The perfect golden wedding anniversary celebration doesn’t have to be expensive, although it can still be elaborate. What truly matters is that you celebrate it with people closest to your heart, and finding the right wedding anniversary gifts can be a beautiful way to express your love and appreciation.
How do you throw a memorable party without breaking the bank?
Set a budget and stick with it
Make a list of everything you need, including the number of guests. This will help you determine how small or large the gathering will be. From there, it’ll be easier to identify the venue as well as the volume of food and drinks.
Cater or contribute
You can always cook to save on food, but hiring a caterer offers certain advantages, especially if you don’t want to be stressed out. However, considering the rise in popularity of food delivery services, you might find it cost-effective to order from local restaurants or culinary professionals who offer party menus.
But how about asking family and friends to cook a dish or two as a gift? You can feed all your guests and not spend a lot on food. As for the cake, opt for a beautiful sheet cake rather than a layered one to save on cost.
Pick the right date
The right date in this context is one where venue rentals are not overpriced. Although you would want the celebration to fall on the anniversary day, it doesn’t always have to be. The idea is to pick an off-season date to save on the venue rental.
Opt for DIY
What is great about a 50th wedding anniversary is that the colour is gold, the same shade used in most Christmas decorations. Additionally, due to their popularity in party planning, gold-themed items are now more widely available year-round, not just during the holiday season.
Unless your wedding anniversary falls on the Yuletide season, you can purchase discounted Christmas decorations that you can use for DIY party decorations. These include votive candles, gold balls, charger plates, pillar candles, and fabrics. You can then rally friends and family to help create festive decorations for a golden wedding anniversary.
DIY decors may take time to create, but making them will be a great bonding time for everyone. So, you’re actually killing two birds with one stone.
Delegate to the right candidate
Since you’ve already asked for help organizing your 50th-anniversary party, you might as well make the most of it. Do you have a friend or family member who has talents related to music and entertainment? Make them part of your guest list and see if they’d mind bartending or DJing during the celebration.
If not, borrow someone else’s home entertainment system if the venue is not equipped or if you want to save on rental fees. Technology has improved significantly, making portable, high-quality sound systems more accessible and affordable. This is also a great option if the venue’s equipment is not up to your standards.
Intimate celebration
While a golden wedding anniversary is a major milestone in a couple’s life, celebrating it “just for two” or with family and close friends is also ideal. It will still be memorable even if you make it very exclusive, plus it will be less costly to hold. These ideas are not party ideas per se, but that doesn’t mean they are not celebrations.
Renew your wedding vows.
You can make it meaningful by renewing your wedding vows. The ceremony doesn’t have to be as grand as the original wedding. You can have your family members serve as your entourage. Perhaps consider a more casual setting, such as a garden or park, which can be less expensive and offer a beautiful, natural backdrop. You can even wear simple party clothes for the occasion, or if you really want that wedding ambience, you can run to your tailor to have your wedding suits and gowns re-done. That will save you the cost of having new ones.
If you have couples attending the ceremony, such as your children and their partners, you can ask them to stand as your new witnesses and participate in the renewal of their own wedding vows. Now, that will make the celebration even more memorable.
Go on a themed vacation.
Consider a themed vacation that resonates with the interests you’ve shared over the decades. Whether it’s a tour of historic sites, a wine-tasting tour, or a cruise, specialized travel options for seniors are abundant and can offer memorable experiences tailored to your interests.
Make a scrapbook or a digital photo book.
What better way to remember your golden anniversary than viewing pictures of memories created spanning 50 years? Collect photos of major milestones of your marriage, trips, and celebrations, as well as people who have contributed to solidifying the marriage bonds.
Make a scrapbook or, if you’re a tech-savvy couple, a photo book for your 50th anniversary. It will also make a great keepsake for your children, who will always have a photo story of your life together and something they can show their children what great love stories are made of.
Conclusion
While planning your own golden wedding anniversary party can be stressful, it is the best way to save money compared to hiring an events planner. New technology and platforms, such as digital RSVPs and event apps, make it easier to manage event details yourself, enhancing your ability to organize efficiently. Then again, some planners may offer packages that suit your budget and provide you with all you need for a dream 50th-anniversary party.
You can also consider exclusive celebrations that involve just you, the couple, and/or a handful of family and friends. You may spend more per head but get more value in the long run.
Check out all your options and compare them so you can determine which one allows you to celebrate on a budget.
Did you find this article useful? Do you have some ideas of your own that you can share with our readers? Share your own experience by leaving a comment below.
This post was first published on 21 August 2015
