A Diamond Anniversary – that’s sixty years of marriage, a whole lifetime. Needless to say how rare and special it is for a couple to celebrate their 60^th wedding anniversary!

We are honored to be guests at one of these very, very special occasions: Dr. Peter   Zude Pan, 88, born in Shanghai, and Dr. Rosie Yan Tang, 87, born in Wuxi, China, celebrated six decades as husband and wife at the romantic Forest Hill Clubhouse in San Francisco on August 11. Here they are:

The couple and their children shared their amazing life story with us, and here it is:

Peter and Rosie are both MDs, Peter a general surgeon and editor of a medical magazine, and Rosie an internist. They met at St. John’s University’s Medical School in Shanghai, on an organized excursion to the Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province. Peter – then in his third year at Medical School – was instantly impressed with Rosie’s poise, graciousness, and bravery. Later Peter started his internships at St. Luke Hospital, where Rosie worked,  and they quickly became friends. Soon enough, they fell in love, and shortly before his graduation from Medical School, Peter proposed. On August 10, 1952, their wedding was held at Jinjiang Hotel in Shanghai, with about 200 guests attending.

Soon the young couple welcomed their children: daughters Annie and Julia and son Paul. They were happy. Life was good.

But in 1966, their country was thrown into turmoil by Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, and their family had to suffer enormous hardship. As intellectuals, they were especially targeted as possible ‘enemies of the revolution.’ With tremendous fortitude, Peter and Rosie endured all the unfair criticism, unjustified accusations and constant mistreatment they were subjected to. Their children were not even permitted to finish their elementary school education. Annie was sent to work on a faraway farm (She later became a ‘barefoot doctor.’) Julia was assigned to work at a textile factory, and Paul at a photo studio. It was a horrible ten years. But somehow Rosie and Peter were able to keep their family together. They made sure all their children would receive higher education and starting in 1979, they sent them to the U.S. and Canada.

Peter and Rosie kept working in health care in China. After professional careers spanning more than four decades, they fully retired in 1992 and moved from Shanghai to San Francisco to join their children – as well as son-in-law John and grandchildren Isaac, Sarah and Franz. They really enjoy and embrace beautiful San Francisco, their new home for the last 20 years. They celebrated their 40th and 50th anniversaries at Annie and John’s home in Los Angeles.

Rosie’s and Peter’s “Ruby” Anniversary – 40 years

Rosie’s and Peter’s Golden Anniversary: 50 years

And on 8/11/12, nearly on the day sixty years after that festive wedding in Shanghai, they had a gathering with 70 guests for their 60th wedding anniversary at the beautiful Forest Hill Clubhouse in San Francisco. They received greetings from Mayor Lee, Governor Brown and President and Mrs. Obama.

With nearly half of all marriages in the United States failing, we wanted to know what the secret of their long-lasting and successful marriage is? How did they manage to stay together despite all the hardship they had to go through?

And here are their answers: it helps to have a similar family background, similar education and profession, and a similar appreciation of family values. They also share hobbies, especially a love of reading and writing. For their 50th anniversary, they even self-published a book, titled “The Traces of Our Life,” a compilation of their essays. While Rosie enjoys travel and museum visits, Peter is fond of music and singing, movies and sport. And that’s another one of their secrets: appreciate what you have in common, but respect your differences. And don’t ever forget to be giving and forgiving. True words of wisdom! We will take all that to heart…

But that’s not all yet about Rosie and Peter: it would seem they were truly destined for one another.  The stars were obviously aligned for their union… how could that be? Listen to the most amazing ‘background’ love story you’ve ever heard!

Peter’s father and Rosie’s parents had met socially shortly after Peter was born, and while Rosie’s mother was expecting Rosie. They liked one another, so all of the parents silently thought how nice it would be if their children would get together… but since arranged marriage had been officially abolished by that time, none of them ever mentioned that idea aloud. 27 years later that baby boy and that baby girl happened to meet and to fall in love all on their own… It was meant to be!

Congratulations and our very best wishes, Rosie and Peter, for many more happy years together and with your family!

Photos courtesy of Paul Pan Photography

Today I’ll be very personal. I’ll talk some about myself… not too much, no worries. But this is something I really care about: DIY. I was brought up on it, and now it’s deeply ingrained in my personality.

Growing up in postwar Germany, the rules of everyday life were a lot different from today and here. We practiced recycling before the term was even invented – simply out of necessity. With our parents’ memories of hunger and wartime shortages still fresh, we learned never to waste anything, especially not food, and never to throw anything away. Everyday goods were precious. Money was scarce. We became very inventive in creating something out of nothing, in recycling odd things into something new and exciting. And naturally, whatever we could possibly craft ourselves, we would – we’d never spend money on preserves, jams, knit sweaters, crocheted vests, embroidered tablecloths – all things that could be home-made. It became second nature.

When finally I was able to afford the chic sweaters and the specialty preserves I had secretly been longing for, the excitement wore off surprisingly fast. While these things did convey a certain feeling of status and achievement, their mass-produced nature under their polished surfaces came with a disappointing lack of “soul” and charm. After a while, I quietly reverted to DIY as far as my super-busy professional and domestic life allowed. Which was not much.

When my son and his fiancee announced their wedding plans and entrusted the details to me, I immediately welcomed the opportunity for DIY. Of course, I did not hire a wedding planner – I became one myself. I helped the couple define a color and overall style, and then I plunged into creating all the facets that together make a great celebration. When I could not find a style of invitation perfectly suited to what I was planning, I designed one myself and pulled all the materials together. When I couldn’t find really meaningful wedding favors, I came up with a DIY project that I created and executed all by myself (and don’t be fooled – both these projects were rather more expensive than the store-bought run-of-the-mill variety, not counting the hours that went into them). But I found the whole hands-on experience incredibly rewarding, and everyone – bride and groom and all the guests – were happy with the intensely personal touches that my creative process, time and effort had infused into the whole glamorous affair. DIY does not necessarily mean “homespun” or “awkward,” but rather – “personal” and “with love!”

