Dmmetler Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 (edited) My parents have everything and are trying to gradually reduce. DD and I are flying back for their 50th anniversary next month, and I’m having a hard time coming up with a gift that isn’t clutter. Any suggestions? Thanks? Edited May 10, 2019 by Dmmetler2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 We've done things like a Roomba, fruit of the month club, Netflix subscription, and gift cards to local restaurants. How about a digital frame loaded with family pictures? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 Can the gift be an experience? Or an act of service for them? 50th anniversary just screams going somewhere or doing something special to me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 We had relatives and friends write a nice note and made a scrapbook type thing for my parents. I wrote them a song. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Farrar said: Can the gift be an experience? Or an act of service for them? 50th anniversary just screams going somewhere or doing something special to me. 57 minutes ago, Chris in VA said: We had relatives and friends write a nice note and made a scrapbook type thing for my parents. I wrote them a song. These are great ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 We had our baby right before my IL’s 50th anniversary. Someone snapped a picture of the three of us getting ready to leave the hospital, and we put it in a gold frame and gave it to them with some flowers. We also attended their party across the country although DD was only two weeks old. They were absolutely thrilled. Do your in-laws have one of those picture changing screen frames? If not, that would be a great gift if you load it up with photos from your life. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 Book a professional photographer for a 1 hr session. Seriously, you'll treasure the photos (even if you don't feel like photogenic people). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonbon Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 My parents were kind of "done" with the large party-type celebrations by the time they hit their 50th. And they have been working really hard to get rid of stuff and to downsize. So it's hard to think of material items that will bless them vs hindering them. They love nature, the outdoors, and their family. A couple of their siblings and cousins visited from out-of-state, and we (their children), and our children (their grandchildren) converged on a national park they love, camped together, and had a celebratory lunch at a lodge in the park (which made it a little more special than just camping--kind of a more formal meal). We spent an afternoon seeing one of the major natural attractions of the park, letting the kids play, and doing some mild walking / hiking. It's a really beautiful memory for all and it didn't involve the usual stress of a large party / invitations / RSVP's / catering / etc. If I recall correctly, we teamed up as families to prepare one meal each night at camp and just shared snacks, breakfast prep, etc. We did have at least 1 RV, along with some small "cabins" so that we could prep food easily and had some space. As someone mentioned above: take photos! This sort of non-material idea, for people in the stage of life who are downsizing, could be applied to a day trip too. Anything in a beautiful setting where you can celebrate the milestone, stress-free. All of us adults pitched in for a weekend hotel stay for them too. Another gift that didn't involve "stuff". A friend I know whose in-laws just celebrated their 50th went on a big family trip for 10 days: more involved, more expensive...but good memories were made...photos taken...no traditional gifts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 For my parent's 40th, we booked a 5BR lodge in a resort area and spent a long weekend together as a family. With your travel plans already booked, is that something you could plan for for the holidays or next year? Are they still in good enough health that they enjoy traveling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 (edited) My SIL found a happy picture of them, one that was especially emotion-filled (they were laughing together and it was out our wedding actually) and had it *drawn* by an artist and framed. Sort of cluttery but sort of not as you hang it on the wall. 2 hours ago, Kassia said: We've done things like a Roomba, fruit of the month club, Netflix subscription, and gift cards to local restaurants These all seem good. They put "FIFTY" on the license plate, which was pretty cute. Or get them matching labeled golf shirts if they golf together or something. Edited May 10, 2019 by PeterPan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 2 hours ago, Farrar said: 50th anniversary just screams going somewhere or doing something special to me. We tried to get my inlaws to go on a road trip. My FIL wouldn't fly, and it was his last opportunity to travel as after that his health declined. So it's definitely a nice idea. My grandparents went back to where they honeymooned, Yellowstone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 We did the Party (Open House, at their church, with extended family, friends, even Dad's old college roommate). Our son compiled a slide show, with music--echoing the Electronic Photo Frame idea. My Mom loves clutter, so we made a 11x14 poster of their wedding photo . . . & used it as decor for the party. Asking friends & family to send cards with their remembrances is easy & heart-felt. And take a group family photo. My in-laws hired a professional photographer & our session was on the fringes of a local park. Exhausting, but it's what they wanted as a keepsake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 21 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said: Book a professional photographer for a 1 hr session. Seriously, you'll treasure the photos (even if you don't feel like photogenic people). This is a great idea, most grandparents would love fabulous photos with a grandchild. And they don't have to be 'formal' photographs just because you have a photographer; they can be casual and fun if that's your preference. In my area, we have a lot of talented people who do it as a second job. They will meet you at a park or come to your house, and you pay a couple of hundred dollars and get so many edited digital images (so they don't have to print/frame any of them if they prefer to stay digital). The good ones will talk or message with you a bit to figure out what you are going for - my dds had the same photog for senior pics but their sessions were completely different and reflected their personalities. And the trip out for the anniversary is a great gift in and of itself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 extended family photo if everyone is able to attend dinner reception and slide show of them through the years season tickets to the local live theater/sporting event/favorite venue everyone pitches in for them to travel somewhere everyone pitches in to rent a house or two for a few days for an extended family gathering everyone pitches in to their favorite charity/cause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 12, 2019 Share Posted May 12, 2019 I’ve checked with a high school friend (who did DH and my wedding photos as his first professional photography job as a college student), and he’s willing to come and do photos at the reception/party and some family photos :). 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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