Ask Rosemary

Rosemary is our resident expert on party planning, party favors, fun recipes and great gift prize ideas.

If you would like to Ask Rosemary for ideas to help plan your next party please fill out our Inquiry Form detailing your information. Your question and Rosemary's response will be listed below within one week.

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I just recently had a surprize 50th bithday party. I would like to send thankyou notes to everyone for attending and for the gifts. I'm not sure what to write or how to word them. I really need your help! Thanks, Debbie
	Belated Happy Birthday! You could write something like: Thank you for being here for my landmark celebration! I was surprised and delighted to see so many good friends gathered to celebrate my special occasion. I love all of you and appreciate your kindness. The world's a much better place with people like you in it.
I am searching for any information on giving my son a party graduation. He has had a difficult few years and this last year he received all A's and B's in 11 grade. He is not having to work full time and we decided that it would better for him to take the GED and he did and passed with flying colors. The problem now is I don't know how to send announcements and party invitations that would fit a GED....any help would be appreciated...thank you in advance.
	A graduation is a graduation. You could use: Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our son, John. He has completed his GED and we are very proud of him. Let's party! John has completed high school and we are very proud of his accomplishments.
We are giving an informal dinner for our daughter who is going off to college in Aug. It is too late, I think to call it a grad. party so I wanted it to be sort of a "send off" or "good luck" theme. How would I word the invite? Thanks! Angie
	Please join us in wishing "Mary" a happy journey as she begins her freshman year at (University name). or We would like you to share in the "send off" party for "Mary". She is beginning her freshman year at (University name).
Hi Rosemary, I am making invites for my mother's 70th birthday party. She has asked that no gifts be given, however, her best friend said that she knows my mother would really like gift cards or monetary gifts. How do I word this on the invitation? I have put the following on the invite so far: Please, no gifts. Your gift will be your presence. A wishing well for cards will be available. Or: A wishing well for cards and gift cards will be available. What do you think? Please help! Added response after reading answer. Hi Rosemary! Thanks for the advice. I spoke to my mom and made sure that she did not want any gifts - and that is her wish. So, I placed the following wording in the invitation: Your gift will be your presence A wishing well for cards will be available My mom and I both agreed on this wording for the invite. I figured that if someone really wanted to give her a gift, they could by slipping a gift card into the card. She is so sweet. She just wants to celebrate and share this milestone birthday with her friends and family. She'll probably spend the next morning in her cozy chair reading cards with lovely birthday wishes written in them and she might even be surprised by a gift card or two!
	I like the idea of the wishing well for cards and gift cards. This way the guests will not feel obligated to bring a gift. However you cannot tell them no gift is necessary (your gift will be your presence) and then ask for a gift card. You could add: Let's make this a real celebration for Mom. She loves to shop! Your gift card will be greatly appreciated. There will be a wishing well for cards and gift cards.
Rosemary, We are planning a housewarming party but our house is very small and would like to only ask for gift cards to place that we need things from such as: a new toilet or patio funiture. Would this be rude? How can I word that in the invitation? Thank you!
	It is difficult to ask for what you want to be given as a gift. However, you could play up the theme of the "fund". Have an object decorated in the entrace foyer or some part of the house where the guest enter. You could decorate a cardboard box and label it the Wish List Fund. On the invitation you could include: We want to share our new home with you. Come visit and enjoy the refreshments. In lieu of gifts we are asking for gift cards for our Wish List fund. We are trying to purchase patio furniture and a new toilet.
Hi Rosemary, I was wondering if you had any ideas or suggestions for my son's first birthday party. The theme we chose is a fire engine/fire fighter birthday party. The same theme as his nursery. The ages of the kids attending will range from 1-10 years old. Any ideas would gladly be appreciated. Thanks, Kenya
	A little imagination goes a long way.... I would suggest a train ride. You take cardboard boxes in various sizes and paint them with markings of a train. Hook them together with rope and have your son be the engineer. You can be real creative and put a cardboard piece in the engine box for your son to sit on. Take some foam board and draw the outline of an engineer. Cut a circle for positioning a face with an engineer cap on top. Have each guest stand in behind the cut out and take a picture. Send the picture with the thank you card. You can easily find engineer clipart on the net. If the guest list is not too large, you could purchase the wooden engineer whistles for favors and use a permanent writing pen to write your son's name and birthday on each. Some fun games could be pass the train (you could purchase a little toy engine) give it to the child and play music. The person who is left holding the engine when the music stops is out. The main thing is to have fun!
Dear Ms. Rosemary, I am a college student on a budget and I want to send out thank you cards for graduation money. What can I put on all my cards for everyone?
	Congratulations! You could write a general note: Thank you for being here to celebrate my special day. Your prayers and support have helped me get this far and I am counting on your continued support.
I recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Education. I did not participate in the actual graduation cermony. I would like to send out announcements to family and close friends letting them know that I have graduated. How can I word it?
	Congratulations! You should take a look at the announcement cards we offer. They could be made up like a calling card with your name and title reflecting your degree. You could also write one to say: Announcement: Mary Smith, PhD in Education Graduation date: May 1, 2007 Degree received from Marywood College
I wish to give my son, Kyle Jefferson better known as KJ a going away party. He is going to University of Wisconsin. On the invitation, I would like to ask for monetary gifts perferred. How do I word this invitation?
	You could include something like: Let's give KJ a great send off and some extra pocket money for his freshman year of expenses.

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