Wedding Blog

While this post isn’t directly wedding related, (although it kind of is…) I thought I’d post here to get some suggestions. My aunt and uncle are having their 50th wedding anniversary in September, and we’re starting to plan it now. I say “we” because my aunt has recruited me and my skills into helping with the reception (or is it a party?). I’m more than thrilled to help her since she was a great big help for my wedding (any time I mentioned my aunt, it was her!), and because I know this is the chance for the big soirée they never had.

My aunt got pregnant in high school, when she was in her senior year. My uncle was desperate to marry her, despite the hostility my grandma tossed at him. It wasn’t just about getting her daughter pregnant (although that was NOT good), it was actually many factors - he was African-American, and she was Hispanic, she was a devout Catholic, and he wasn’t… those kinds of things. So, instead, my aunt and uncle got married at the courthouse and then had their baby. My aunt finished school, they had two more kids, and had a small ceremony done in the Catholic Church a few years later, without fanfare. They have been in love going on 50 years now, and you can tell that although their courtship wasn’t typical (especially in the 50s!), they had never doubted their choice to marry (oh, and my grandma eventually loved my uncle as her own, especially when he learned to speak better Spanish than my aunt!), but wished they had a chance to have a big ol’ party.

Now that the big anniversary is coming up, my aunt asked me for ideas for decorations and centerpieces. I told her that something that is popular nowadays are the tables with pictures of the couple at different ages. She had a problem with that one, since both my aunt and uncle grew up in the projects and didn’t really have very many pictures of themselves as kids (not being able to afford a camera). I told her a different idea would be to have those picture frame boxes as the centerpiece with pictures of the couple throughout the 50 years- cheaper than flowers, and a chance to showcase the many great times they had. She actually loved that idea and was going to scour the stores for bargain picture frames (too bad I have no idea how to make them).

That’s just one idea though, can anyone help me think of more ideas to help celebrate a 50 year anniversary?

For your consideration, here are pictures of the happy couple (although not together, what is up with that? Is that the secret to 50 blissful years?) at our wedding. They have always been like surrogate grandparents to me, and I really want to help make their anniversary the wedding they never had.

My aunt with my cousins

My uncle being, well, himself.

This here is the shot of my aunt and uncle helping me out, like they always have. Man, my dress was a three man job!