Ideas please

[Gal]

So, my sister and her husband are about to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. I am completely stuck for ideas for a gift for them, given their current situation of BIL being very poorly and unable to leave the house, or pretty much do anything more than watch telly

She (sis) wants to mark the occasion but the only thing they can do is to have a bit of an open house thing on the day...which is technically April 2nd but she's mentioned the Sunday (3rd) is a better day. She's aware she will be prepping a lot by herself when it is meant to be a joint celebration, I'm sure she won't be solely in charge as I have offered to help and I'm guessing their married son and DIL will be contributing too - at the very least! But the idea of going out for a meal or whatever altogether is out of the question, given N's condition.

So - what would be a nice gift for the forthcoming event? Any thoughts?

[saundra]

I wouldn't have a clue really as they can't travel or go out for a meal
Perhaps a you could buy a celebration cake
Or some drink with some nice glasses
I expect they have everything noisey
Good luck anyway

[Osc]

Could you get a "golden" rose in a nice pot?

[Workingman]

Golden Wedding - 50 years, so they are 70ish, and probably have everything they need except... the No1 when they got married or the No1 when they came back from their honeymoon:

Walker Brothers - The Sun ain't gonna shine any more
Dusty - You don't have to say you love me

I am thinking a sort of photo frame with the disc on top, a wedding photo bottom left and a wedding invitation, if one still exists, bottom right.

[Kaz]

I'm with Osc, we (my sister and I) got our parents a Golden rose for theirs.

[saundra]

I'm with Osc, we (my sister and I) got our parents a Golden rose for theirs.

Forgot about that it's always a good choice

[Diflower]

She doesn't need to do much herself at all Gal.

My mum's family have often operated a planned buffet, with each member bringing a specific item.
It's no good at all just saying, bring something, you end up with 100 sausage rolls, 6 puddings and several cakes
But everyone's happy if you say, could you bring x.

So, it depends on numbers, but one brings a quiche, one a plate of sliced ham, one a bowl of salad plus baby tomatoes, one new potatoes (either cooked, tossed in butter and in a microwaveable dish, or potato salad if you prefer).
Your sister could then just buy some baguettes, and maybe the sausage rolls or little sausages.
Then a couple bring puddings, one or two a cake.

You see? - no-one has to do very much at all, so they can hardly say no
It works just as well if you decide a set meal would be simpler.
For instance a gammon joint, cooked and sliced by sister.
Others bring the new potatoes, coleslaw, big bowl of salad, tomatoes, cucumber, whatever you want.
And one a trifle, one another pud, one or two a cake.
But all ready to go on a table, in nice bowls, dishes, etc.

[Workingman]

Di, we call that a Jacob's Join' up here.

The 'meal', from starters and main to pudding, is finalised and then guests pick what they will bring. It means that the hosts do not have to do much except the table.

As for the present. Well, a golden rose is fine, but it is not exactly thinking outside the box. It's a bit safe and.... TBH, a bit boring and traditional.

[saundra]

It's a good idea dif never heard of people bringing food before
It's hard to buy for a 50th if the couple at e mobile it's fine like
An afternoon tea out
Visit somewhere nice
And they do t need stuff for the house I do t expect

[TheOstrich]

I was thinking in terms of a commemorative plate inscribed with their names and wedding date, which they could display, but it's probably too short notice to get anything like that done, now ....

... you end up with 100 sausage rolls ...

Sounds like my kinda buffet ....