Create a special celebration with these amazing backyard anniversary party ideas! These fun anniversary party ideas will make the planning process easier to ensure a successful party for the special couple.
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Theme ideas
Great backyard anniversary party ideas should stem from an awesome theme. Here are some creative theme ideas you can build your party around.
1. Recreate the wedding.
Anniversary parties are about celebrating the big day and reminiscing on beautiful memories. This theme capitalizes on that by recreating the couple’s wedding! Double up on the joy by recreating the best elements of their wedding day.
2. Give them the wedding they never had.
If you know the happy couple wasn’t able to have such a nice wedding, you can make this special occasion an especially memorable event by giving them the wedding they never had. This is a perfect idea if you’re planning your own anniversary party because you get the chance to plan your dream wedding.
3. Have a garden party.
A garden party is a great idea because you can capitalize on the natural beauty of your own backyard and flowers, or use it as an excuse to do some landscaping and add more flower plants to create a beautiful garden space.
4. Create a fantasy world.
If the special couple loves fantasy, you can create a fantasy world for their anniversary party. Make it a party fit for fairy royalty by using a forest theme with woodsy decorations.
5. Go for nostalgia.
Go down memory lane by making the anniversary party all about the life the couple has built together. You can decorate with photos or objects that represent the different stages of their marriage, as well as momentous events and people. You could even create a timeline path where people can literally walk through the couple’s “memory lane.”
6. Use a travel theme about places they’ve been or want to visit.
If the couple loves to travel, you can make the party about the best places they’ve been to! You can use maps (like these cool world map paper fans) and travel photos to decorate, serve foods from places they’ve visited, and entertain with international music and activities!
7. Go back in time with a retro party.
Give guests a chance to dress up! You can use the decade from when the couple got married as the theme for the anniversary party or any decade that the couple particularly enjoys (e.g., 80’s pop party, 40’s jazz night, 50’s rock n roll, etc.).
8. Maximize fun with a casino night.
A casino night is a great theme with built-in entertainment! You can rent casino game tables, or buy some inexpensive casino games you can set up yourself.
9. Transform the backyard into a circus.
A circus theme can be great for a backyard party because you have a nice open space and can use different areas for different entertainers and activities. Use string lights and long red drapes to decorate and create a circus vibe.
10. Throw an enchanting masquerade party.
Create a night of elegant mystery with a beautiful Venetian masquerade theme! Make sure to have masks available, but most guests will enjoy bringing their own unique masks. Sell the theme with candelabra and crystal decorations.
11. Use a traditional wedding anniversary theme.
Here are ideas using the traditional anniversary themes for milestone years of marriage:
- First anniversary: You can use paper as the theme (e.g., use paper decorations, have people bring paper gifts, use beautiful anniversary paper plates, etc.)
- 10th anniversary: Use aluminum/tin to decorate (e.g., use cans to hold flowers, decorate with foil, ask guests for aluminum metal gifts, etc.)
- 20th anniversary: Serve food and decorate with beautiful disposable china paper plates and have guests bring china gifts.
- 30th anniversary: Use a white pearl theme by decorating with pearl garlands and asking guests to wear pearls!
- 40th wedding anniversary party: Make it a ruby red party with fake ruby gemstones strewn along the tables and plenty of ruby decorations. Plus, maybe a red velvet cake and ruby-colored presents.
- 50th wedding anniversary party ideas: Go for gold overload with beautiful gold anniversary decorations, champagne, gold foil cake, etc.
12. Have a tea party.
Make the happy couple feel like British royalty with a lavish tea party full of their favorite pastries and treats. This is a great option for an afternoon party.
13. Make it a picnic.
Set up a fun picnic area! This is a good idea for relaxed quality time with close friends and family. You can use stacked pallets to create a low picnic table like the one pictured and arrange comfy cushions, low benches, or even camping chairs for seating. Keep accessibility options in mind for guests who may not be able to sit on the ground.
14. Keep it small for an intimate dinner.
Keeping the guest list small makes it easier to prepare a truly special celebration where you can splurge on the best food and decor. Invite the closest friends and family for an intimate dinner party.
