Anyone celebrating six decades will undoubtedly recall the classic show This is Your Life, where unsuspecting honorees were treated to a walk through their past. This was done with the help of images and visitors who had been present throughout major milestones and monumental moments. Help your sexagenarian walk down his or her own memory lane with a party threaded with history. Check out Shutterfly's Ideas blog for birthday card inspiration.
Set the mood with customized 60th birthday invitations that not only let you feature the magic number but also allow you to add images. Personalize them with a photo collage filled with major events throughout the past 60 years.
Create a sense of nostalgia with tables decorated in themes straight from the honoree’s life, creating personalized centerpieces with framed images. Did he or she serve in the military? Set up a table with patriotic décor and choose a photo in full uniform. A “wedding” table can include the type of flowers used at the nuptials and an image from the ceremony. Create a high school or college table, complete with school colors, a stuffed representation of the mascot, and photos in sports gear or a graduation cap and gown. If possible, put together a slideshow with an array of photos -- both old and new -- and have it running in a loop on a wall or at the front of the room.
Give yourself plenty of time prior to the event to seek out people from the honoree’s past with whom he or she may have lost contact over the years. Is there a former colleague who pops up often in favorite tales who you can track down? How about a best friend from childhood? With the help of social media, it is easier than ever to locate people with a minimal amount of information. Reach out to a handful of special guests and invite them to come to the celebration, asking them to share a few of their own memories of that particular era.