Porcelain gifts, such as this porcelain tea cup, are traditional gifts for 18th wedding anniversary parties.
An 18th wedding anniversary is a momentous occasion, marking the passion and commitment of many years. Therefore, a party celebrating this milestone calls for careful, thoughtful planning. The traditional symbols of an 18th wedding anniversary are porcelain and cat's eye gems, so gifts and decor for this anniversary party can include these themes. More important, this party should be themed to the couple's tastes, desires and shared history. Personalize an 18th wedding anniversary party by providing food, entertainment and decorations that reflect who the married couple really is.
Parties Small & Large
First consider how large you would like this anniversary party to be. Some couples may prefer to celebrate their anniversary alone, rather than throwing a party. In this case, a romantic weekend getaway or cruise might be the perfect fit. Other couples may want to celebrate their anniversaries with others. But would they prefer an intimate family gathering, or a larger celebration? An intimate family gathering can easily be planned to take place at home or in a favorite restaurant, while a larger party will necessitate a larger space. In this case, consider renting out an entire restaurant or venue. If you have a sizable backyard and the weather is warm, you may be able to accommodate a large amount of people by throwing an outdoor party, such as a barbecue.
Invitations
Your party invitations should reflect the theme and level of formality that you would like your anniversary party to have. If you are planning a formal, sit-down dinner, your invitations should arrive via the mail and require an RSVP. On the other hand, if you want your anniversary party to be more of an open house mixer, you may choose to relay your invitations online, or via phone or email. If you are sending invitations, consider designing them in the couple's favorite colors, or incorporating photos of the couple into them.
Decor
Decor choices will be heavily dependent upon the party's theme and level of formality, as well as the couple's tastes. For instance, a luau-style party does not require the use of linen and napkin rings, and if the hostess hates pink, it should not be used in the color scheme. However, framed photos, photo albums and video of the couple should be heavily featured at any anniversary party, regardless of its type. In addition to displaying photos of the couple on the walls and their photo albums on the tables, printed photos of the couple could be used to construct napkin rings, party favors or even place mats. If the couple has any shared hobbies or passions, such as a love of Shakespeare or tennis fever, consider designing the party's decor around these interests. In addition, porcelain and cat's eyes may be incorporated into decor. Try serving food and drink from exclusively porcelain containers, or using grouping of cat's eyes to create unusual table settings.
Menus
Menus can be a fun way of celebrating a couple's shared history. For instance, your anniversary dinner menu could replicate what was served on the couple's wedding day. Another option would be to serve the couple's favorite foods, regardless of whether they go together or not. This could result in a fun hodgepodge menu of a wide variety of mismatched foods, such as fried chicken, chow mein, lasagna and Bananas Foster. You could also experiment with serving foods that were in fashion 18 years ago, when the couple was first married. A long-past food fad, such as black linguini or fondue, could trigger happy memories of when the couple were newlyweds.
Entertainment
Depending on the size of the party, you may need no entertainment at all. For smaller gatherings, consider making a mix tape or mix CD of the couple's favorite songs. Larger gathering may necessitate hiring a DJ. In this case, make sure that he or she is apprised of the couple's favorite musicians beforehand. A band may be engaged for larger parties as well. Finally, if the couple enjoys karaoke, consider renting a karaoke machine.
Gifts
If you want your gifts to the couple to reflect the traditional themes of an 18th wedding anniversary, try giving them collectible porcelain, such as an antique vase or tea set. Another appropriate gesture would be to give them jewelry with cat's eyes in it, such as cuff links for him or a bracelet for her. You can also make a gift for the couple, such as a scrap-booked photo album or an edited video of a recent celebration which you videotaped. Other gift ideas include a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant; matching gift sets, such as His and Hers towels; and a bottle or case of their favorite beverage.
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