50 years of marriage: what kind of wedding, what to give and how to celebrate

Sapphire wedding
– 50 years of marriage after the wedding.

The symbol of the holiday is gold. This precious metal is called all the good things - a smart head, skillful hands, a kind heart. Now the marriage of the spouses has actually become “golden”. In addition to durability and good malleability, gold does not rust or lose its shine. The anniversary symbol shows that family relationships have already passed all the difficult periods, the spouses have “gotten used to” each other, and now nothing will separate them. Marriage can only shine like the sun.

During the celebration of the golden wedding, many rituals are performed:

• celebrants are showered with “gold” - yellow coins or any yellow material (sparkles, foil squares);
• the eldest daughter embroiders a scarf with gold threads for her mother and presents it to her on her anniversary;
• spouses exchange new gold rings in private or in front of witnesses before the celebration; old wedding rings are passed on to their grandchildren as a symbol of passing on wisdom in family life - after all, they have been with their spouses for 50 years;
• celebrants cut and eat the loaf first, passing it on to other close relatives; this tradition shows family unity;
• a married couple lights candles as a symbol of the next 50 years spent together; then these candles are passed (lit!) into the hands of younger family members; such a ritual signifies the transfer of life experience to the younger generation.

There are no specific requirements for the place of celebration or format of the celebration. All close relatives and friends are sure to gather.

50th wedding anniversary traditions

It is for the golden wedding that a huge number of traditions have been preserved from time immemorial. It is believed that 50 years of marriage has the largest number of rituals and beliefs. Most likely, this feature is due to the fact that the date is celebrated rarely, but as they say, aptly. The celebration should be distinguished by its scope and observance of a number of surviving beliefs.

Showering spouses with gold

This tradition has been known to historians for several decades. A sincere desire to shower a married couple with gold from the assembled guests also marks the wishes and attraction of love, prosperity and mutual understanding. Gold helps to extend the terms of those wishes that were given to the newlyweds 50 years ago during the registration of marriage. You can shower the celebrants at two moments: either at the moment of the feast, or while they are just entering the event hall.

Golden handkerchief

The special gift will have to be embroidered by the daughter of the event’s heroes with her own hand. If it so happens that only sons were born in a couple, then tradition allows you to order a scarf from specially trained people. During the event, the children together should throw a scarf over the mother’s shoulders, thereby expressing gratitude, love and gratitude to her for her care and the years of her life spent on upbringing.

Wedding ring update

The tradition of renewing rings takes on a special sacred meaning. Since ancient times, they have symbolized the cyclical nature of life and its specific stage, and are also a symbol of marriage. This tradition is also useful from a practical point of view: the rings lose their shine over time, and the parents are no longer young. Exchange of rings will help renew feelings and the very symbol of marriage. By the way, this tradition is also usually taken up by the children of celebrants. Once the rings are renewed, the old ones can become family heirlooms. If children are superstitious and do not want to wear their parents' rings, they can simply be kept in a place specially designated for them as a family talisman.

Ritual with candles

Since ancient times, candles have served as an attribute of various ceremonies and rituals. In some places they enhance energy, and in other cases they create additional warmth and comfort. In the case of a golden wedding, candles are also a symbol of the beginning of a new cycle of 50 years. In view of this, at least a few of them must be present during the wedding ceremony. You can limit yourself to a pair of gold candles decorated with a bronze-colored ribbon. Or place 50 golden candles around the entire perimeter of the hall. Ideally, candles should burn throughout the holiday without going out. And the remains of burnt cinders can be hidden away from prying eyes in the house, as a talisman for the family hearth.

During the ritual, the toastmaster must utter special words, which are selected individually. But the general meaning remains that the two main candles symbolize the anniversaries, as well as the request to light candles together. Joint ignition will allow you to move together to a new stage of the relationship.

