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OT: Serious question for you guys

HuskyNan

HuskyNan

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I need your help with some ideas for a big event next year. I have three older brothers and the four of us are scattered across the U.S. so we don't get together all that often. My youngest son, who lives in Charlotte NC, is getting married over Memorial Day weekend next year, just a week before one of my brothers (they are much older than me :cool:)and his wife celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. I don't want to detract from my son's wedding, since it's their day, but would like to do something for my brother and his wife in the next day or so after the wedding.

My brother is ex-military (Air Force) and is now retired. He and his wife ,who are childless, travel extensively but otherwise live quietly. So what do we do for these guys? I thought a nice brunch but my son is having a post-wedding brunch, so that's out. My brother and his wife drink but are a one-or-maybe-two drink-occasionally type so a speakeasy or other fun night spot is out. The National Whitewater Training Center is a favorite spot of ours in the area so that's a maybe but it's not really a group activity for the entire family.

Any thoughts, guys? How did you celebrate a big anniversary/family reunion type of event?
 
HuskyNan said:
I thought a nice brunch but my son is having a post-wedding brunch, so that's out
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When ONO was asked for her favorite movie, she replied, “Matilda. You can’t go wrong with Matilda.”

I feel the same way about brunches. You can’t go wrong with a brunch, even if you just had one a few days earlier.
 
My sister just celebrated her 50th anniversary. Everyone chipped in and sent them to Ireland for a week.
 
How's the local theater scene in the area. If there's a nice show ...
 
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Head down to the beaches south of Wilmington,NC (four hours from Charlotte) - Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach or a plethora of beaches next door in Brunswick County. Myrtle Beach is an hour away if you like “action”.
 
The Charlotte Speedway has a big race (Coca-Cola 600) on Sunday, May 25th. Rent an RV and do a camp out in the infield of the race track.
 
The past two big family reunions I've attended, featured short, mixed-media (home movie/video clips, still pictures, etc.) shows about the life of the person(s) we were mainly there to celebrate. These shows brought back so many great memories for everyone. And it was very rewarding to help put these shows together (I helped with one for my sister's 50th birthday). This could be something that you and your other brothers could work on together; you needn't do it by yourself, and they may have some entertaining or special pictures/memories to contribute.
 
As per the thread on music - any live music events / venues . . . Much (I admit not all) of the various music events we attend would be "ok" for mixed ages; non-objectionable to the young and familiar to the older.
 
Have a sky diving or bungee jumping family reunion with a photographer to capture all the exhilarating moments, followed up by a family Olympics and then ending with a New England-style clam bake
 
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In my family it's just a big cookout somewhere nice, like a lake, or someplace with a view. Get a tent if necessary, and you can bring in one of those BBQ trucks where they do all the cooking.
Have everyone send copies of family photos to make collages and share some memories. Get your son's wedding cake baker to do something for dessert. Something nice and relaxed after the action of a wedding.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will discuss with my brothers.

One brother is in the Raleigh North Carolina area, one is in Arizona, and the third is in California. I'm in Florida. We will be staying in a hotel for the wedding. Logistics are difficult, to say the least. Fortunately, there is time.
 
Galaxyshooter said:
Have a sky diving or bungee jumping family reunion with a photographer to capture all the exhilarating moments, followed up by a family Olympics and then ending with a New England-style clam bake
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You want my 70+ year old brothers to jump off a bridge, huh? While I had those thoughts when I was little (I'm the baby), I've moved on from them :-)
 
Is it you and your husband that is going to celebrate or are you going to have the other 2 brothers as part of it? If it's just the four of you, a nice restaurant might be good. If it's with your brothers included, I would go with a catered BBQ.
 
I do have to side with the people suggesting catering (especially BBQ). A nice spot with some good food can’t be beat!
 
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Do your brothers and son like Chinese foods? If they do.
Call a local Chinese restaurant to have a Chinese BBQ at your yard, and ask a live small roast pig BBQ.
Then although you have two brunches but with different foods.
 
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MSGRET said:
Is it you and your husband that is going to celebrate or are you going to have the other 2 brothers as part of it? If it's just the four of you, a nice restaurant might be good. If it's with your brothers included, I would go with a catered BBQ.
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It's my three brothers and their wives, my two sons and their significant others, and my husband's sister. Maybe my new daughter in law's parents, dunno about them, but have to be nice to the in-laws. It helps that I like them.
 
Kaizen said:
Do your brothers and son like Chinese foods? If they do.
Call a local Chinese restaurant to have a Chinese BBQ at your yard, and ask a live small roast pig BBQ.
Then although you have two brunches but with different foods.
Expand ...
We'll be in Charlotte NC and I live in Florida, lol. We will all be staying in a hotel and my son lives in a condo so no yard. That's part of the logistics problem.
 
Does the family like hiking? Asheville is very cool, and a nice hub for that. Or, if they might like outdoors and outdoor scenery, rent a van for everyone, drive out along the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can drive up to the top of Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi river. It's a nice state park, they have a restaurant up there. Breweries in Asheville. Would be really easy to do a great day trip or overnight.
 
Have your other brothers weighed in with thoughts?

Just take them out for dinner. I am thinking they need a big fuss over the 50 years.
 
Dove said:
Have your other brothers weighed in with thoughts?

Just take them out for dinner. I am thinking they need a big fuss over the 50 years.
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My brothers? LOL. They’re guys.
 
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Athletic at all? We do a family rock climbing thing with a guide. Some of us are good, some total novices afraid of heights (yeah, and some over 70). It's fun, stimulating, and the post-climbing picnic and brewery visit are most excellent. But I like your whitewater proximity also...rafting?
 
Just do something to be with them in person. Gifts and presents are fine but as you get older being with family is cherished. If you want to top it off bring in a professional photographer to do some filming.
 
50 is special. Do a family celebration but, if you all can afford it, chip in and buy them two tickets to Paris for a long romantic weekend.
 
There are a lot of sites that support you gathering short appreciations and then creating a video to share. All sorts of ways folks can share their video and it's a lovely thing to show at a dinner/brunch gathering.

Simpler: My step-brother did a great job creating a slide show for my dad's 80th...
 
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