Party of Two for the Big 2-5

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Sorry to keep ya hanging from Tuesday's post but here's the lowdown.  The Mr told me from the beginning he would be cooking us a big dinner.  He's not one to typically do that so he was nervous but excited as he was researching recipes.  I should back up a second.  He told me this after trying to duplicate something similar from our 10 year anniversary.  He was going to hire a private chef to make us dinner on the beach, under a tent with a projector set up to show a slideshow he made and a fire with s'mores on the beach after.  It cost him under $1000 15 years ago and with a famous chef.  This go round was going to cost multiple thousands of dollars with someone we've never heard of, couldn't vouch for their food and the event planner lady wasn't able to get anything he wanted despite having it on the front of her website.  She basically made it sound like everything he wanted was going to be a pain in the ass for her to do or get permits for.  After becoming very frustrated, he said screw it and he would do all or most of that himself.  No, he's not particularly a cook but he was going to give it a try and the worst case is we'd order a pizza and have a laugh if it went south.  

He was bouncing off the walls for months as plans came to him and was frustrated he couldn't share any of them with me.  I too was planning a few things but it wasn't until time was slipping away from me that I really began to kick some stuff into gear.  I put together a wedding website with a guest book and asked a few friends to test it for me with the passwords.  One friend that I've known for over 30 years was procrastinating to the point of it being flat out rude and she gave me another excuse one day and I had to vent about it to the Mr.  I couldn't give all of the details obviously but said so and so was really pissing me off and acting like she couldn't do the task without something specific (which she totally could because she has a brain in her head) and I couldn't wait to tell him because I've got stories.  He's like "oh, me too!"  Then the more he thought about what I was saying, he's like "I think we may be doing something similar."  Then later I said how I ordered some decorations I wanted and he's like "uh, I did too."  Then we knew we had to start sharing a few things because otherwise this was going to look like a frat party if we had no theme or a hodge podge of decorations.  I told him since it was our silver anniversary, that was what I always envisioned were silver decorations.  He had envisioned something else (our wedding colors) but that he liked my idea and that we should compare notes on some of that and we did.  I said I was looking for some masks for us to wear that I liked but couldn't find anything and he laughed and said they were already arriving.  He asked if the thing I was frustrated about was a card for people to sign and I said yes (at least I could still have the website as a surprise).  He said he'd already sent one to a few people in my family, his mom, and a few friends (including the one who was procrastinating for me.)  I was glad he told me who because I could then work on getting other people we knew and I would send one message only because I wasn't going to beg people to do it.  It was either something they wanted to participate in or not.  

We did get each other gifts that we got beforehand because they wouldn't be practical to travel with.  I got a 25th anniversary ring that had a story behind the design making it a little more special.  He got a new electric guitar with a silver-ish outline that was his ultimate guitar after a month or so of looking online and being ignored by the douches in Guitar Center.  I spent a full week working about 10-13 hours a day finding, scanning and timestamping pics over 25 years to make a photobook of our marriage.  I thought about bringing it with us but I didn't want something to happen to it so we opened it a few weeks before we left.  It was so amazing to go through and see all of our travels over the years and all of the fun times we've had.  You really do forget so much until you can see it in front of you.  Those things were nice but I also wanted to get him something to open there.  Since he loves stargazing, I got him a star map on Etsy of the day he said I love you, the day we got married and our 25th anniversary all with the locations underneath.  I also got him some wooden guitar picks engraved with lyrics or symbols of our dating life from Etsy as well and told him he wasn't obligated to keep them for years and years.  Those things kind of have their life cycle. 

We had a breakfast from a local joint and then when it was time for lunch, I sent the Mr to a tea room up the street that packs them up for you to take home.  While he was gone, I set up the tiered trays I bought to bring with us as well as vintage 25th anniversary teacups.

I wanted us to dress up like we would if we were having people to a party so we both got nice outfits to wear.  If we know anything, it's that the 25th anniversary pic is always one for the personal history books and I didn't want us to look like we didn't put any effort into it just because we were going it alone.  I took care of a good majority of the decorating while The Mr cooked a dinner that is what we would've had if we were on Kauai at Duke's.  Teriyaki steak and garlic mashed potatoes with a shrimp cocktail appetizer.

I have to say the Mr did a wonderful job and he even made the teriyaki sauce from scratch!  He can make it any time.  (Hint!)  

I took care of getting a cake and thought we should have something a little more than our usual single layer from Shaw's so I got a special topper from Etsy and this cake.

We set up a photo booth and it wasn't just our 25th wedding anniversary but the 25th anniversary our love affair with Hawaii began.  I found some hokey Hawaii themed props and we danced, took pics being goofy and accepted it was the closest we were getting to our original plans.

Afterward, we exchanged each others cards and presents which was fun.

We wrapped up the night with the Mr setting up an outdoor projector he bought and with our folding beach chairs on a side patio and a propane heater since it was a chilly 45 degrees.  

(I'm SO glad he didn't spend thousands for us to be freezing our niblets off on the beach because it was also drizzling on and off!)

He played the video of our wedding (which looks ancient) but it was truly like reliving it all over again even though we've seen it before.  We were more able to appreciate seeing the people that have left us like my grandparents and his dad and others.  It was like they were with us for a little while.  The Mr then made a slideshow of our 25 years together and it was so nice to look back on our married life.  We then exchanged the card he had family and friends sign and I brought up the website and enjoyed seeing the well wishes of others.  Even though we couldn't have the party we wanted it was nice to have people we cared about virtually taking part in our celebration.  It confirmed what I've always known and will always live by...anniversaries, especially the big ones, are WORTH celebrating and putting effort into even if they aren't how you always imagined.  (Actually, especially if they aren't how you planned!)

By the end of the night between our dinner, dancing, goofing around, reading letters and cards and reminiscing, the Mr and I both remarked it actually did feel just like our wedding night.  We were exhausted!  The next day as we were out, the Mr said "it's weird but I truly feel like we just got married yesterday!  Like this is the first day of our new life together" and so did I.  Did we have our big party like we always dreamed we would?  No.  But it was memorable, special and filled with love and yes...

it was awesome.

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