Make a Preliminary Guest List

• At least six months ahead of time, begin by counting the members of the immediate family. Add the names of the couple's longtime neighbors, co-workers and friends. This preliminary guest list is necessary before you plan the location of the anniversary party, because the venue needs to be large enough to accommodate everyone.
  
  

Arrange the Venue

• The preliminary guest list also alerts you to any mobility issues that will factor into the choice of the party's location. In addition to the size of the venue, you need to consider accessibility issues, the distance the guests must travel, and the type of activities you will probably do. A small, intimate 50th anniversary dinner party in an upscale restaurant works for one couple, while a rented pavilion in a public park or a community center party room works better for another.
  
  Arrange the location for the party at least three or four months ahead of time. Visit several options in person so you can decide if it will accommodate your celebration with sufficient parking, and if it fits the mood you want to create. The terms, available amenities and cost of each possible venue will vary. You probably will need to make a deposit and sign a contract with the venue. A good place to look online for venues is the Best Party Ever website (see Resources), which you can browse by states.
  
  

Planning the Details

• Your family culture, in combination with the available budget, will be important guides for planning your celebration. Set the budget at the beginning of the planning process, or at least have one in mind when you arrange the venue. It will guide the type of food you plan, and whether you can hire live musicians or arrange to have dancing. Some families want to have the food catered professionally, while others plan to bring favorite family recipes to share.
  
  A nice touch is to send out emails asking for each friend and relative to make a card, as well as to share old photographs and memories about the couple who are having the golden anniversary, instead of bringing a gift. Some couples want to renew their wedding vows at the anniversary celebration, while others just want to gather with their friends and family for a party. Get pictures of the way the world looked when the couple got married to include in the decorations. Make a model of their first car and find out what color to paint it so it looks just like their old one. Get reproductions of the posters showing their favorite bands and play music that was popular then.
  
  Make sure to send a save-the-date postcard or email to the guest list at least three months in advance. Three weeks before the party, send the real invitation. Assign at least one person to take pictures so that you can make a photo album about the anniversary celebration, which will become part of the family's heirloom collection of memorabilia.
  
  

Greeting from the President

• The President of the United States honors couples who have been married for at least 50 years with an anniversary card, if you request one in writing. At least six weeks in advance, you can request a greeting from the president by writing a letter to: The White House, Attn: Greetings Office, Washington, DC 20502-0039.