Last Wednesday, June 19, 2013, we celebrated our son and his wife’s 25th Wedding Anniversary. It was such a special service with a wonderful reception following in the fellowship hall. Here are a few of the ideas that I used to plan and decorate for this occasion.
25th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations
The silver 25th anniversary is a milestone wedding anniversary. The couple has weathered 25 years together. They have raised children, sent them to college, and faced the loss of special friends or family members. They have experience many triumphs and many trials. Today, if a couple has remained together and endured two and a half decades, it is very unusual, and they should be recognized.
Ideas for Gifts: Silver Photo Frame, Silver Paper Weight, Silver Key Ring, or Silver Jewelry
Selection for Color Scheme: Use silver in the color scheme for a 25th anniversary reception. Personalize color scheme with a complementing color. If the couple enjoys the beach or ocean, use blue as a complementing color.
Decorations for the Reception: I decorated as if I were decorating for a casual wedding. For the centerpieces, I placed three fresh white roses in silver vase for each table.
You could decorate with a complementing silver and blue (or favorite) color scheme. If it is a night celebration, you could use strings of lights and candles. Sprinkle silver glitter, confetti, and tiny white hearts on the tables. Light silver candles in white candelabras or white candles in silver candelabras. Buy large bouquets of silver balloons and fill the ceiling. To cut costs, put single stem white roses in silver bud vases on the tables.
Buffet Table: Use silver or white table cloths for buffet table. Place a bouquet of 25 roses in a silver vase in the center of the table. Accent remainder of table with white candles under clear globes. Position a few white silk flowers at the bases of the globes. Place finger foods on silver trays lined with white paper doilies.
Cake Table: Order a two-tiered wedding cake with either a wedding or 25th topper. For the cake table, layer a translucent silver cloth over a white table cloth. Place an original invitation or some saved mementos from the couple’s original wedding on this table.
Pictures of the Couple: We showed a DVD of portions of their original wedding. Their original VCR tape had been transferred onto a DVD. I placed original wedding pictures in black frames on each of the tables for guests to view.
Linens or Paper Goods for the Tables: I used all silver and white on the tables. I covered round tables with silver table cloths and used silver plastic ware. I placed beautiful 25th anniversary white napkins in the plate and sprinkled tables with 25th anniversary confetti pieces.
Renewal of Wedding Vows Ceremony: Renewing wedding vows can make a 25th Anniversary Celebration very special. This does not have to be an elaborate ceremony, but it can be a simple exchanging of vows before close family and friends. It is always nice to include children and immediate family members in the ceremony. Many couples do not get additional or different wedding rings, but sometimes a groom will give his renewed bride an eternity ring (a gold or silver band) to commemorate the occasion. A child of the couple could create a poem or story or do a reading about his parents and present it to them during the ceremony.
Example of a Reading: (Read by son Justin Lewis)
We can’t believe it has been 25 years since your wedding day.
The times have changed, but your love has stayed strong.
You have survived some very difficult times, yet you have weathered them.
When we look at the love that you have for each other today,
We are both proud and inspired by the life that you have built together and for us.
So today as you renew your wedding vows,
We all join you as you celebrate your love all over again.
Music for the reception: Play Christian Wedding Songs softly on the piano. We played a CD of wedding songs through a sound system.
Miscellaneous Ideas:
- Make a Memory Tree using a big branch painted silver. Decorate with silver ribbons and fill branches with pictures of major events in the couple’s life.
- Make a Time Capsule.
- Leave small cards at each place setting and have guests write a favorite memory of the couple on the card and place the card in a basket or large glass jar labeled Memories. The couple can read the cards later.
Renewal of Vows Ceremony
Husband’s Vows: (Wife’s Name), twenty-five years ago, I pledged my loyalty to you, as your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony. I promised to love you, comfort you, honor and keep you, in sickness and in health. I also pledged that, forsaking all others, I would keep myself only unto you, so long as we both shall live. During these twenty-five years, I have been faithful to those pledges. Now again, at the beginning of our twenty-fifth year together, it is with deepest joy that I renew my vows to you. So today, in the presence of God and our family and friends who have gathered for this happy occasion, I vow to you to continue to be to you a loving and faithful husband. I vow to perform my headship over you as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one of the holiest desires that I have for my life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, and my most tender care. I promise that I will lead our lives into a life of faith and hope in Christ Jesus by following God’s guidance through His spirit and His Word. I renew these vows to you today (Date) and pledge myself to continue my devotion to you as long as we both shall live.
Husband Exchanging of Rings: I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I recommit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this eternity ring as a reminder of the vows we have renewed today on our twenty-fifth anniversary.
Wife’s Vows: (Husband’s Name), twenty-five years ago I pledged my loyalty to you. I promised to love you, obey you, care for you, and ever seek to please you. I know that God has prepared me for you so that I am able to ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, throughout the remainder of our lives, no matter what may be ahead of us, I renew my vows to you today (Date). I pledge to continue my devotion to you as an obedient and faithful wife as long as we both shall live.
Wife’s Exchanging of Rings: I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. As I place this ring on your finger, I recommit my heart and soul to you this day and forevermore. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of our renewed vows to each other on this our twenty-fifth anniversary.
I am doing my 25 years vows Renewal . what is to do first the vows or the candle ceremony
Dear Teresa,
I don’t think it would matter for renewing your vows but usually it is after the vows.
My husband and I are renewing our vows do I walk down the asile by myself with him or what is the recommendation?