Transferring life experience from generation to generation

If the spouses have lived together for so many years, they definitely have something to share with those present and the younger generation. Moreover, the transfer of experience occurs according to gender. The mother teaches the girls, and the father shares his experience with his sons. Usually this tradition takes place at the end of a festive evening, when the couple sums up their life together. After sharing their experiences, the spouses together wish those gathered all the brightest and best from the bottom of their hearts.

Wedding dance and bouquet

The tradition of wedding dance has also been known since ancient times. Moreover, it is advisable to choose the music that was played during the marriage ceremony 50 years ago. In this case, the couple usually dances in a circle of lit candles, which were mentioned earlier. After the dance, the spouse, like 50 years ago, throws the wedding bouquet into the crowd of invited guests. An unmarried girl who is caught should expect a wedding, and for a married girl such a gift of fate promises a long and happy family life.

Celebrating 50th wedding anniversary

This ritual is recommended to be performed at the end of the main evening. Clearing the table is allowed only after completion of all ceremonies and rituals. The tradition itself is that after all the guests have left, parents should sit down at the table together and drink a cup of fresh tea. With the help of this ritual, you can renew the oath of unity and fidelity in the family circle.

Wedding table decoration

The basic rule for decorating a table for a golden wedding is to have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Various decorations made from fresh flowers are welcome, as well as the presence of gold candelabra where you can place candles on a budget. In addition to their aesthetic value, candelabra will help ensure basic fire safety.

In the autumn season, it is appropriate to decorate the hall with foliage of different shades, with yellow and brown colors being the priority. When it comes to creating a menu, it is worth remembering that the holiday itself is unusual. Therefore, a creative approach is encouraged here.

Tradition dictates that the celebrants of the day be located together with the guests, preferably in the center of the circle of those gathered. At the beginning of the holiday, various kinds of snacks are served, for example, fish or cheese plates. Salads should differ not only in appearance, but also in their unusual execution. You can get creative by ordering a salad with raisins or cheese and fish. Unusual combinations will delight even the most sophisticated guests. But at the same time, if someone is allergic to certain foods, you should immediately warn guests about the composition of the salads in order to avoid trouble. Also, do not forget about the taste preferences of the guests, which the couple could have thoroughly studied over many years of friendship. Don't forget about yourself. Favorite dishes must be present at the event.

There is only one rule when it comes to hot dishes: they must be at least 2 copies. Abundance on the menu symbolizes family unity and stability in relationships. The menu selection should be chosen based on the tastes of guests and spouses. The drink menu is also unlimited except the couple’s imagination. You can choose both wine and champagne. Don't forget about the non-alcoholic card.

Script for a wedding anniversary

Since this anniversary is considered a jubilee, it should be celebrated on a grand scale. There are several holiday options, so each couple can choose the one that suits them best.

The most popular option is to update the wedding ceremony. You can invite all relatives, friends and, of course, children to the holiday. Active recreation, dancing, competitions and the presence of a toastmaster are encouraged. To create a special atmosphere, it is important to find at least parts of the details of the event that took place 50 years ago.

It is important to pay special attention to choosing an image for a golden wedding. For a lady, you can choose a dress in light shades, preferably with splashes of gold. An all-gold dress will, in most cases, look vulgar. A scarf or buttons can serve as a gold element. Accessories and jewelry in gold shades will help complete the look. If there is a desire and the appropriate mood, the spouse can wear the wedding veil that she wore 50 years ago.

It would be appropriate for a man to wear a suit that will give him dignity and emphasize the importance of the event for him. You can choose a suit in white or black and accessorize it with gold cufflinks or a tie clip. A mandatory attribute of the holiday is a boutonniere made in the style of a bride's bouquet made of fresh flowers.

The second option for the holiday, at the request of the spouses, is a feast in a quiet, family atmosphere with a minimum of invited guests. Fresh flowers can be used as table setting attributes as a symbol of prosperity and well-being. It is ideal to use yellow roses, lilies or yellow chrysanthemums, orchids of white or yellow flowers for this occasion. It is also recommended to use a family table set as a sign of generational continuity. A special festive atmosphere can be created with the help of various golden balloons with and without sparkles.

