Surprise 30th Anniversary Party!

My parents married each other June 28, 1980. That was 30 years ago!! Now days, that is just not normal and I figured it was cause for celebration. Now let me say this...Planning a SURPRISE party is NOT easy. It is pretty much the hardest thing I have ever done! But it was SOOOO worth it!

Lets start at the beginning...

I have been waiting for the 30th anniversary for a long time. About 4 years to be exact. I wanted to do something special. My original plan was to buy them new wedding rings but I figured it would be too expensive as it got closer and i realized that i hadn't found my husband and made the millions i was planning on. So i went for a party instead. Not just a small get together. I wanted something big. So i decided to make it a surprise party and invite everyone we have ever known!

It took me weeks to figure out what kind of invitation i wanted to make. I knew i wanted to make it myself with pictures of them through the years. I had to scan the copy of their wedding picture which was like pulling teeth getting it out of the house and back in. But I did it. And thanks to Tawnya i was able to get it scanned and on the computer. Then i had to decide where the party was going to be for sure. I made reservations at Sugar House Park in SLC, UT in March for a June party. Best idea ever!

Here is the final product...

I am not going to lie..Im pretty proud of it :)

So once i got the invitations done i had to decide how many to print. I made list after list of people trying to not forget anyone. I had others help me (Thank you BTW) and i finally got a list together of about 140 people! I didnt realize we knew that many people. Luckily they dont all live at different addresses so i only had to print out 80 invitations. Now i had to get the addresses. That was the hardest part of it all. Normally i would just have my Mom tell me peoples currant address but that would have spoiled everything so i had to do it through family friends and it took a long time but i got almost everyone.

After the decorations and food and planning...I decided it would have been cheaper and less stressful to buy wedding rings! :)

Now was the hard part...Getting them to the park without them knowing what was going on. It took a lot of brain storming but we finally came up with a plan. In the middle of all the brain storming, my Mother was trying to plan a trip to Pennsylvania for the same weekend of the party! Then she was trying to go camping! I basically had to tell her to stay home because Charles and I wanted to take them to dinner to celebrate their anniversary and it was very important to me. She acted like she was suspicious but played along.

So i was safe for now.

The days came faster and faster and finally, it was time. I told her i had to babysit all day before "dinner". I had to help set up and get the last minute food and things. Luckily i had my 2 good friends helping me every step of the way and i dont think this would have been possible without their help so THANK YOU!!!

I told them that Charles was working but was going to meet us at the restaurant. So i got home, showered and got ready to go. We get in the car and i insist on driving. We get on the freeway and they ask where we are going to eat. I tell them its a surprise and they keep pestering but i of course dont tell them.

As we drive farther and farther on the freeway i say..."Actually, we are going to give you your present before dinner"

"Huh?" they say

Me: "We have a present for you and we want to give it to you now. But you will have to do me one little favor...Close your eyes"

Dad: "Are you serious? No way"

Me: "Come on...Please!"

Dad: "No"

Mon: "Are you serious?"

Me: "Yes im serious. You dont understand, i REALLY need you to close your eyes as soon as we get off the freeway. Please!!!!"

Dad: "There is no way i am closing my eyes"

Leave it to my dad to be difficult. I didnt take into consideration how much he would reject this idea.

Mom: "Come on honey, just humor her"

Dad: (Sigh) "Fine"

So they both put their hands over their eyes. My dad of course is still looking out the window.

Dad: "Why are you going into Sugarhouse Park?"

Me: "Dad!! Why are you looking??"

Dad: "I am just looking out the window so i know where i am"

Me: "Well stop, you are going to ruin it. When we get there, Charles will come out and get you because we have to walk you to the present because it wouldt fit at the house"

Again protest from my dad but he kept his eyes closed (Thank goodness)

We pull up to the park and Charles comes out and takes my Dads hand and I take my moms and we walk them across the grass and over a blue bridge.

Open your eyes!!!

They had NO idea! I pulled off a total surprise party!! Go me!

Now they went to greet all of their friends

In order to keep all the little ones entertained while the adults socialized we rented a Bounce House (Best Idea ever!!!) The kids LOVED it!

We of course had a TON of food for everyone as well. Thanks again to everyone who brought something!

Present time!!!!

One of my favorite things...

The Cake!

I "hired" my good friend Tawnya to take all of the pictures because i knew i would be way too busy to focus on that. She did a great job and took a few family pictures as well.

Happy Anniversary!

We love you!!!