Team Oakley loves to party. I think if you know us, you would agree. We think life should be celebrated, and the milestones in life should be given some attention. It is a short run, so while we are here, we need to treasure what is important while we can.
So when Michael's parents were about to celebrate 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, we knew we had to celebrate the big deal that 30 yeas is. So we made sure that they kept the night of their anniversary clear, and we went to planning a fun night of marital party!
So while Emery napped, Beka set out to planning!
She busted our her best friend, Janome, and started to get to the decorating!
The 30th year is called the Pearl anniversary, so that was the theme and inspiration of the night. White, priceless, beautiful pearls.
Beka used photos of Craig and Josie throughout the years to decorate. After all, this night was about them, so what better way to remember the years they have been in love than hanging their lives all around us!
Beka punched out hundreds of white circles and stitched them together to make a "pearl" garland to decorate their house.
We were going to have some friends and family over, and we don't have much in the way of seating, so the Pearl party quickly morphed into the Pearl Picnic Party with plenty of floor seating.
We also had a station where everyone could write notes to Craig and Josie celebrating this great accomplishment.
Beka hung photos of Craig and Josie near her and Michael's wedding photos. Hopefully one day we will be celebrating the Pearl stage as well!
30 years! Such a great thing!
Once everything was decorated, and all was in place, our friends and family started showing up. We were all so happy to be together and celebrate Craig and Josie. If you know them, and how sweet they are to each other, you know they are worth the celebration.
We had some friends of ours, Nate and Heather, who are dating, Cassidy and Rosanna, who have been married one year, Michael and Beka, who will be married five years this November, and Emery's Godparents, Kristen and Kevin, who are celebrating TEN years of marriage this week, all at this party. There were many stages of Love in our house, and we were all very thankful to have Craig and Josie paving the way of what commitment looks like.
After everyone was here, the guests of honor finally arrived! We told them that we (Michael, Emery, and Beka) wanted to have dinner with them. We did not push the surprise aspect of the night, but we did want to have a bit of shock value when they came in. They had some clue about what was going on, as Michael had to go to their house to steal their wedding photo and some home videos, and Josie was home! He made some excuse and quickly fled the scene, but not without peaking some interest from his dear Mother.
They were thrilled with everyone who was there to celebrate them. It was such a fun feeling to know that they were happy, and that we could finally say thank you for setting such a great example of love. Now it's time to party!!!
We too a photo of them now, with who they were when they made this great promise to each other! They still look so in Love, but Craig did get a haircut since then...
We sat around for hours eating, watching family movies, and hearing the stories of their life, and the adventures of Craig and Josie. From when they met, to where they married, and craig proposing in french along the way, we all were swept away in the journey of their love.
We made them eat some wedding cake cup cakes with pearl beads as if they had just gotten married. They were nice, and did not smash it in each other's faces. Maybe this is why they have lasted so long :)
After that they lit off a chinese lantern. It was so special and magical watching it float into the darkness of the summer night sky, filled with 30 years of happiness, love, memories, and prayers.
30 years, two kids, to kids-in-laws, and one grandson. That something to be proud of, folks. Next time you see them, give them a high five for fighting for what is important, and setting a great example for the rest of us.
We love you Craig and Josie! Congrats on 30 years!
Love,
Team Oakley
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