Julia Altshuler > wrote in message
news:Eh4Zb.13607$4o.34230@attbi_s52...
> My brother and I are planning a 50th wedding anniversary party
> for our parents. [..] I want some idea before I hit the yellow
> pages.

Set up your budget, first. Once you place the numbers down on paper, you'll
have a better idea of how many guests you can invite, where you'll be able
to throw the event, what time of day, and all those other account-draining
decisions.

From personal experience, I would recommend staying away from hotels. It's
easy to sink large sums of money into an event of this type on room rental
alone. Some hotels will also not allow outside catering, only providing
exclusive lists of over-priced catering services. These same hotels do not
allow private* catering.

Check into VFW or Elk Lodges, community centers, and municipal parks. Some
churches (and synagogues) also have facilities that they're willing to lease
out for events of this nature. These have their own problems (alcohol
limitations, fer example.)

It all ties directly into how much you want to spend and where you're
willing to sink the largest portion of the budget.

* This is where everyone brings a dish, potluck style.

The Ranger