Honoring Parents' Anniversaries at the Reception

Knottie55230958

Our wedding date is on my parents' 28th wedding anniversary, and my FI's parents would have celebrated their 31st anniversary a month before ours. I wanted to recognize and honor them both at the reception, but nothing too extravagant. My parents aren't really dancers, and I'm not sure about my FI's...although, maybe if we put them on the spot (and we joined them), they may be open to it? 

Has anyone else done something similar, and if so, what were your ideas? Any ideas will be appreciated -- thank you so much in advance! 

lyndausvi

I got married a day before my parents 40th.  The DJ gave them a shout out and played their song, but everyone was invited to dance, not just them. 

My SIL got married on our anniversary, she also had our song played and the DJ gave us a shout out, but the floor was open to everyone.

Lauderdale Pink

I am not a big fan of others being honored at a wedding, but do like the ideas from lyndausvi.  If you are having a program, you could mention these honors in the program along with a wedding picture of each couple, or you could have a table set up with each of their wedding pictures and a card with the dates in front of each photo (like escort cards). 

[Deleted User]

If you are giving a speech yourself you can mention it that you would like to thank your parents for being such a great role model in marriage as your FI parents just celebrated 31st anniversary last month & your parents are celebrating their 28th today.

Jen4948

Whatever you do or don't do, make sure they're okay with being "honored" at all and if so, with the way you decide to do it.  If they don't want a special dance in their honor, for instance, don't do it.  But don't put them on the spot with it.

nicole4793

My wedding is on my parents' 28th anniversary as well! I was thinking of having the DJ give them a little shout out when they are announced at the reception. My dad is very outgoing, but my mom is quite shy so I know she wouldn't want too much attention called to her (like a special dance or something) so I figured that would be good since they have to walk into the reception room and be announced anyway.  

Jen4948

nicole4793 said:

My wedding is on my parents' 28th anniversary as well! I was thinking of having the DJ give them a little shout out when they are announced at the reception. My dad is very outgoing, but my mom is quite shy so I know she wouldn't want too much attention called to her (like a special dance or something) so I figured that would be good since they have to walk into the reception room and be announced anyway.  

If your mom is shy, then I'd make sure she's okay with this before you do it. A shout out could make her just as uncomfortable as a special dance.

theartistformerlyknownas

H's aunt and uncle had gotten married at the same venue as us, on the same weekend 25 years earlier (their actual anniversary wasn't until Tuesday, but they had gotten married on the second Saturday in September). As the anniversary dance was winding down, the DJ called out special congrats to H's grandparents as the longest marriage in attendance at 63 years (they weren't dancing due to bad hips and Parkinson's) and wished a happy 25th anniversary to Uncle J and Aunt D. 

atlastmrsg

If you're doing toasts, when it gets to you, this would be a potentially nice time to say something very brief.  

nicole4793

Jen4948 You're definitely right! 

mrsknific

I think that is an awesome thing for you guys to do! I am sure that both of your parents would be really touched that you took time on your special day to remember theirs That being said, my FSIL's wedding was a day after her grandparents anniversary. They chose to honor it by doing the anniversary dance at the wedding. I had never heard of it before but it will DEFINITELY be apart of my wedding. You start by calling all married couples to the dance floor. The DJ then starts a song. (something special you choose) He lets people dance for a bit and then asks everyone who has been married for "a day or less" "5 years or less" "10 years or less" ect. ect. to please exit the dance floor. The last couple left dancing finishes the song and gets recognized for being married for so long! While both of your parents probably won't be the last ones left, but you can maybe call out their specific number of years "28 years or less" "31 years or less" to honor them or ask the DJ to make a comment about it.... That is just one idea. I also really like the idea of playing "their song" and announcing the meaning of it. Either way, I'm sure both sets of parents will appreciate the acknowledgement

amb1062

I got married last year on my Aunt and Uncle's 25th wedding anniversary (it was actually the same day, August 24!) I am really close with them, and my fiance and I are both big family people so we actually had a very small cake to honor the fact that they spent their 25th anniversary with us! We let them cut it and everything.  I say, go with what is comfortable for you. Either way they will feel special and thankful that you recognized them. I LOVE your idea of playing the song, I wish I would have thought of that!

hutchsl

How fortunate you are to have this problem. DH and I married later in life and both of our fathers have passed away. We honored our parents with their wedding pictures on our guest book table with a small frame underneath with their names and wedding date. My mom was too old to travel to our wedding - she lives out of state.

dazzlingfox

My fiance and I are getting married on my late grandmother's birthday, and it would also be her and my late grandfather's wedding anniversary as well.  We're making the centerpieces about her and will also have a small table somewhere with pictures of all our grandparents since they aren't with us today. 

Jen4948

dazzlingfox said:

My fiance and I are getting married on my late grandmother's birthday, and it would also be her and my late grandfather's wedding anniversary as well.  We're making the centerpieces about her and will also have a small table somewhere with pictures of all our grandparents since they aren't with us today. 

I think this is a little too much emphasis on those who aren't there.  It's one thing to give absent loved ones subtle recognition, like tributes in a wedding program if you are having one, playing their favorite dances, a brief mention in a speech, and so on, but making all the centerpieces about someone and all the photos can really overemphasize a sense of sadness and grief on what should be a happy occasion and take away from it rather than adding to it.  So I'd deemphasize this to some extent.  You might say in a speech something like, "Today, X years ago, my beloved grandparents, Names, got married, and their marriage of X years is a profound inspiration for us."  But I'd leave it at that.

peachy13

Keep it simple... maybe make a toast with your FI at the rehearsal dinner honoring both parents.