project :: parent's anniversary book

This past year my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. As a family, we enjoyed an incredible Alaskan cruise to celebrate my parents in style... but I really wanted to do something special to honor my mom and dad for this special occasion.

So... I really wanted to create a photo album that would help commemorate 35 years of marriage. I started out by emailing my parents a few questions about the past 35 years of their marriage. I have to say, getting their answers to these questions was my absolute favorite part of this project. I emailed them separately... but the same 8 questions. It was so fun reading their responses. These questions ended up directing the flow and order of my album. Here's a glimpse of the finished product and what made it so special...

I kept the cover pretty simple... used a few fun embellishments from my stash and called it done. It was important to bring attention to the 35 year anniversary here.


On the first page I really wanted the wedding photo to be the main attraction, so again, I kept things pretty simple.


Once you turn to the first spread, I really wanted the questions to take over. Question 1... "Tell me about the first time you met mom/dad?" My dad's answer is too cool not to share... when he first saw my mom in the K-State campus cafeteria he turned to his roommate and said, "See that girl? I'm gonna marry that girl one day." Love it.


Question 2... "What is one of your favorite memories from when you were dating?" Question 3 (see top photo)... "What do you remember most about your wedding day?"

Question 4... "What have you learned from having children?"


I used some of my baby/childhood photos for one spread...


...and then used some baby/childhood photos of my sister for the next spread.


Then I did a couple more pages of some photos of my sister and I growing up.


Birthdays and Christmases were always a big deal in my family, so I wanted to make sure I captured that in the album.


My parents have taken some really cool trips over the past 35 years of marriage, so I wanted to incorporate that as well. Question 5... "What is your favorite trip or vacation with mom/dad?"


Question 6... "What is the best thing about being married to mom/dad?"


Question 7... "What have you learned over the past 35 years of marriage?"


Question 8... "What is your hope for the next 35 years of marriage?"


On the last page I made a blank "Alaska cruise" layout... a spot for them to add a photo from our amazing Alaskan vacation.


I finished the book by creating an envelope on the back cover to hold letters and emails from several friends and family.


I simply used email and facebook to contact my parent's friends and family... asking them to email me a few lines of congratulations or memories they wanted to share for my parents 35th anniversary. It was so sweet to read all of the kind words that flooded my inbox.

This was such a fun project for me. I was able to learn more about my parent's marriage and get a glimpse of what their dating life was like. Mom & Dad... thank you for your constant example of love. I love you.