If you’re planning a 50th wedding anniversary party for your parents or close friends, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. Gold is the traditional symbol for a 50th wedding anniversary so you’ll likely want to incorporate gold into the décor. You can do that inexpensively with gold ribbon, gold candles, or by adding gold stars to ivory candles.

Because the couple has had 50 years to accumulate friends and associates, you should’t have any trouble assembling a guest list, however, this is the perfect kind of party for a small, intimate gathering. If you invite only 6 or 8 couples, there will be more time to go around the room and listen to each other tell stories about the golden couple.

When you’re planning a 50th wedding anniversary party, you’ll need to choose whether it will be a surprise to the couple or if they will be in on the planning. Unless you are very close to them, it isn’t advisable for this kind of party to be a surprise. Women start dreaming about planning a 50th wedding anniversary party much like they once dreamed of getting married. She might have plans of what kind of party they would like this to be.

Here’s a cool twist… you can request greetings from the White House for the occasion. For people who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary or their 80th birthday and beyond, the White House will send a card signed by the president for the happy occasion. You’ll need to send your request six weeks before the event and they will send the greeting about ten days before the event.

If you have access to memorabilia, a scrapbook detailing their 50 years together would make a wonderful gift. Old pictures, accomplishments, mementoes, highs and even some lows could be chronicled here. A video would also make a great gift as would a video of the party. A short skit based on some aspect of the couple’s life together could serve as the entertainment. You also want to leave time for toasts and warn guests ahead of time that you’ll be calling on them to toast the special couple.

Presents can be a sticky subject. Some people choose to ask for donations to a favorite charity in lieu of gifts. Some people still bring a gift. There’s no right or wrong answer on this. As you are planning a 50th wedding anniversary party, keep the wishes of the golden couple in mind and try to honor any requests they have made.

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