So, I have decided to post a series of DIY ideas here. They’ll pop up periodically – so make sure to come back and check them out!  Here is what I have for you so far: a project for your own wedding cake or cake bar, with recipes; a cute and inexpensive decoration kit; a lot of ideas for centerpieces; and some really cute save-the-dates, invitations, table cards and the like. Nothing too difficult, and nothing too time-consuming. Also think of enlisting help – mothers and bridesmaids being a natural choice…

And without further ado, let’s get started with the “Save-the-Dates!”

I am just here at the Bay Area Wedding & Celebrations Fair at the Parc 55 Wyndham hotel in downtown San Francisco, and the whole fourth floor and Grand Ballroom is just buzzing with excitement. Brides and grooms-to-be, mothers, whole families are crowding the 50 or so vendor tables: lots of photographers, entertainment companies, beauty products, spa services,venues and honeymoon destination hotels, sweet confections, bridal accessories…you name it!

It was a day full of discoveries!

The first thing I discovered was my good friend Rachel, owner/designer at The Desk Set, one of the Bay Area’s premier wedding stationery stores. She showed me the perfect custom-made invitation suite for a couple whose rustic-vintage inspired wedding I am currently organizing – look here:

Isn’t that totally adorable? Rachel is so incredibly gifted and creative, and “the sky is the limit” for her designs (think letterpress on white handmade paper with a gold cut…) BUT  it’s her promise that she will work within any client’s budget! Look her up at thedeskset-sf.com!

Next up was Modern Love Photography whose dreamy, totally romantic photos I LOVED! All their photo packages come with an engagement session (including hair and makeup!), and with a whole day of photo coverage. Your photographer will actually stay on for your whole evening and capture all those precious moments…

Most packages also include a beautiful “coffee table” style photo book, very professional and polished-looking… and then there are all these creative touches: a boudoir session (with all female staff!) resulting in the most gorgeous gift for the groom: a book full of sensual images of his new wife… a personalized guest book containing full-page photos of the couple, complemented by thought-provoking questions for guests to comment on: “where do you see us in ten years?” “what do you think ties us together?” Once this guest book is filled, it will become one of the most personal and cherished keepsakes of that special day, I am sure! (www.modernlovephotography.com)

And then – the total, absolute discovery of the day: French macarons by the Sugarie! You know French macarons – these weightless, melt-in-your-mouth, pastel-colored confections, with the most delicate thin and crunchy crust and a deliciously creamy filling?

Being European, I’ve certainly tasted my share of macarons, and I have to say that hands-down, these here from Sugarie are among the best I’ve had, ever! They make a fabulous center for your candy bar, AND they could be wonderful wedding favors:

Isn’t that too cute? The magician behind these divine confections is Natalie who during the week before the wedding fair alone baked 1,300 macarons! They come in 14 different flavors (imagine: lavender white chocolate, green tea azuki bean, raspberry dark chocolate…) and even in custom flavors of your own choosing! Here I am with Natalie at her booth. Visit www.sugariebakeshop.com and get seduced!

And the last pleasant surprise of the day – the hotel itself! Why? The Parc 55 San Francisco offers DOG-FRIENDLY WEDDINGS!!! Yes, you heard it – you can bring your beloved four-legged companion to your wedding ceremony in the hotel and to your reception! Your darling is also allowed in the dog-friendly guest rooms. The only requirement – easy to organize – is that your dog is leashed and under the care of his/her own handler (preferably professional dog walker) at all times. And with that, you can have an elegant hotel setting for your wedding, just one block away from Union Square, perfect for yourself and for your out-of-town guests, AND have your doggie with you.

The hotel will provide elegant table settings for your wedding dinner, and the grand ballroom on the fourth floor can accommodate up to 300 guests. The huge foyer on the fourth floor can be transformed in an elegant cocktail reception space. Feel free to have it decorated to your heart’s delight!

What else? So many things – just quickly: Tim and Vikki,a cute husband-and-wife team at By Request Entertainment  fulfill all your entertainment wishes from cued ceremony music to reception entertainment to DJ services for your post-dinner dancing, including MC’ing throughout your wedding day. For a local 100-people wedding this comprehensive package starts at as low as $1,500 – and they even have a karaoke setup. Doesn’t that sound fun?! (www.byrequestbayarea.com)

Thinking destination wedding? Yosemite now offers the choice of five hotels inside the park (the Ahwanee) and further out (among others, the dog-friendly Tenaya Lodge) which can be booked up to 18 months in advance – regular bookings are only 12 months in advance – with the best months to have a romantic outdoor ceremony under the towering mountains being April through September (YosemitePark.com/Weddings). Or is a beach wedding more your style? Think of the all-inclusive Sandals Resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, and Turks&Caicos – also fabulous for “just” your honeymoon! (call toll-free 1-800-SANDALS).

Lastly – in spite of all the excitement pervading the exhibition hall, there was a feeling of serene romance, provided by the beautiful live performances of guitarist Julio Reyes! A classically trained musician, Julio has worked as a teacher and performer, and he especially loves playing at weddings. And, believe me, he is so GOOD at it! Listen to his 2010 CD “Heart Strings,” and you’ll know what I mean (www.julioreyesguitarist.com).