Wedding Anniversary Ideas

Hammering out the details

The first thing to figure out is the size and type of anniversary party you want to have. Will this be an intimate dinner with just the closest friends and family, a small surprise party at someone's home, or an extravagant event at a large venue with everyone the married couple knows in attendance? You will also want to set a budget. Every decision you make for the party planning process is effected by money, so know how much you can and want to spend. Perhaps some of the other closest family and friends can pitch in if you need to increase the budget.

Once you know the type of party and your budget, you can start filling in the details of time, location, and guest list. If the party is a surprise, talk to other friends and family to figure out who should be invited. If the couple knows about the party, then they should be consulted for the guest list. The size of the guest list will also play a part in your venue choice. For smaller groups, a house party would be just fine but for a large party you may want to rent a venue. You can also throw and outdoor party; but because weather can be fickle, you may want to rent tents just in case. As soon you’ve nailed down the who, what, when, and where; you should get the invitations out as soon as possible.

Liven things up!

After all the details are in place, it's time to start the actual party planning. Whatever venue or location you chose for the party, it will need to be decorated. One good idea would be to theme your balloons, streamers, linens and other decor around the original wedding colors. Flowers are also great to add that extra special touch. Hire a florist to design beautiful table centerpieces or decor pieces using the same types of flowers that were a part of the wedding. Be sure to also consider whether or not you will have to get in touch with a rental company for tables and chairs if the venue does not already provide them or your event is outdoors.

If it is in your budget, you will want to provide entertainment for your event. There are many options to choose from. If you are having an elegant dinner or cocktail party, then perhaps a classical ensemble, violinist or guitarist would be a good option. For the couple that likes to sing and dance, book a DJ or hire a dance band. If they had a certain band at their wedding, try to book them again or at least make sure that whatever band you do bring in can play some of the songs that were in the wedding. Another interesting idea is, if the couple has a favorite music group or celebrity, then hire a tribute band or impersonator to make an appearance, perform a few songs and take pictures with the guests. Or do something a little different, and bring in more of a show; such as a magician, comedian, or, to make for some interesting stories later, a hypnotist!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Regardless of the size of the party, one thing that is always a necessity is food and drink. You may choose to prepare the meal yourself, however if the party is on the larger side, you will want to hire a caterer. There are several meal options to choose from. You can serve a full sit-down dinner, set up a buffet of snacks, or hire waiters to walk through and serve hors d’oeuvres to your guests. Choose the menu based off the couple's favorite foods or just have their favorite restaurant cater. Drinks will definitely be necessary to wash down all that delicious food. If the catering service or waitstaff does not provide one, you may want to hire a bartender to serve cocktails and champagne. Or to spice things up a little, hire a flair bartender! Your guests can be entertained by juggling, flipping and magic tricks while also enjoying professionally mixed drinks!

As with almost any celebration, a very important part of a wedding anniversary party is the cake. You could get a simple, elegant cake with accents in colors that match the decor or have a little fun with it and get a really fun cake in a unique shape, something that relates to the couple and their marriage. Another great idea would be a small replica of the cake from original wedding or just a cake that is very similar in styling. Regardless of what you choose, you will probably want to hire a professional cake decorator to handle this for you.

If this is your wedding anniversary and you are planning the party, you may want to considering hiring a professional event planner so that you can sit back an enjoy the party instead of stressing about the details. If you are planning the party for friend or family member, and do not want to enlist professional help, then GigSalad is here to help. We will be your one stop shop to ensure that this wedding anniversary party is perfect!