Anniversary invitation wording needs four things: the couple's names, the milestone, who is hosting, and when and where to celebrate. For a 50th, the wording often adds the wedding year, so the invitation reads like a small piece of family history. Pick the host line first, then the milestone line, then the tone.
Below are copy-ready lines for the 25th, 40th, 50th and beyond, plus wording for children hosting, surprise parties, vow renewals, gift notes and the message that carries the invitation. They work on a printed card or in digital anniversary invitations. The main examples use a 50th anniversary party on Saturday, May 22, 2027, for Margaret and Joseph Reyes, married in 1977.
Start with the host line
Who sends the invitation decides whose voice it speaks in. Choose your row, then use the matching examples below.
| Who is hosting | Opening line | How the couple is named | Example opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| The couple | "Please join us" | "we" and "our" | "Please join us as we celebrate fifty years of marriage" |
| Their children | "The children of" | By name, in the third person | "The children of Margaret and Joseph Reyes invite you to celebrate" |
| Children and grandchildren | "The family of" | By name, in the third person | "The family of Margaret and Joseph Reyes requests the pleasure of your company" |
| Friends or a community group | "Join us in honoring" | By name, warmly | "Join us in honoring Margaret and Joseph on their golden anniversary" |
| A surprise | "Shh" or "It's a surprise" | By name, plus a note to keep quiet | "Shh! A surprise party for Margaret and Joseph's 50th" |
Milestone names you can use in the wording
Each milestone has a traditional material. Using it in a line ("golden," "ruby," "silver") is an easy way to name the year without repeating the number.
| Year | Traditional material | A line that uses it |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | "One year, written on paper and in our hearts" |
| 5th | Wood | "Five years, and still growing" |
| 10th | Tin | "Ten years of tin, and not a dent in it" |
| 15th | Crystal | "Fifteen crystal-clear years" |
| 20th | China | "Twenty years, and the good china comes out" |
| 25th | Silver | "Twenty-five silver years" |
| 30th | Pearl | "Thirty years, one pearl at a time" |
| 35th | Coral | "Thirty-five years and still in bloom" |
| 40th | Ruby | "Forty ruby years" |
| 45th | Sapphire | "Forty-five years, sapphire blue" |
| 50th | Gold | "Fifty golden years" |
| 55th | Emerald | "Fifty-five years, evergreen" |
| 60th | Diamond | "Sixty years, as strong as diamond" |
50th wedding anniversary invitation wording
The children of Margaret and Joseph Reyes request the pleasure of your company at a celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary Saturday, the twenty-second of May two thousand twenty-seven at six o'clock in the evening The Willow Room, Lakeview Inn, Madison, Wisconsin
Margaret and Joseph Reyes 1977 to 2027 Please join us for dinner to celebrate fifty golden years
Fifty years ago, Margaret and Joseph said "I do." Join their family to celebrate the half century since.
Please join us as we celebrate fifty years of marriage. Margaret and Joseph Reyes Saturday, May 22, 2027, 6:00 p.m.
Married June 4, 1977, and still holding hands. Join us for Margaret and Joseph's golden anniversary party.
Five decades, four children, nine grandchildren and one very long love story. Come celebrate Margaret and Joseph's 50th.
25th anniversary invitation wording
Please join us to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of Anika and David Shah Saturday, November 6, 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
Twenty-five years, two kids and one dog later, we're still each other's favorite. Come celebrate with us.
Anika and David were married on November 9, 2002. Join us for dinner as they mark twenty-five years.
A quarter century of marriage deserves a proper party. Celebrate Anika and David's 25th with us.
Twenty-five silver years. Join us for drinks, dinner and a few embarrassing photos.
40th anniversary invitation wording
The family of Linda and Robert Okafor invites you to celebrate their ruby wedding anniversary Saturday, August 14, 2027
Forty years, one house, countless Sunday dinners. Join us to celebrate Linda and Robert.
Forty ruby years and counting. Please join Linda and Robert for an evening with family and friends.
1987 to 2027. Please join us for a garden party in honor of Linda and Robert's 40th.
60th anniversary and beyond
Sixty years married. Please join the family of Grace and Henry Lin for afternoon tea in their honor
A diamond anniversary is rare and worth celebrating. Join us for Grace and Henry's 60th.