The highlight of the wedding table should be a gorgeous wedding cake. During the holiday, the spouses, just like 50 years ago, must cut and eat the first piece together. Such a simple act will also show family unity and the well-being of the marriage. After they have tasted the first piece, they must serve the cake to the invited guests themselves. It is important to make sure that there is enough cake for everyone.

Dress code for bridesmaids and guests

The gold-colored clothing of those invited to a gold-style wedding risks turning the celebration into a dazzling riot of colors. To avoid excessive brightness, you can invite guests to choose outfits in colors that match gold (white, beige, cream or milky), and use gold jewelry or accessories as combination partners.

The clothes of the witnesses must match the image of the newlyweds in order to look harmonious in the wedding photos. Bridesmaids can wear jacquard, satin or chiffon dresses in champagne, soft sand or caramel tones. It is better to prepare dresses of different styles (according to the characteristics of the figure). And to complete the look, girls can be offered miniature copies of the bride’s bouquet.

Golden wedding competitions

Such an event should not be devoid of fun and joy. The toastmaster usually coordinates the program with the celebrants. It is important to remember that a wide range of generations will be invited. And what is interesting to one may be boring or the wrong type of fun for others. You can diversify the competition program with the following event options:

1. Interesting competition "Chamomile". Its essence is as follows. A daisy is cut out of paper, and a date important for the spouses is written on each petal on the reverse side. The spouse who draws out the date must tell in detail why it is important for the family.
2. Competition “Find your soul mate”. This competition is intended more for guests. It will require 8 pairs. Both official spouses and those who are just starting to build relationships are suitable. Men and women are divided into 2 different teams. Girls are invited, blindfolded, to determine by touch which of the guys is their other half. At the same time, guessing is tedious based on certain parts of the body. The same condition applies to the male half of the team. The winners will be those who accurately guess each other's partners in all expected rounds.
3. A dance competition is considered an active way to spend time at the festival. For this competition, several pairs will again be needed. They press the ball between each other so that it does not fall out during the entire dance. Next, they dance to the music in an active way. The last couple to not drop the ball wins.
4. The “Congratulations by Alphabet” competition is also associated with balloons. You will need 33 balls, according to the number of letters in the alphabet. Each ball contains a specific letter. They are distributed to guests, after which they are bursting with them. The guest must come up with congratulations for the letter he has drawn, the more original the better.
5. Competition "Confession on a tree". And this entertainment is intended exclusively for the heroes of the holiday. The props are a board and a box of regular matches. The essence of the competition is to burn a word on the board one at a time, for example, “love,” while lighting a match.
6. Another competition for toastmasters is called “Plant a Tree.” It can be held together with invited guests and heroes of the occasion. Guests are divided into teams so that each has the same number of participants. Each team is given the same set of details for proper planting. The tree can be either real or even artificial. The team that plants the given sprout the fastest wins.
7. The competition, intriguingly titled “Pound of Salt,” will also require two teams of participants. Each team member passes the pack to each other, but the main condition is that it does not touch hands during the transfer process.
8. Competition "Hold the plant." The toastmaster needs to prepare the roses for the competition, having previously cut off their thorns for the safety of the guests. Next, several male participants are selected from the crowd, whose task is to perform dances of the peoples of the world using roses. It is important that the rose is not in the hands of the dancing person.
9. Sweet competition called “Eat Candy”. Several participants from the audience will be needed to conduct the event. Props are placed in front of them in the form of plates with candies, ideally in the form of dragees. It is important that everyone has an equal amount of candy. The task of the participants is to eat sweets at speed, using only chopsticks from Japanese cuisine.
10. Another competition for toastmasters is called “Skillful Hands”. It is intended to be carried out exclusively with spouses. The point is that the man is given, for example, yarn, and the lady is given a hammer, nails and boards. In the competition, spouses will have to fulfill each other's household duties through handicrafts.

