• Gold is traditional for 50th marriage anniversaries, and it effectively symbolizes the importance of such a long commitment and lifetime spent together. With about 50% of marriages ending in divorce in the last few years, an anniversary of such magnitude is even more impressive. Although such an anniversary can be a romantic and private celebration, you may also consider celebrating your long life together with family and friends.
  
  

Dinner

• Celebrating a 50th anniversary can include a romantic dinner or a large celebration with family and friends. Either way, you want to make it a night to remember, worthy of 50 years of marriage. Since gold is traditional for this anniversary, using gold utensils or napkins can create elegant place settings. Champagne or wine glasses edged with gold can also be a fancy idea or even a gift. Centerpieces can carry on this theme as well, with gold vases or ribbon glittering during your meal. Make sure a toast is offered to the couple, letting them take the spotlight for this special event.
  
  

Greetings from the White House

• For U.S. citizens, it is possible to get an official commemorative anniversary greeting card from the White House for a 50th anniversary. Requests must be sent at least six weeks prior to the date, and the card will be sent in the mail 10 days before the anniversary. With a little advance planning, this would be an unexpected and wonderful keepsake and gift.
  
  

Memory Event

• Invite family and friends to the anniversary celebration and instruct them to bring a story about the happy couple that they can share, or even photos from days past. Set up a table with wedding, anniversary and other photos of the couple for everyone to look through. If possible, set up a slideshow with commentary. Let everyone take turns telling funny or romantic stories about the couple, and end the evening with a toast to 50 more years.
  
  

Guestbook

• Don't forget a guestbook for your event, to let everyone put their best wishes in writing. For a special touch, have a designated photographer and use an instant camera to produce photos the guests can attach to the guestbook next to their messages. Or, rather than writing down their greetings, have a video camera set up so that guests can record special messages for the couple that they can watch afterward.