I came to this site looking for ideas for my parents who are trying to come up with a good 50th anniversary gift for my grandparents as well. I appreciate the ideas that have been posted thus far. I do have a suggestion for the group - My mom made a cross-stitch blanket that is hanging above my grandparents' bed for one of their anniversaries. It's basically a family tree and includes a square for each person - My mom stiched i.e. "John" (son) and his birthdate and then "Jane" (wife) and her birthdate, and in between the two - their wedding anniversary date. And then below John and Jane are the three kids and their birthdates. In each person's square she stitched a little item that represents that person - like my square has a piano because I play piano... my cousin's has a baseball, etc. It was VERY well received and it's perfect because we know how when you get old you are very good at forgetting dates! I thought this was the best gift idea ever and it was very well received. And every time a new family member is added, my Mom just updates the blanket.... The problem is now, we have their 50th anniversary coming up and this past anniversary gift is going to be very hard to top.

We attended a wedding last year; it was at a lovely seaside hotel. I sketched a view and framed it as a gift (but many places have/sell cards, drawings, etc. that might make nice framed gifts) either of the venue or church. Was also thinking to screen print (they can digitally print on fabrics now) the latitude and longitude of the wedding location (kind of an outdoor sunbrella type fabric pillow) ... but that could be engraved onto a glass or cutting board...so its a bit subtle but a memento. Congratulations an hope its a great fun summer!

Not knowing the couple, I'm short on ideas. I do have our invitation, decoupaged on wood and done by my mother. I haven't displayed it for years, but it's meaningful and I wouldn't get rid of it. I have my bouquet - dried not preserved so it doesn't look wonderful but I know what it is and that's what counts ;0) I can happily admit to having my brownie sash with all the badges too in a zippered little satin envelope in my lingerie chest. When I'm sorting, updating, I take it out and look at it, fold it carefully and put it back - with a pair of my childhood white Easter gloves that are about 2 1/2 inches long finger tip to wrist. I don't display a lot of personal things, it's not my decorating style but it doesn't mean they aren't important to me. Watchme, along with the brownie sash, there has been a cheaply made trophy here all our married lives, something presented to DH at a grade school hoop shoot tournament. And, all those years, I've heard from a friend of his that the trophy should have been his, of the two of them, he was the better player than DH. We're talking about maybe 4th grade, I barely remember 4th grade. When friend turned 50, I wrapped the trophy and gave it to him for his birthday present. He cried, and it's in their game room displayed now....these things matter to some ;0)

I have been married 26 years, two items in my household that I use regularly and cherish are favorite wedding gifts. One is a pottery pitcher, from a potter local to the Maine island where my wedding was held. The other is a wooden serving tray, decoratively stained in translucent jewel tones, that my DH's aunt purchased at Gumps. My sister often mentions that she still treasures a ribbon glass vase I purchased for her first post-divorce Christmas gift. What ties these items together is that they are functional and beautiful. This to me is what makes a treasured gift. I suggest that you go to the Nambe website, they are one of my go to's for special gifts.