50th wedding anniversary ideas

Fifty years is the golden anniversary, and it's one of the few milestones where a big gathering is genuinely expected - children, grandchildren and the friends who were at the original wedding.

Below: party ideas that suit a couple in their seventies or eighties, gifts, how to apply for the King's card, and wording for the card itself.

Plan around comfort. Afternoons work better than evenings, and seats matter more than a dance floor.

Golden anniversary party ideas

• Sunday lunch with a long table, which suits every generation.
• Afternoon tea in a hall, decorated in gold and cream.
• Renewal of vows, then a meal - increasingly popular at fifty.
• Garden party with plenty of seating and shade.
• Recreate the wedding menu, or as close as anyone can remember. Shop this card
• A slideshow of fifty years, running quietly rather than as a presentation.
• Keep it to three hours in the afternoon.

Decorations and details

• Gold and ivory only - two colours look considered, five look like a jumble sale.
• The original wedding photo framed on the top table.
• A gold 50 cake topper on a plain iced cake.
• Table names taken from the years, or the places they've lived.
• A memory book for guests to write in during the afternoon.
• Gold confetti and tealights, nothing that needs a ladder.

The King's card

• Couples in the UK can request a congratulatory card from the King for a 60th, 65th and 70th anniversary. Shop this card
• Fiftieth anniversary cards are not sent by the Palace, so plan your own centrepiece instead.
• Many councils, mayors and MPs will send a letter for a 50th if you ask.
• Local papers often run a golden anniversary photo and note.
• Apply for royal anniversary messages through the GOV.UK anniversary messages page.

50th anniversary gift ideas

• Traditionally gold: a framed gold-foil print of the wedding date. Shop this card
• The original wedding photo restored and reframed. Shop this card
• A memory book of fifty messages, one from each guest. Shop this card
• A garden bench or tree planted with a plaque.
• A family portrait taken on the day itself.
• Something small and gold each - cufflinks, a locket.

What to write in a 50th anniversary card

• Fifty years - what an example you've set for the rest of us. Shop this card
• Happy golden anniversary, with love from all of us.
• Half a century and still each other's favourite. Congratulations.
• To the two of you: thank you for the family you built.
• Fifty years of putting up with each other. Well done both. Shop this card
• Here's to gold, and to whatever comes next.

Shop 50th anniversary cards

Cake toppers and decorations

Toppers, banners and confetti, designed in house and printed in the UK.

How to write it so it lands

• Afternoon, three hours, plenty of seating.
• Two colours only: gold and ivory.
• Put the original wedding photo where everyone will see it.
• Get a family photograph taken on the day - it's the gift nobody thinks of.

Where to shop next

• Baby shower ideas
• Celebration cake ideas and toppers
• Celebration of life ideas
• Engagement celebration ideas
• Graduation celebration ideas
• Retirement celebration ideas
• Anniversary celebration ideas
• Celebration quotes
• Christening celebration ideas
• Housewarming celebration ideas
• 50th anniversary cards
• Anniversary cards
• Party supplies
• Birthday party ideas
• Hen party decorations
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?

Frequently asked questions

What is the 50th wedding anniversary called?

The golden anniversary. Gold is the traditional and modern gift material, and gold with ivory is the usual colour scheme for the party.

Do you get a card from the King for a 50th anniversary?

No. Royal congratulations are sent for 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries, not the 50th. Many councils and MPs will send a letter for a golden anniversary if you ask.

What do you give for a 50th wedding anniversary?

Something gold or something lasting: a gold-foil print of the wedding date, the original wedding photo restored, a memory book of messages, or a bench or tree with a plaque.

How do you celebrate a golden wedding anniversary?

Most families hold an afternoon gathering of about three hours - a long lunch or afternoon tea, gold and ivory decorations, a slideshow, and often a renewal of vows beforehand.