The 50th wedding anniversary is a beautiful milestone in a relationship and the lucky couple deserves a special celebration. There are many ways to celebrate your anniversary, such as exchanging gifts, taking a trip together, renewing your vows or maybe throwing a party. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you find the best way to honor your spouse and the relationship you have lived with joy for the past fifty years.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Golden Wedding Gift
Step 1. Give a gold item as a gift
Gold is the traditional symbol of the fifty-year anniversary of marriage and it is customary to exchange gold gifts with one's spouse. Here are some "golden" ideas to inspire you:
- Gold jewelery of any kind (earrings, necklaces, rings, watches, cufflinks or tie clips);
- Goblets finished with pure gold;
- Dresses with gold trim or gold lace;
- A gold nugget.
Step 2. Buy an item of sentimental value
Fifty years of marriage is a long time, and you've probably shared beautiful moments with your spouse. Look for something romantic that represents your love story or remembers your wedding day.
For example, you could celebrate your golden wedding by purchasing new wedding rings or setting the original diamonds in new gold bands if the old ones are worn
Step 3. Take your wife on vacation
A special holiday is another great gift. You could visit the places where you spent your honeymoon or reach a destination you have always wanted to admire.
Step 4. Choose an alternative gift
Even if it is your golden wedding anniversary, your wife may prefer a different gift. You can give her a more romantic gift, like a framed photograph of your family.
Step 5. Order some violets
Violets are the flowers associated with the golden wedding because they have heart-shaped leaves and because of their color. You could gift her a gold vase of violets to combine both traditions.
Part 2 of 3: Organize a Party
Step 1. Choose a venue and date
Before you start planning the details for an anniversary party, you need to find a suitable venue and choose a date. The best dates are the anniversary or a weekend close to that day. You should choose a place that is important to the birthday boy, such as their favorite restaurant or the place where they got engaged.
Step 2. Prepare the guest list and send out the invitations
If you are planning a formal party, you should send out the invitations well in advance. Write the addresses and letters in the best possible handwriting.
You can also use electronic invitations. You'll save money on stamps and get replies much faster
Step 3. Decorate the room
There are many decorations suitable for the golden wedding celebrations. You can choose a gold color scheme to remind everyone that this is the 50th anniversary celebration. For example, you could use gilded flowers and plates, glasses, napkins, doilies with gold trim. Here are some other decor ideas:
- You can recreate the same color scheme that was used for the wedding 50 years ago. You can also try looking for similar flower arrangements;
- You could choose a decorative theme inspired by the decade in which the wedding took place, or one that recalls the current interests of the couple;
Step 4. Get a cake that celebrates the couple
Ask the people celebrating to cut it together and take photos of that moment. Here are some examples of the messages to be written on the cake:
- "Happy Anniversary"
- "Happy Golden Wedding"
- "Congratulations on the 50 Years of Marriage"
- You can have the names of the birthday parties put on the cake if you wish.
Step 5. Share stories and talk about your most important memories
You could ask the birthday boy to tell some stories or offer the guests some advice on how to create a lasting and successful marriage. Another good idea is to provide guests with a photo album that they can browse through to relive the couple's memories at various stages of the wedding. The celebration should be a tribute to the love story of the birthday boy and this tip will help you add a personal touch to the event.
- If you are a creative person, you can create a scrapbook to share with the couple. You can insert images of the wedding and highlight the most important moments in the life of the celebrated, such as the birth of children and grandchildren, travel, career achievements and well-deserved retirement.
- A series of slides is another very effective way to introduce all guests to the birthday party and their love story over the years.
Step 6. Ask someone to toast or pay tribute to the couple
Plan the toasts in advance. You should choose a person who is very close to the birthday boy, such as a child, a brother or a family friend. This is the best way to share memories and stories about the couple.
Step 7. Organize the musical entertainment of the party
Music is an important element of any celebration and you can use all your creativity to choose songs suitable for the golden wedding. For example, you could play all of the couple's favorite songs, songs that were popular during their wedding year, or create a playlist of romantic songs, including wedding songs.
Step 8. Suggest that the couple renew their vows as part of the celebration
Many people decide to renew these promises in the course of their union. They do so to strengthen mutual commitment, often on the occasion of an important anniversary. The golden wedding is the perfect occasion.
To organize this event you will need to make sure that everything is ready and, above all, that a priest or a representative of the municipality is present
Part 3 of 3: Paying a Tribute to the Happy Couple
Step 1. Seek government recognition
In many states, the government offers official recognition to couples who reach fifty years of marriage. Inquire to see if special honors are also offered in your state to couples who reach this milestone. Usually, you will need to apply for these acknowledgments in advance. Here are some examples:
- The White House sends official greetings to the couple on the occasion of their golden wedding. The request must be made six weeks in advance.
- The Prime Minister of Canada celebrates the 50th wedding anniversary of couples living in that country. You can make your request by completing a form on the internet.
- In Australia, the Prime Minister and the Governor General send their greetings to couples who are reaching 50 years of marriage.
Step 2. Create a guest book in which they can leave a congratulatory message for the couple
It is a beautiful keepsake that you can give to those who are celebrating to commemorate the celebration of the golden anniversary. The book is also the ideal medium for guests who wish to leave a message celebrating the exceptional achievement of their loved ones.
Step 3. Pay tribute to the couple's golden wedding in the local newspaper
Most newspapers have a section dedicated to advertisements. Having a 50th anniversary announcement written can be a great way to celebrate the event. Include a wedding photo and a recent photo of the couple. You can also share some of the best experiences spouses have had over the years.