Food ideas:
These are the best backyard anniversary party ideas because they’re all about food! Check out these great ways to feed your guests.
15. Serve a variety of small plates.
Good food is essential for a great anniversary party! Serving a variety of small plates gives everyone plenty of food to enjoy and offers them the opportunity to try different things. It’s a great idea to use place cards to identify what each food is.
16. Fire up the grill.
Depending on your theme, the easiest way to serve yummy food might be to use the grill. You don’t have to serve hot dogs (unless that’s the couple’s favorite food). Pinchos, roasted veggies, salmon, etc. would be delicious!
17. Order a traditional catered buffet.
If you’re having a formal party you can save a lot of time by having a catered buffet where you don’t have to worry about cooking, setting up, or cleaning.
18. Impress guests with a giant charcuterie spread.
Create a grazing table covered in delicious cheeses, deli meats, fruits, jams, breads, spreads, etc. Make sure to take photos because it’s going to look beautiful!
19. Serve foods from around the world.
Giving guests plenty of food options is always a great idea. Make it an international feast by offering dishes from around the world. You can even use favorite family recipes or dishes from places the couple has visited!
20. Create a signature cocktail for the couple.
Get creative by coming up with a scrumptious cocktail that fits the theme of your anniversary party or represents something about the couple.
21. Rent a food truck.
This is one of the best backyard party ideas because you can easily serve the couples’ favorite food by having a food truck in your own backyard! People can order whatever they want and you don’t have to worry about cooking.
22. Create a magical dessert bar.
If you love sweets, then the best part of the party is the dessert table! Create an impressive dessert bar that people will love looking at and eating from. Use your theme and color scheme to decorate and get creative with the placement of the desserts and the types of desserts you’re offering. A variety of bite-size treats gives guests the chance to try different things!
23. Create the wedding cake of their dreams.
One of the most important things for a wedding is the cake. If you know the couple didn’t get to have the wedding of their dreams, the anniversary party is a great opportunity for a redo by serving the wedding cake of their dreams.
24. Recreate the original wedding cake.
Aside from marrying my soul mate, the best thing about my wedding was definitely the cake. If someone could recreate that for us I would be overjoyed! Learn as much as you can about the couple’s original cake (reference wedding photos, ask people who were there) and see if you can recreate it as a surprise!
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Decoration ideas:
Any list of backyard anniversary party ideas has to feature great decoration ideas for your outdoor space. Check out these easy ways to transform your backyard into a festive party space!
25. Display photos from their life together.
LED Clips Photo Garland
People LOVE looking at photos. Wedding photos as decoration are perfect for wedding anniversaries. Photos are a great opportunity to reminisce on fond memories the couple has shared together.
26. Fill the space with flowers.
Flowers are essential for any wedding-related event and they’re perfect for an outdoor anniversary party. Whether you’re using fresh flowers or artificial beauties like the ones below, they will create a lovely ambiance for your party.
FLOWER GARLAND
IVY GARLAND WALL
27. Transform the space with string lights/fairy lights.
Globe string lights and fairy lights are a great way to quickly add a little magic to your outdoor space. Use them strategically to highlight important spaces at your party (e.g., buffet table, entertainment areas, dance floor, etc.). Fairy lights in glass jars make great, simple centerpieces.
OUTDOOR STRING LIGHTS
OUTDOOR FAIRY LIGHTS
28. Go for rustic simplicity with tin cans and mason jars.
The simple, rustic look is perfect for an outdoor anniversary party in your own backyard. They’re affordable and an excellent DIY option because they’re easy to make. Using cans is especially appropriate for a 10th anniversary (aluminum is traditional) and glass jars are great for a 15th anniversary (crystal is traditional).
MASON JAR CENTERPIECE
29. Set up a projection screen.
A large projector screen is brilliant for a backyard party! You can use it to display a slideshow of the couple’s photos, play music videos, or even a movie for entertainment! Plus, you can use it as decoration by displaying beautiful scenery or images that align with the party theme (e.g., scenery and music from different countries if the theme is travel).
