Anniversary Invitation Wording: Examples for 25th, 40th and 50th Celebrations

Anniversary invitation wording names who's hosting, the couple, the milestone, and the date, time and place of the celebration. The couple can host their own party, or their children can host it for them — the first line of the invitation changes, the rest stays the same. Below are ready-to-use examples for the 25th, 40th, 50th and 60th, a vow renewal and a surprise party.

What should an anniversary invitation include?

The couple's names, which anniversary it is, the date and time, the venue, and how to reply. Add a dress code, a gift note and parking only if guests need them.

• Who's hosting — "Emma and James" or "The children of Emma and James".
• The milestone — "their 25th wedding anniversary" or "25 years of marriage".
• When and where — the date, time and venue, with a map link.
• A reply-by date and how to respond.
• Optional extras — dress code, "no gifts, please", the original wedding date, a photo from the wedding day.

What are the anniversary milestone names?

The best-known are silver for 25 years, ruby for 40, gold for 50 and diamond for 60. These names have a long history — associating gold and silver with anniversaries has been documented since the 1500s — and they make an easy theme for the invitation's colours and wording.

Anniversary	Traditional name	Wording idea
25th	Silver	"25 silver years together"
40th	Ruby	"Forty ruby years of love"
50th	Gold	"Celebrating their golden anniversary"
60th	Diamond	"Sixty years — a diamond anniversary"

How do you word an invitation when the couple is hosting?

Start with your own names and invite guests to celebrate with you. It can be formal or relaxed — choose the tone of the party.

Emma and James Bennett
request the pleasure of your company
at the celebration of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary
Saturday, the twelfth of June
at seven o'clock in the evening
The Garden Room, Elmwood Estate

25 years ago we said "I do" — and we'd do it all again.
Join us for dinner, drinks and dancing
Saturday, June 12 · 7 pm
Our place

How do you word it when the children are hosting?

Put the children first, then the couple, then the milestone. It's the classic wording for 40th and 50th anniversaries, which the family usually throws.

The children of Margaret and David Clarke
invite you to celebrate
their parents' 50th wedding anniversary
Sunday, the fourth of May
at one o'clock
The Riverside Hotel

Please join Sarah, Tom and Ellie
as they celebrate their parents' 40 ruby years
Saturday, May 3 · Lunch from 12:30 pm

What are good wording ideas for each milestone?

Lean on the milestone's name and the years themselves. A short line under the couple's names does the work.

• 25th: "Twenty-five years, one love story" · "Silver and still shining" · "Celebrating a quarter century of us".
• 30th: "Thirty years of laughter and love" · "Pearls of wisdom, 30 years in".
• 40th: "Forty ruby years" · "Four decades of devotion".
• 50th: "Fifty golden years" · "Half a century of happily ever after" · "We still do".
• 60th: "Sixty diamond years together" · "A lifetime of love, and counting".

How do you word a vow renewal invitation?

Treat it like a small wedding: name the couple, say they're renewing their vows, and give the ceremony and the celebration afterwards. "Renew" is the key word — guests should know it isn't a first wedding.

After 25 wonderful years
Emma and James
invite you to witness the renewal of their vows
Saturday, June 12 at 4 pm
St. Mary's Church
Dinner and dancing to follow

How do you word a surprise anniversary party?

Say "surprise" at the very top, give guests an arrival time before the couple's, and ask them to keep it quiet. The clearer the timing, the better the surprise.

Shh… it's a surprise!
Join us to celebrate Margaret and David's 50th anniversary
Sunday, May 4 · Please arrive by 12:30 pm — they'll be here at 1
Mum's the word!

How do you say "no gifts" on an anniversary invitation?

Keep it short and warm, and put it in the details rather than the main wording. Many couples suggest a charity or a memory instead.

• "Your company is the only gift we need."
• "No gifts, please — bring a favourite memory of us to share instead."
• "In lieu of gifts, a donation to [charity] would mean the world to us."

When should you send anniversary invitations?

Three to six weeks before the party — the window Emily Post recommends for anniversary parties. Send them earlier for a big party or if family is travelling, and ask for replies about two weeks before.

Can you send anniversary invitations digitally?

Yes — and it's the easiest way to reach family and friends spread across cities. A digital invitation can hold the photo from your wedding day, the menu, a map and an RSVP in one link.

On PixerInvite, choose any wedding design and set the occasion to Anniversary: the card reads "The anniversary of…", you can add "25 years together", and the share message says it's an anniversary celebration. Browse the designs.

Frequently asked questions

Who usually hosts a 50th anniversary party?

Often the couple's children, though the couple can host their own. The invitation's first line names whoever is hosting.

Should an anniversary invitation mention the wedding date?

It's a lovely touch — "married June 12, 1976" under the names — but it's optional.

What do you call a 25th anniversary?

A silver anniversary. The 40th is ruby, the 50th golden and the 60th diamond.

Is it OK to ask for no gifts at an anniversary party?

Yes. Put a short, kind line in the details, such as "Your company is the only gift we need."