40th Wedding Anniversary/Renewing Vows - Surprise for my Mum - HELP!!!

[PurpleLostPrincess]

With the help from a friend, and my Dad, we are organising an event for my Mum as a surprise. She has mentioned it lots of times over the years, and I think we're actually going to pull it off. Thing is, I don't know if there is any etiquette to these things and want to make sure we have remembered everything. Does anybody have any ideas of what I may have missed?

Here's what we have so far:

Venue: booked
Invites: gone out - have invited 66 people
Food: sorted
Outfits: (my DD's are being flower girls, thinking of getting them nice dresses from BHS this week). DS (16) will be 'giving her away' or walking her down the aisle, need to find him something smart.
Flowers: being sorted.
Balloons: ordered
DJ: booked
Officiate: booked
Favours: getting some from ebay, friend is making truffles to go in them.
Bubbles and disposable cameras to go on the tables: got them
Pictures: Friend will be taking them.
Car: the hall is just around the corner from their house but we want to spoil her and will decorating their new car and I will drive them around the block lol!
Alcohol: will buy wholesale.
Crockery & tablecloths: Not sure if we should buy the tablecloths, or hire it all out. Can't do paper tablecloths under any circumstances
Interpreter: booked (lots of profoundly deaf family).

I really feel like I've forgotten something really important. Any suggestions before I run out of time please!?

TIA

xxPLPxx

Bump

Sorry to put a downer on things but deciding to renew your vows is a deeply personal thing
do you know she will like this surprise? That the things you've organised will be what she wanted?
But I guess you know all that

Thanks, yes I didn't give any background on that did I!? She has said lots of times that she wants to do it for their 40th Anniversary. Many years ago, she wanted a surprise 40th Birthday party, but ended up having to organise it herself, I don't think she ever forgave my Dad for that, so this is kind of a way to make up for it. She works extremely hard and is the backbone of the family, so we want to spoil her. She has such a heavy workload, that if we told her, she would end up taking over and making herself ill. We're still trying to decide when to tell her about the event, we definitely need to give her some time to get used to the idea, so she can enjoy it properly and prepare herself! She was a bit low the other week, so I told her that 'something' is being arranged but that I couldn't tell her what. She said she doesn't want to be at a disadvantage and I promised her that won't be the case.

We're on holiday the week before and my parents are joining us for a few days, which falls on the actual day of their anniversary. We will be having a meal to celebrate with them, I'm thinking of telling her then. Also, Dad has to get her a ring that she has wanted for a long time now, and we need to go shopping for an outfit for her, so she knows 'something' will be happening...

Sounds fab!

Sounds lovely - what a great thing to do to celebrate your parents' life together!

Only thing I can think of that I don't see listed is music for the ceremony, but I don't know if you want any it. Do you need any sort of equivalent of an order of service? Haven't been to a vow renewal before, so am basing my thoughts on weddings!

Thank you !

Well, we have decided to have 'Love lifts us up where we belong' playing as DS walks her down the aisle (so exciting!!), as it's one of her favourites! This will be played by the DJ who is booked to come before the ceremony.

Thank, yes I did think of an 'order of service' but decided against it, as it's simple really - Blessing, food, fun lol!

Need to think of something for the kids, to keep them occupied, Mum loves having a family atmosphere and had a magician at her last birthday do. There is a park at the venue, I'm thinking of getting some colouring stuff for the little ones maybe...?

How about booking her a hair appointment for the day before?

Good idea snice, will sort it - our friends have a salon and are invited (old family friends), so will give them a call...

Just got the first official RSVP by email, yay!!!! I'm getting all excited now!

Have found the favours on ebay, but they only come in 50's or 100's, so messaged the seller and they have said they will do me a quote for the amount we need, how nice!

It's this Saturday - we just told her (well, Dad asked her to marry him again!). She cried and couldn't believe it - I reckon it will take a day or two to soak in, hence why we told her today. She is going to get an outfit on Friday and we've purposefully not told her all the plans/details so she can't take over, bless her! I'm still in shock that we actually managed to pull it off but there's still a few loose ends to tie and lots of work to do....!!!!!!

What a lovely thread - hope you are having a perfect day.

Hope your Parents had a wonderful day today PLP, :)

Thank you - it was totally amazing!!!

We told Mum on Thursday and she was really shocked, emotional and blown away. We thought we'd give her a few days to get her head around it, prepare her vows and get an outfit. I'm so proud of the kids - DS walked her down the aisle and DD1 & DD2 were flower girls. Mum really enjoyed the whole evening and even had a few drinks - everybody commented on how lovely it all was! We had about 50 people turn up and it was so emotional when they did their vows, really beautiful...

I didn't anticipate how knackering it would be - didn't stop all evening and couldn't have done it without my friends who helped with the bar and the kitchen and setting up/clearing up. My feet are killing me but it was all well worth it - not sure what I'll do with myself now lol!

Actually, I'm arranging a surprise baby shower for a friend in September, but it's much smaller so shouldn't be such hard work, phew!

I still can't believe we actually pulled it off - we put cameras on all the tables and I can't wait to get them developed!

Ha, just realised I posted on Wednesday to say we told her lol - repeating myself there, sorry .

DH will be glad to get his wife back, or so he keeps telling me! Good job he loves my parents too lol! xx

Sounds like it all went to plan and that they had a wonderful day! No you can relax haha, (for just a short while!) :0

Now not No!