Anniversary invitations: silver, golden, and what to write
Anniversary invitations have one feature no other invitation has: the people being celebrated usually are not the ones sending it. Their children are, and often as a surprise.
That changes the wording quite a lot, and it changes what you can safely put on it. This page covers both, plus what silver and golden jubilees actually look like in Indian families.
When the children are hosting
If the invitation comes from the children, say so. It reads warmly and it explains why the tone is different from a formal card.
If it is a surprise, be careful what goes in writing. Anniversary invitations get forwarded, screenshotted and shown to the wrong person more than any other kind. Put the word surprise prominently at the top, and consider giving a fake arrival time to the couple themselves rather than trusting an entire extended family to keep quiet.
Silver, golden and the Indian versions
| Year | Name | What families usually do |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Silver jubilee | A puja or a church service in the morning, a lunch or dinner in the evening. Often the largest anniversary function. |
| 50 | Golden jubilee | Frequently a renewal of vows, with the couple's children and grandchildren participating. |
| 60 | Diamond jubilee | Usually a family gathering rather than a large function, given the age of the couple. |
| Any year | Vivah Varshikotsav | The general term. Many families mark it with a Satyanarayan Puja at home rather than a party. |
What to put on it
- The number of years, prominently. It is the whole point.
- Whether there is a ceremony, and its time, separately from the meal.
- Who is hosting, particularly if it is the children.
- Gift guidance. Couples married twenty five years generally do not need more things, and saying so is a kindness to your guests.
- Photographs, if you are collecting them. Anniversary functions often include a slideshow, and asking guests for old photos in advance on the invitation works well.
Anniversary invitation wording you can copy
Copy any of these and change the names, dates and places. They are written to be read out loud, so they sound right on a phone screen too.
Our parents have put up with each other for twenty five years.
We think that deserves a party.
[Names]
Silver Jubilee
[Day, Date] · [Time]
[Venue]
With love, from [children's names].
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the wedding of
[Name] and [Name]
we request the pleasure of your company.
Puja at [Time] · Lunch from [Time]
[Day, Date]
[Venue]
Fifty years ago they said yes.
[Name] and [Name]
will renew their vows in the presence of their family and friends.
[Day, Date] · [Time]
[Venue]
No gifts please. Bring a photograph if you have one.
SURPRISE. Please do not tell them.
We are celebrating [Names]' [number] anniversary.
[Day, Date]
Please arrive by [Time]. They arrive at [Time].
[Venue]
Do not reply on the family group.
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Questions people actually ask
Who should send an anniversary invitation?
Usually the couple's children, and it is worth saying so on the invitation. It explains the warmer tone and it is part of the celebration.
What is a silver jubilee celebration in India?
The twenty fifth anniversary, usually marked with a puja or church service in the morning and a lunch or dinner later. In many South Indian families the couple is ceremonially remarried using the original rituals.
Should an anniversary invitation mention gifts?
It is a kindness to say no gifts if you mean it. A couple married twenty five or fifty years rarely needs more things, and guests appreciate the guidance.
How do we handle a surprise party invitation?
Put the word surprise at the very top, give guests an arrival time well before the couple's, and expect it to leak. Anniversary invitations get forwarded more than any other kind.
What is Vivah Varshikotsav?
The general Sanskrit derived term for a wedding anniversary. Many families mark it quietly with a Satyanarayan Puja at home rather than with a function.