Creating A Memorable 50th Wedding Anniversary

Is someone you love celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary? Make their 50th wedding anniversary party extra special with decorations that recall their life together. There have been weddings, First Communions, Bar Mitzvahs, births and christenings, birthday parties - days at the beach and nights on the town. The 50th wedding anniversary is the Golden Anniversary - it's meant to celebrate the lives of a couple and the ways that they have touched other lives in their journey.

There's no shortage of decorating ideas for a 50th wedding anniversary party. The theme is gold, and there are many ways to bring it into the party decorations. Use gold doilies to accent plates and platters, and lay out 50th anniversary napkins printed with the date in gold.

For a stunning buffet table centerpiece, buy a pair of plastic swan planters at a lawn and garden store - swans mate for life, making them a wonderful symbol of lasting love. Accent wingtips and feathers with gold glitter, tie a gold ribbon around each of their necks and center them on a round mirror, facing each other.

Fill the 'baskets' with feathery ferns and gold plumes surrounding white tea roses, or plant them with white kalanchoe in bloom. Borrow an Asian wedding tradition - hang a trio of banners behind the table imprinted with the Chinese symbol for double happiness, and a wish for 50 more golden years.

Metallic gold balloons with curly ribbon tails add a festive touch to the occasion. Mark the couple's entry into the hall or party by releasing a few dozen balloons to float to the ceiling as they make their way to the table. For a unique table accent, make copies of favorite family photos and put them in gold-tone frames. Place several on a raised pedestal in the center of each table.

Photos call to mind the memories that help make a marriage special. To commemorate those times and memories, create a Golden Thread of Memories as part of the 50th wedding anniversary party decorations. Gather up as many 'memories' as you can from the lives of the celebrated couple.

Some ideas to include: A copy of their marriage certificate, the birth certificates of their children, photos of special events, kids report cards - even the silly things that mothers keep like Christmas decorations you made in second grade. The only requirement is that you can figure out a way to hang them on a ribbon.

Create a garland of memories by stringing the items you've chosen on gold curling ribbon every 8-12 inches. Depending on the length of the memory chain, you can use it to decorate the edges of the buffet table or head table, or string it around the edges of the room.

For very special 50th wedding anniversary party favors, purchase wine goblets and have them engraved with the names of the happy couple and their wedding date. Ring the stem of each with a gold '50' wine charm. Whatever you choose for 50th wedding anniversary party decorations, remember that the focus of the day is on the anniversary couple. After 50 years together, they deserve that attention!