I'm not so sure that a gag gift would be welcome for such a milestone. Perhaps a silly/funny card with a great restaurant gift card enclosed. I was given a gift card to my favorite locally owned garden center for my birthday last year, very much appreciated. I give my neighbor a grandparent membership to our botanical garden for Xmas, and he and the sprites use the heck out of it.

Agree, gift card for a nice restaurant.

Playing the lotto, imho, is like paying more taxes or making a donation to a states general fund. Maybe instead, a donation to a charity of their choice.

I like to give a nice bottle of champagne for anniversaries, to encourage celebration.

I wouldn't give a gag gift for a 50th anniversary celebration unless it was stated to do so. I'd also pass on giving lottery tickets, just doesn't seem to fit the occasion. I'd enjoy a gift card to my favorite restaurant or bottle of wine/champagne.

I think it depends on your friends. Do they do scratch offs, I do so I'd love them. Odds are they will double the $50 initial investment and then they can really have a nice meal at their favorite restaurant.

I agree....gift card for a nice restaurant! ......put in a nice card.

For me, your presence would be enough of a present. A card is suffice.

I wouldn't consider scratchoffs to be a gag gift! They could stand to win a lot of dosh!

I am one that doesn't think that a gag gift would be appropriate. I'll bet they'll be getting many, many gift cards to restaurants. How about asking the kids if they have any thoughts for a gift?

I think a gag gift or a gift with a humorous spin can be appropriate depending upon the people involved. Your friends may have that type of sense of humor. What you need is a funny story to go with it. Do you have any funny stories or memories you could make into a themed gift? You need to either mention it in a card or tell the story when you give the gift.

I'm guessing the couple must be about seventy. Have you known them a long time? Do you have photos/memories to put into a nice card? *I* would appreciate that kind of personal touch more than a 'thing'. You are attending the celebration, at no small cost, to give the gift of your presence.

i could never go to celebration and not give a gift. they are paying for you to be there, #1. if the expense is too much for you, then don't go & send a gift.

this a big deal so treat it as such. contact the kids and see what they enjoy, possibilities are endless. i would just give $$, simple and they can do with it what the want!!

You said they are "very good friends," what are they like, what do they like to do? Perhaps tickets to the theater or symphony.

Why not check the web for the the popular songs or movies or books from the year they were married and make a gift basket with one? It could bring back memories.

When I am that age I hope no one would give me a gag gift or a non consumable item of any kind. Scratch off tickets would be fine, a donation in my name to a charity I supported, an engraved brick (or tree planted) for a community project or a good bottle of wine would be welcome.

I was just remembering back to what my dad gave my grandparents for their 60th wedding anniversary. This is not traditional, but my grandparents were not traditional type people. Apparently my grandfather had always wanted a huge bell. My dad found one that was two or three feet...not sure... at a flea market. My grandfather mounted that thing on a tall stand in front of their house. My grandmother loved it. My grandparents lived on five acres with trees and several buildings. My grandfather was the type of guy that always had a project and was out and about doing stuff. My grandmother had her own projects and didn't always feel like tracking down my grandfather. My grandmother rang that bell when she wanted my grandfather back up at the house. They both thought that was great. My dad didn't do this, but that gift would have gone along great with a little something that made a pun about ringing each other's bell.

A lot of people including myself love bird feeders, garden art, etc. You could do something like a big metal wind spinner and make a joke off of still going after all of these years. I think one of the sun/moon faces might be cute too. You could make a reference to the two of them working as a couple or something.

One one such occasion gave my wife's parents a bag of OTCs, aspirin, laxatives, all age related complaint stuff. On another occasion a roll of 50 one dollar coins. They seemed to prefer the pills.

Well, I bought a very nice card and a $50 gift certificate for a restaurant.

We live in the boonies, so I was limited to what gift cards Kmart had.

Thanks for all the responses. I actually bought them before reading any of you answers, So we all think alike, or at least most of us!

THANK YOU!!! for not going "gag gift". They make me gag. People that age (as do most people) have enough junk around it's offensive to contribute more to something that usually only amuses the giver, not the receiver. Same thing with trinket "gifts".

Your gift was very thoughtful and I'm sure was appreciated.

When we had our 50th, the invite specified no gifts. But some brought them and most were gift certificates. We got a few memory items but, honestly, we never used them or put them out.