We all love a good wedding – everything from the guest list, the venue and the food, to the romance and promise for the future is a cause for a celebration. But just because you’ve been married for years, it doesn’t mean you should stop celebrating. That’s why couples of a certain age are choosing to commemorate their marital milestones with lavish anniversary parties. At Henry Bonas, we are often asked to throw anniversary party celebrations at all types of venues and for guests of all ages. Here’s why anniversary parties are such a great way to bring people together…
Fun for all ages
We are seeing more wedding anniversary requests for couples who have been married for 20 years or more. Often, these milestone anniversaries coincide with a child’s milestone birthday – for example, a 20th wedding anniversary, a 25th wedding anniversary party or a 30th wedding anniversary can often fall in the same year as a child’s 18th or 21st birthday. If that’s the case, then hosting a lavish joint party makes a lot of sense – you get to celebrate with your friends, but your children can also celebrate alongside you with theirs.
It’s a family affair
No matter which landmark anniversary you are celebrating, an anniversary party can span the generations and include all family members. If you want your teens at your 25th wedding anniversary party, why not create a dedicated space and playlist for them so they can be a part of the event? If you’re throwing an anniversary party for older parents, say a 50th or 60th wedding anniversary celebration, then it is entirely appropriate to invite all the grandchildren as well as the great aunts and uncles, and make it more of an extended family gathering.
Love is in the air
Why does everyone love a wedding? Because it’s a celebration of a couple’s love story. A wedding anniversary is simply the next chapter in that romance. Whether you’re celebrating five years or 50 years of marriage, a wedding anniversary is always a happy occasion, making it a great excuse to throw a party – all you need is plenty of guests to share it with!
Ready-made themes
Designing your party around a theme can really elevate a good party into a great party; but choosing the theme can often be the tricky part. Not so with anniversaries – a popular idea for a marital milestone moment is to base the event around the correlating anniversary gift. For example, silver for 25 years or ruby for 40 years.
For a silver wedding anniversary, you could have a lot of fun creating silver tablescapes, littering surfaces with glistening silver candlesticks, tableware and serving platters. For a ruby anniversary party, lay out a red carpet, serve up red-coloured cocktails and include bright red accents in your decor. As a finishing touch, ask people to wear something that gives a nod to your theme – an item of clothing that’s in the same colour, for example.
Enjoy a trip down memory lane
Chances are that many of the guests you invite to your anniversary party would have been at your wedding, and that in itself is a cause for celebration. Relive the memories of your wedding day by including some nostalgic touches. Create a photowall of wedding images that feature some of your party guests back in the day or have the video of your wedding playing in the background. It’s a great conversation starter as people love to reminisce, especially if they were a part of the original celebration.
Any venue works
You can host a lavish anniversary party in any number of venues, depending on the type of celebration you’re after. You may choose to relive your wedding day by holding your anniversary party in the venue where you had your original wedding reception. Others may decide to do something completely different.
At Henry Bonas, we work with lots of party venues in London and the Cotswolds that offer different features depending on the type of party you want. For example, elegant mansions such as Warwickshire’s Ragley Hall and Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace are ideal if you’re looking to host your anniversary event in the countryside, whereas lavish London venues such as Banqueting House or Soho House are perfect for more intimate gourmet dinners or sophisticated cocktail parties.