Sixty-five years together, and they still finish each other's sentences. Come celebrate Grace and Henry.
Early anniversaries: 1st, 5th and 10th
One year down, forever to go. Join us for a first anniversary dinner.
We've been married a year. Let's eat the wedding cake we saved.
Five years married. Come help us celebrate with a backyard barbecue.
Ten years, one move, two kids. Join us for a 10th anniversary party.
A surprise anniversary party
Make "surprise" the first word guests see, and repeat it near the reply line. Send replies to a host, not to the couple.
Shh! It's a surprise. Please join us for Margaret and Joseph's 50th anniversary party. Arrive by 5:30 p.m. They'll walk in at 6.
Help us surprise Margaret and Joseph on their golden anniversary. Please reply to Daniel, not to Mom and Dad.
They think it's a quiet family dinner. It isn't. Surprise 40th for Linda and Robert, Saturday, August 14.
Keep it secret, keep it safe: a surprise 25th for Anika and David, November 6
Vow renewal invitation wording
A vow renewal invitation names the ceremony, so guests know there will be vows as well as a party.
Margaret and Joseph Reyes invite you to witness the renewal of their wedding vows on their fiftieth anniversary Saturday, May 22, 2027, at five o'clock Saint Mark's Church, Madison
After twenty-five years, we'd say yes all over again. Join us as we renew our vows on November 6.
Same couple, same promises, a few more gray hairs. Please join Anika and David as they renew their vows.
We married with only our parents there. This time, we'd love you with us. Vow renewal and dinner, Saturday, November 6.
Gift and no-gift lines
Anniversary hosts are often asked what to bring. Answer in one short line, last on the invitation.
Your presence is the only gift they want
No gifts, please. Bring a favorite memory of Margaret and Joseph to share.
In place of gifts, the couple would love a donation to the Madison Food Pantry
We're putting together a memory book. Please bring a photo or a short note.
The message that carries the invitation
Hi Aunt Teresa, we're throwing Mom and Dad a 50th anniversary party on May 22, and we'd love you there. Your invitation: [Link]
Hello Mr. Patel, Margaret and Joseph are celebrating fifty years on May 22. Here is your invitation, with directions: [Link]
Hi Sam, it's a SURPRISE 40th for Linda and Robert on August 14. Please don't mention it to them! Details: [Link]
Hi Neha, Anika and David are renewing their vows on November 6. Your invitation is here: [Link]
Hi cousins, Grandma and Grandpa's 60th is coming up. All the details and the reply button are here: [Link]
Send it in a way the whole family can open
An anniversary guest list can span several generations, including relatives who would rather not install anything. Link Invitation sends each guest their own invitation link, with their name on it, that opens in the phone's browser with nothing to install or sign into. You send each guest their link on WhatsApp, one tap per guest, with your own message, and the live RSVP dashboard shows who is coming, how many, and any dietary needs. If details change, you edit the invitation and guests keep the same link.
Essential is US$29 and you build it yourself, free to build and preview before you pay. Excellence is US$99 and is designed for you. Both are a one-time payment per invitation, with unlimited guests and no subscription. See plans and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Who should host a 50th anniversary party?
Anyone close to the couple can host: the couple themselves, their children, grandchildren or close friends. When the children host, the invitation opens with "The children of" or "The family of," and replies go to one named child. When the couple hosts, write in the first person ("Please join us"). Either way, name one person to contact.
How do you say "no gifts" on an anniversary invitation?
Put it in one short, warm line at the bottom: "Your presence is the only gift they want." If you'd like to give guests something to do instead, suggest an alternative, such as bringing a photo for a memory book or donating to a cause the couple supports. Avoid listing gift ideas unless the couple asked you to.
Should you put the wedding year on an anniversary invitation?
It's a nice touch for big milestones. A line such as "1977 to 2027" or "Married June 4, 1977" tells guests the story at a glance and works well with the milestone name. For early anniversaries, the year adds little, so the number alone is enough: "Join us for our 5th anniversary."
What's the difference between an anniversary party and a vow renewal invitation?
A vow renewal invitation asks guests to witness a ceremony, so it names the ceremony, the start time of the vows, and often a place of worship or an outdoor spot. An anniversary party invitation only invites guests to celebrate. If you're doing both, list the vows first and the meal or party second, each with its own time.