60th Wedding Anniversary Ideas

The 60th wedding anniversary is a big deal—we’re celebrating six decades of marriage.

Traditionally, the 60th wedding anniversary is known as the Diamond Anniversary, a designation that came into vogue after 1897 when Queen Victoria marked her 60 years of reign with a diamond jubilee celebration. This sparked new appreciation for 60 years as a milestone, and today many companies and businesses celebrate their 60th anniversaries with diamond themed events.

When it comes to marriage, diamonds are an especially appropriate symbol. Diamonds, after all, are the strongest material on earth, and a 60th wedding anniversary is a time to celebrate the strength of a marriage that has reached this milestone.

So, how to celebrate a 60th wedding anniversary? Below are our top 60th wedding anniversary ideas!

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Traditional Diamond Gifts

A diamond gift is always appreciated, especially if accompanied with a heartfelt message about the durability of your love for one another. If you’re looking for the perfect wedding anniversary gift, consider these diamond options below:

For Women: Gifts of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings can never go wrong. Make sure that you are buying something your wife doesn’t already have. You can also have fun with the theme of everlastingness—look for bracelets or necklaces designed in knots, for example, to signify unity and endurance.

For Men: Diamond watches, cufflinks, or rings make thoughtful gifts, or accessories such as a money clip will always work.

While many gravitate towards traditional white diamonds, you can also look at raw diamonds, colored diamonds, or black diamonds to find a look that is a bit more unusual. Lab-grown diamonds are cheaper than natural diamonds and are often just as beautiful. There are also many brands that explicitly sell ethically-sourced diamonds (also known as conflict-free diamonds), which might add an extra layer of meaning to your gift.

The significance of diamonds can also be interpreted creatively. You can present diamond-patterned ties, diamond-patterned tablecloths, or diamond-cut decanters as gifts. Some couples will buy diamond-embossed household items, such as flasks or lighters, to celebrate. Let the theme of diamonds inspire you.

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Modern Ways to Celebrate

For many, diamond gifts don’t hit the right note, and today there are so many additional ways to celebrate this major milestone. Especially true at this stage in a marriage, a lot of people appreciate experiences over objects, because, by this point in life, many of us have accumulated all the things that we could want. Therefore, when thinking of planning your own celebration, or celebrating with a parent, grandparent, or loved one, think about gifts or experiences that are likely to deliver memorable moments (and not just languish in a back closet).

Some modern ways to celebrate a 60th wedding anniversary include:

Throw a Party: Some couples would love to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a party. For extra fun, you can organize a party themed around the concept of sixty, such as a hippie-themed, 1960s party. There are many 60th wedding anniversary party ideas, so get creative with your party planning and make it memorable!

Send Flowers: Flowers are a beautiful way to celebrate any occasion. To mark the 60th anniversary, you could buy an arrangement of sixty roses, or send an assortment of all-white flowers to evoke the theme of diamonds.

Put Together a Photo Album: An especially meaningful tribute to the marriage would be a photo album that has a photograph from every year of the marriage.

Organize a Family Photoshoot: The 60th wedding anniversary is often a celebration for the whole family, and one way to recognize this moment is to hire a photographer and take professional family photographs. This is also a great way to gather family together for a reunion to celebrate.

Plan a Day Trip: Organize a day trip to a nearby location that you’ve never visited before. If you’re unsure about where to go, consider looking for somewhere only within 60 miles of your home. This can be a beautiful park, an unusual landmark, or just a restaurant that you’ve always passed, yet never entered. Trying new experiences is a fun way to celebrate this stage in a marriage.

Buy Tickets to a Show: Tickets to a show are a great gift idea for anybody wishing to give the couple a memorable experience. Consider which theatre, opera, music, dance, or unusual entertainment options are available (such as Cirque du Soleil), and buy the best seats in the house! Of course, even if you want the show to be a surprise, make sure to clear the date with the couple in advance of buying any tickets. Also, be considerate of show length, comfort level of seating, and acoustics. An outdoor concert with poor speakers and floor seating is likely not the right event for a couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

Relive the Wedding Day in Photographs: For grandchildren, in particular, a lovely way to celebrate the 60th anniversary is to set aside a day to go through your grandparent’s wedding album with them, and ask lots of questions about the guests, who was there, and how the day came together. You’ll learn so much family history, and likely hear a surprising story or two.

Arrange a Special Anniversary Message: Looking for the perfect gift to celebrate a loved one? A number of places will issue a special anniversary message to couples who have been married for 60 years. Catholic couples can request a special papal blessing from the Vatican, and UK citizens can request a message from the Queen. Many local governments also issue announcements for the 60th wedding anniversary, so see if one makes sense for you.

Now that you have a list of 60th anniversary ideas, it’s time to start planning. Whether you decide upon getting a special anniversary gift or you throw a party for the happy couple, there are many ways to acknowledge this special occasion.