot to take in, but you can read them aloud, and you can put in a scrap book for later review. (You can have a station set up for memories at the party, too, and have a basket for collecting them).
6) A picture board is always nice, and a sign in book for comments too. Good luck!!

As far as favors go, I make party favors that are customized. They can be made with her name and date on them, with a special phrase or poem that she likes, and/or with a picture. One of the biggest hits I have are Heshey kiss roses and Hershey bars. If this is something that yu are interested please check out my website: www.myabcspace.com/rondascrafts. The roses can be used as centerpieces and/or favors.

I'm not sure how many people you are having, but this is what we've done for a party of about 40 for my mom's 50th birthday. We also did some of these things for a party of about 150 for a 100th birthday party.

Games -- I did an internet search for all the happenings/popular songs/movies etc for the year she was born and put together a multiple choice game for that. Then the winner gets a prize. This way you don't have to buy everyone a party gift - which can be expensive and I don't think people expect one (especially family). Also, people don't have to play if they don't want.

If you don't want to do a game, you can put together a flyer-type thing with the same information at each table setting. It will give people something to talk about at the tables and break the ice if they don't know each other well.

You can also set up a table or two with board games for people to play if they want - apples to apples is a good one.

Try looking at Dollar General on Randall Road in Algonquin for your decorations. They are much cheaper (literally $1) for table cloths, plates, cutlery, balloons with helium (great table center pieces) etc. We like to do balloons and confetti on the table for decorating - it's easy, inexpensive, and looks nice.

Be careful not to over plan things for people to do - people like to have time to visit also. Having alcohol helps too :)

Don't forget a beautiful corsage for your mom, she will feel even more special. We've also put up boards with photos of the guest of honor at her best with those she loves - people love looking at these and it brings back great memories - also you can ask people to give you pictures in advance that they may want to see.

Good luck and have fun!

1. If your doing it at a hall then have it catered you could find something decent for $10 a person, Italian is ususally the least expensive and you end up getting more food variety for your money per my experience. Go to the party store get a roll of colored plastic table cloth that you can cut per size go to the dollar store get some clear vases fake flowers and either stones or cut and krinkle up some paper to put in the vases to camouflage the stems of the flowers. Sometimes you can get you plates and plastic wear from the dollar store too but watch out for the quality before you purchase.
Party favors not necessary for an adult B-Day part.
Have DJ play the music from her prime so she and her friends can really enjoy. Get a cake with her picture on it from when she was younger Sams Club usually has yummy and cheap cakes but don't know if they do pictures get some cookies, fruit plate and put some disposable cameras on the table and your good to go. Also Sams Club has good qaulity of table wear at a decent price. Very nice of you to put together a party for Mom...God bless and good luck.

J.,
Some ideas from my brother-in-law's 50th party that my sister planned include:
slideshow on computer screen of collection of pictures(childhood pictures, teenage pictures, etc.) or display board with the same
passed around notecards for quests to write memories and then he had to quess who said it(with someone reading it outloud to him infront of everyone)
a funny picture copied several times on paper and put up in several places on the wall with happy bithday on them.
a cd of her favorite songs for the DJ to play
GOOD LUCK!!! It is always nice to have a questbook too!

Well, I am a mom that started a mobile spa business. You can have me and team come out for spa services. Anywhere from manicures set up in a corner to surprise her. The gift of SPA is fantastic and everyone will be talking about it. I also have products that would be a great give away. I will send my websites below, so take a look and call me with questions.

http://abellabeauty.com Mobile Spa
http://beautipage.com/abellabeauty Fantastic giveways
Let me know your thoughts, ###-###-####

M. Zucchero
Mother of two

Hi I think that a good idea to have the party is great with all her friends and family. I suggest a friend or family member she has not seen in years or if you have old videos you can play while the party is going on or old pictures you can hang up around the hall and do not forget her favorite music I am sure old school dusties also remember the party is for her and only about her. Look have fun!!!

Hi Put small whatnots on each table with her name on it mentioning her 65th birthday. Get some disposable cameras and also put them on each table so the people can take picture and put them in a scrape book or put on CD for your family. Far as entertainment, has some of the grandchildren put on a show for her such: dancing and singing.

We have done parties for our folks as each reached 60 and here are some great things we did:

-For my mom, we did a garden tea party with her best buds, she LOVED this. For her 50th, we did a surprise dinner with her close friends. To surprise her, I said I had tickets to a play at Pheasant Run (we lived in Villa Park then) so we drove all the way there only to have me pretend to be angry with myself for forgetting the tickets. I drove all the way back & everyone was all set. :) She was stunned, and was very glad she held her tongue with me lol. We had a nice dinner on my sis' china, made by her gourmet-cooking husband at my mom's house. It was a very nice night.

-For my dad, my stepmom invited all their kids (6 plus spouses so no small deal there, no grandkids so we could all relax a little!) out to Ouback Steakhouse. It was very nice not a huge deal, just fun with the family - for his 50th she planned a huge surprise party by saying it was my stepbrother's 8th Grade graduation so he knew people were coming and helped with party prep, just had no idea how many were coming! Actually I did the same with my dh's 30th, we said it was a family party for all the summer birthday parties. He caught on when friends started showing up lol.

-For my mil's 60th, we rented a dance hall because she loves ballroom dance and most of her friends are dancers, too. We had a very nice time & asked people to bring a dish to share plus we provided coolers full of water bottles in addition to the bar. The water was cleared out! That was a lot of fun. We all brought good CDs and had one of mil's friends' teenagers be DJ. It was great.

-FIL's 60th was great, we got all his siblings to come for a surprise party, a few weeks before his birthday, so he was very surprised! There are 7 scattered all over the country so this was no small undertaking, particularly the surprise part of it! My sis-in-law hosted at her home as she has a pool table & party basement. We all made appetizers & pitched in on adult beverages. He was stunned.Really we had a great time. I made the invitations and they turned out really cool - I took an old picture of my fil from his navy days and made copies to make that picture the front of his invitation. It was a lot of fun to hear what people had to say about the invitations. I would recommend trying that with a fun old picture of your mom.

Good luck & have fun!
D.