The 50th wedding anniversary is an event where a large number of competitions are appropriate. They are limited only by the imagination and modesty of the couple.

Gifts for your spouse

On this day, you can please your spouse with a gold tie clip, business card holder, or an object of faith made of gold. Men of advanced age appreciate gifts that symbolize cleanliness and home comfort. Therefore, you can safely give them a robe or a homemade sweater.

Gifts from a practical point of view will also please your spouse. You can give a gift that will make a man’s life easier in the future. This could be a set of men's tools, a blood pressure monitor or a wristwatch. The main task of the wife is to remind her husband that she still appreciates and loves him.

What to give to your wife

The aroma of your favorite drink and a bouquet of flowers from your spouse is the best start to a holiday for ladies of advanced years. The composition should definitely include the wife’s favorite flowers, as well as yellow elements, such as roses or chrysanthemums.

After a romantic awakening and a charge of positive emotions, you can also present a symbolic gift, for example, gold jewelry. A gift made of noble metal and a symbol of relationships will show that a wife is important to a man just as much as she was 50 years ago. A woman will also be pleased with a gift that will add comfort to her home, for example, a good quality carpet. You can also give a gold-plated tea set and then pass it on to a younger generation as a family heirloom.

Congratulations and toasts

Spouses will be pleased to hear warm words and congratulations addressed to them during a feast or presentation of gifts. Some toast ideas:

Our dear “golden” anniversaries! It’s been half a century since your destinies have become intertwined. You did not betray your oath and remained faithful to each other in sorrow and in joy. You have set a worthy example for future generations. Continue to warm your large family with your warmth and wisdom! Be happy for many, many more years!

Expensive …! Today we celebrate 50 years since your wedding. This is a serious milestone that not everyone reaches. You are among the chosen ones. For 50 years, you built your family, furnished your home, raised children and, most importantly, loved each other. So let your love continue to shine! Bitterly!

Gifts from guests

Guests at a golden wedding usually give gifts with special meaning. When choosing an option, it is important to focus not only on the budget, but also on the interests of those celebrating the holiday. Children can give their parents gold-plated items for various purposes. And your grandchildren can limit themselves to beautiful themed cards or fakes.

As mentioned above, it is advisable for children to present their mother with a gold-embroidered scarf on this day as a sign of gratitude for their upbringing and the time spent on them. In this case, the mother should not take off her scarf during the entire event. An interesting gift would be a family album with memorable photographs, which will allow the spouses to plunge into the times of their youth. You don’t have to fill the album to the end, hinting to the couple that life has not yet been lived, but is just beginning. A film with fragments from the couple’s life together will also be an emotional gift. You can rely not only on the symbolism of the holiday, but also present more down-to-earth and practical gifts to the celebrants, having previously discussed options, for example:

• various household appliances to make everyday household chores easier;
• items to help monitor your health or for personal care;
• products made of gilded textiles to add additional home comfort;
• An interesting gift would be an item that relates to the spouses’ hobby. Usually children and guests already know well the hobbies of the heroes of the day;
• specialized kitchen utensils;
• It’s ideal if guests can give the couple a trip to a sanatorium to improve their health. Or relax on the sea coast. Such a gift will show not only generosity, but also care for the couple.

What newlyweds should look like

When choosing clothes for the 50th anniversary of marriage, it is better to stick to pastel colors. It's good to use warm, autumn colors. Autumn is always associated with the golden season, with strong relationships, with stability, beauty and constancy.

The bride can wear a suit: either trousers or a skirt. Groom: It is not necessary to wear a jacket. Clothes should be comfortable and convenient.

Pay special attention to shoes. If the celebration will take place in a restaurant or cafe, then you will need replacement shoes. These should be shoes without heels (or with a small heel) that will not rub your feet.

Hair and manicure are required. If parents-celebrants want to save money, children should take care of the bride’s makeup and nails.

The overall appearance of the “golden pair” should be neat and fresh. And, of course, smiles on faces are the main attribute of the holiday.