Always remember the three magic words: "You're right, dear."

Maybe he can work that in somehow, Lydia. I'll keep looking....

To the top......

I've been scouring websites and have found very little helpful ideas (most are sites you have to sign up for or sites that want you to pay). This has got to be the hardest part of this whole thing so far.

I want it to be funny, yet nice. They met at White Castle (a restaurant) where my Mom worked. (This is the story they have told DB and I anyhow). Someone actually suggested we have the anniversary party there!

The first line will be thanks for coming, the last "Join me in a toast to my aunt and uncle and their first 50 years of marriage." All the stuff in the middle has me stumped though.

I did think of doing something with numbers.. 1 true love, 2 children, 3 floods, 4 grandchildren... but I kind of got stumped right after 4... so that really isn't working. Any similar ideas??

Begging for help here......... and thanks Flamingo for yours so far!

Well, he could use the obvious things, like "50 years and he still hasn't perfected his disappearing act".

I would google magic tricks and see how you could apply them to a marriage.

White Castle-- (aren't they known for those little square burgers?) "Obviously "Jean" was always attracted to cute little things." lolol Too racy? Maybe. You decide!

Or White Castle- he became her knight in shining armor. Not magical, I know.

You're right, this IS hard!

It might be easier to come up with a toast if we know what kind of tricks he can 'pull out of his hat'...LOL! Like..what can he make appear? Examples of his 'magic' please?

Here's a sample speech. http://www.poemstogo.tv/50thanniversaryspeech.html

This link has some speech topics and hints that might help.
http://www.speech-topics-help.com/

Here's another sample:
http://www.speech-guru.com/sample_anniversary_speech.php

Another one:
http://www.squidoo.com/50th_wedding_anniversary_speech

Try Googling "sample anniversary speech" for some more ideas.

what can he make appear? Examples of his 'magic' please?

I don't really know since he doesn't usually do magic for the family. He is a professional though (has been doing magic over 30 years) and does a lot of entertaining for conferences and that type of thing. I know he uses lots of props, but unsure of which he can bring to the party (he works for a company).

Thanks for the additional ideas and the links (I'll check them out soon). You're right Flamey - it is hard! I really hoped my cousin would come up with something without my help.

I did find a card trick which is called "Anniversary Waltz". He may already know it. It is a trick in which the woman and man both choose cards at random from the deck.. each signs their card. They are put back into the deck and then pulled out 'fused' back to back as a single card. Cool, eh?

Anyhow thanks and keep the ideas coming!

If he tells their story and gets to the part of their marriage he could pull a gold ring from behind one of their ears.
Pull baby pictures out of his hat for the birth of you kids?
Could he somehow work into his speech that your Mom wove a magic love spell around your Dad?
I dunno maybe they are all dumb ideas....I hope you get some good ones Lydia!

My sister celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary last year. Her children arranged everything. They adorned the top of the 50th anniversary cake with figurines that had been on the original wedding cake - a very nice touch.

What aboutthe words from a song? Could the toast be words and/or music from a song about love and magic?

That Old Black Magic
This Magic Moment
The Magic of Love

I had a long test to run today with time to think so this was fun to work on :)

"Ladies and gentlemen, 50 years ago today (if on the day) a flame was light (a candle lights itself) that still burns today.

One day in 1958 (or the correct year if earlier), TDH decided to get a bite to eat. He checked his funds (MG pulls out his pockets showing they are empty. Maybe one pocket then has a hanky  long hanky trick. He could pull other "pulling out of pocket tricks" and comes up empty. He gets the Âidea look and pulls change out of various audience ears, counts the money.)

Since funds were low TDH headed for the nearest White Castle. Where (he could don a wig for her part  maybe?) TDW was working her shift. (this would be a good place for the trick where eggs are cracked into a container then a duck (or other critter) comes out.)

Smitten by her beautiful (eyes, smile, etc - if itÂs not a surprise, ask him) TDH asked her for a date (magic flowers out of nowhere) and she gave him a hamburger (makes white castle bag or burger appear)

One thing led to another (a trick involving a repeating surprise here) and *correct time period* later they were wed. (a trick with rice or doves?)

After a while ____ kids were born ( there is a trick where one of an item (cane, fan, etc) is waved and each time it becomes 2, 3 etc this could match the number of children  or if there were only one or two children do this for grandchildren). Bringing great joy ( a trick that makes people laugh, with balloons maybe - Followed by a trick that involves breaking something) most of the time.

There were times of plenty (something appears) and times of penny pinching (it disappears). There were some Âspats" (IÂm stuck for a trick on this) and plenty of love (something heart shaped or romantic).

Over the years they learned to balance life (Juggling if he does that) and to work together (the card trick with the names) and through it all, they kept it together (the rope trick where it gets cut up and made whole again) Â and that is real magic.

(Makes a full glass appear) and so I ask you to Join me in a toast to my aunt and uncle and their first 50 years of marriage."

That's great Chiroptera Mama!!! I'll definitely send that to my cousin and see what he thinks. Glad you thought it was fun! lol It's been making me a nervous wreck!

Great ideas too from Nodakgal, Jem and Tally! I may just make the whole thing a 'magic' theme and use some of these ideas for other things too.