- I do have an update on the food. It appears that a caterer would be very expensive from the two examples I found. I do have a call into our villa and they are going to ask our cook if she can accommodate a few more for a nice dinner on Sunday instead of hiring an outside company. If that is okay with everyone, I can get that arranged. Todd and I will plan to pick up wine, cheeses, meats, olives, etc for afternoon appetizers. We will also look for a cake. As an alternative we could go to town for lunch or even dinner instead. Thoughts?
- A DJ will run around 400 eruos. Maybe it would be better to bring our own music? Is anyone willing and able to bring the music and a way to play it?
- We discussed a black and white or black/white/gold theme. Fancy and dressed up. Thoughts??
- Debbie is working on getting information on a camera lens or tripod as a gift.
- We also discussed recognizing each decade of her life. Perhaps we could do 0-20 over breakfast 21-40 over lunch and 41-60 over dinner and then a peek into her future. Or would everyone prefer to keep it all together, more like a presentation after we eat? Other ideas? Are we even heading down the right path here?
Looking forward to hearing back from all of you...
2 comments:
I'm worried that we are trying to make this too complicated for a party that is going to happen 6,000 miles away from where any of us live.
Catering, decorations, a DJ, Formal dress?
Despite Sharry's generously providing accommodations, we are all still on a VERY expensive vacation. I doubt many people want to add to that expense or do things like pack a formal dress for one evening.
I still think Sharry will care much more for the personal touch rather than the generic trimmings of a party. Beyond all being there together, having meals, a present, and doing something special for her, what would having decorations, music, and formal dress add?
But... having said that, here is my positive contribution:
Music: If someone can bring portable speakers for an iPod - I always have my iPod with me and I have lots of music from every phase of Sharry's life. Of course, her favorite music is classical and opera. Will we want to play her type of music?
Decorations: Isn't an Italian villa as decorative as it gets? If we were here, we'd spend lots of money to make the place look like an Italian villa.
Food: If we can't get the cook to do it, then we should expand your shopping to pick up even more deli stuff - that's what we all love most anyway. Going to town for dinner is also a great idea; we just need a good recommendation.
Dress: when in Rome...
I like the idea of doing the decades of her life and doing them over each meal. Then, as part of the present, doing the future decades. Good idea!
My 2 cents so far...
I'm in agreement with Rand about the atmosphere, decorations and dress. I think being in Italy is special enough. I will concede to wearing something nicer than jeans and a T-shirt for Sharry but formal seems a bit too much to me. I would prefer a nice 'Family Get Together' environment over a party with a DJ but that's me. I'm not sure if that's Sharry's opinion or not. It's her party so that should be taken into account. I do think that money would be better directed to Sharry's present as opposed to an environment that is already very special.
I vote on the cook preparing something nice to eat. That way we don't have to worry about getting to and from somewhere and drinking isn't an issue. Even if we pay the cook extra for something special it will probably still be less expensive than other alternatives.
I also like the idea of having the entire day dedicated toward Sharry's birthday centered around the 3 meals, culminating at dinner with the grand finale (whatever that is). That goes along with the Queen For a Day idea even if we don't actually do that.
I haven't had any ideas for a present now that she seems to have what she needs in the way of camera equipment. I'm probably the least 'in the know' of what she'd like. She gets anything that she wants so maybe we should think in terms of something that she would never buy for herself but would really like; extravagant. Of course, Sharry WOULD buy that for herself. I'll keep thinking about it and post something later if I come up with anything.
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