PROJECTOR SCREEN WITH STAND
30. Use draped fabric to transform the space.
Draping fabric over tree branches is a very easy way to transform the space using your selected color scheme. Plus, they look beautiful swaying in a gentle breeze and they add an air of romance to your outdoor space.
WHITE CHIFFON DRAPES
31. Prepare a fire pit.
If you’re having a small gathering, a nice firepit can be a beautiful decorative feature and people will want to gather around it. You can serve treats for people to make on the fire (e.g., smores, mini sausages, grilled cheese, etc.), doubling as a fun activity!
STEEL FIRE PIT
32. Put up a tent.
Outdoor events are at the mercy of the weather. Make sure your backyard anniversary party doesn’t get rained out by putting up a good tent. You can use tents strategically to identify different party areas (e.g., seating area, buffet area, drinks area, games area, etc.).
33. Bring indoor furniture out for the party.
If you’re having a relatively small gathering, pull the dining table and chairs outside to create a unique and beautiful setting for your party. You can also utilize other indoor items for additional seating and decoration, just be sure the weather will cooperate so your indoor items don’t get damaged!
34. Hang paper lanterns.
Paper lanterns make great party decor because they quickly create a festive vibe and can offer a nice pop of color to match your theme. Pair them with string lights for an even nicer visual effect.
PAPER LANTERNS
Entertainment ideas:
These backyard anniversary party ideas are all about creative ways to entertain guests and ensure they have a great time at your party!
35. Celebrate the couple’s cultural background.
Celebrating different cultures is so fun and can offer you great inspiration for food, decorations, and entertainment! Bring the couple’s cultural roots to life by playing music or hiring entertainment that aligns with their culture (e.g., mariachis, fire dancers, hula dancers, belly dancers, etc.).
36. Do fun traditional wedding activities/games.
Give the happy couple a great time by doing all the traditional activities and games they did at their wedding. It might be even more fun this time around!
37. Hire a band.
Music is ESSENTIAL for your background anniversary party. Ask them what their musical tastes are and hire singers or musicians that can play that genre all night! Make sure you set up a dance floor because if the music’s good, people will want to dance (which means they’re having fun!).
38. Set up a fun photo booth area.
Hiring a professional photographer is great, but sometimes the best way to get happy pictures is by letting guests take the photos themselves. It’s fun, entertaining, and a perfect way to ensure guests have a good time. Set out some creative props to maximize the fun!
39. Hire a professional DJ.
The disc jockey can make or break any party. Hiring a good one can guarantee a good time. It can help to have them show you a playlist of songs or even to watch them work at a different event to see if you like their style.
40. Put on a fun skit to honor the couple.
This idea gets the whole family involved to put together a fun play in honor of the anniversary couple. Kids are especially funny to involve in this, especially if they’re imitating family members. This is a great option if the couple has kids or if you’re on a tight budget.
41. Use talented family/friends.
Capitalize on the talents of family members and get some free entertainment for your backyard anniversary party!
42. Do a group DIY activity.
A creative group activity can be wonderfully entertaining. You could involve guests in cooking (maybe even hire someone to do a cooking class), decorating their own desserts, painting on mini canvases (great party favor idea by the way), etc. The possibilities are endless!
43. Play lawn games.
A backyard party is the perfect place for outdoor games! This is a great entertainment idea because some guests will love playing the games and the others will have a blast watching the players. Plus, it’s an easy and inexpensive way to entertain!
44. Hire professional performers.
Go for the wow factor by hiring professional entertainers! A backyard party is perfect for fire dancers, especially if you’re using a luau theme. Other good outdoor entertainer ideas include magicians, dancers, circus performers, etc.
45. Hire a string quartet.
For a more traditional wedding-related theme, hire a string quartet to play music throughout the party! This is especially appropriate for an afternoon garden party, a vow renewal ceremony, or if you know the couple loves classical music.
I hope you enjoyed these backyard anniversary party ideas!
