How to Throw a Surprise 60th Birthday/40th Anniversary Party

Step 1: Start WAY ahead of time.

We knew 2015 was going to be a huge year for our parents. Dad was turning 60 in January, Mom was turning 60 in May, and their 40th wedding anniversary was in August. We knew we had to do something but we really didn't want to try to come up with ways to celebrate each of these. So instead, we combined them all. We came up with a date, and then in January, we sent out this letter as a Save-the-Date:

Step 2: Send out invitations at least 6 weeks before.

We ordered these and mailed them out the first week of May. We asked for RSVPs, but we really didn't need to. We already knew we were hosting it at the church and we were keeping food minimal.

Step 3: Ask your seriously talented sister-in-law to handle the decorations.

I mean, need I say more?

Step 4: Go small with the food.
My mother can't have sugar and my sister-in-law can't have gluten, so we went simple with the food. We made sherbert/Sprite punch, bought mixed nuts, made those delicious cream cheese mint things, and ordered cupcakes. **TIP: remember that adults don't eat cupcakes like kids do. It's not necessary to order one for every person you expect.**

Step 5: Go for meaningful gifts, not pricy ones.
Instead of gifts, we recommended guests bring written memories of our parents. When we left, I had a huge bag full of them. Since my parents leave later this week for their trip, I told them they had to wait until they started their trip to read them. I put them all in plastic sleeves in a binder. It was really special to read through them, particularly the ones from my great-aunt, who took the time to go through all her records (she saves EVERYTHING) and copy letters my dad wrote to his grandparents in school, newspaper clippings of his sports games and awards, programs form his college games, and pictures of them and of us when we were little.

These are going to mean so much more to them than gifts.

I had lunch with my mom today and she thanked me again for all the work we did. I know it meant a lot to her (and to my dad, who we actually let in on the secret, mainly because we needed his help and we know how he hates surprises). It was a great party with a great turnout!