Holidays + Occasions
Best Flowers to Send for a 50th Wedding Anniversary
Saturday, January 15, 2022
Only about 6% of people make it to their 50th wedding anniversary. So when a couple makes it to their golden anniversary, it’s cause for celebration. The practice of giving gifts for wedding anniversaries began in the Roman Empire and symbolized the progressive strengthening of the relationship. During this time, husbands would place a silver wreath on their wives’ heads for their 25th anniversary and a gold wreath for their 50th.
The practice really took off during the Victorian age when more people began marrying for love instead of other reasons and wanted to commemorate the occasion with a gift. Though you probably won’t get your loved one a gold wreath for their 50th wedding anniversary, flowers are a traditional gift that’s easy to send. Here’s what you need to know about 50th wedding anniversary flowers.
Flowers for 50th Wedding Anniversary: What to Know
Like the wreath example above, gold is a traditional color for a 50th wedding anniversary. Classic flowers for this milestone are usually yellow roses and violets. Yellow roses are often a sign of friendship, but in the case of relationships, these golden flowers also signify prosperity and beauty. Violets symbolize commitment, humility, and loyalty. The 50th anniversary is the only anniversary with two traditional flowers instead of one.
If yellow roses or violets are difficult to find or your recipient doesn’t like them, there are other options:
You could give them a bouquet or arrangement of the flowers used in their wedding
You could present them with a bouquet of 50 stems of their favorite flower
You could use yellow flowers like daffodils and tulips could be used in place of yellow roses
You could also give the couple a yellow rose bush or some potted violets to commemorate the occasion.
Additionally, you could give the couple flowers based on the season of their wedding day.
If the wedding occurred in winter, you might want to choose flowers that remind them of both the wedding and the holidays from that time of year. The color red is usually associated with winter and the holidays – plus, it stands out beautifully against any winter white decor. Poinsettias, roses, carnations, and amaryllis are wonderful choices. These types of flowers are typically grown from December through March.
A spring wedding means the return of bright and pastel colors. Daffodil, freesia, hyacinth, and lilac are common spring wedding blooms.
Summer wedding flowers are grown in June, July, and August and feature fragrant and bright blooms like lavender, lilies, daisies, and snapdragon.
The mild temperatures of September and October (and at times November) are perfect for flowers like gold and burgundy sunflowers, roses, and ranunculus.
50th Wedding Anniversary Flowers You Shouldn’t Give
Sure, most flowers are beautiful, but not just any flower is appropriate to include in a 50th wedding anniversary flower arrangement. Avoid these blooms:
Buttercups:
They may look cute, but buttercups represent childishness and aren’t the best choice for a mature loved one.
Yellow carnations:
Most colors of carnations make a great gift, plus they’re easy to find. But avoid yellow carnations because they symbolize rejection.
Orange lilies:
These brightly colored flowers symbolize hatred and disdain.
Black roses:
These dark flowers commonly symbolize death, so skip the black roses for anniversaries and other celebratory events.
Some people also suggest that giving cheap flowers from a grocery store or gas station is a no-no because it sends the message that you either don’t care about the occasion or simply forgot.
Other Gifts You Could Add to Flowers for a 50th Wedding Anniversary
When you’ve picked out the flowers that will delight, consider adding some extras into your arrangement. If the flowers you chose aren’t the traditional colors of gold and violet, you could place the arrangement in a gold container or add gold accents.
You could also include a piece of gold jewelry or a cherished wedding photo in a gold frame.
Whether or not you include traditional 50th anniversary flowers in your flower arrangement, giving someone celebrating this important milestone, flowers make a versatile, thoughtful gift that can bring back memories of the day and make them feel special.
Classic flowers for this milestone are usually yellow roses and violets. Yellow roses are often a sign of friendship, but in the case of relationships, these golden flowers also signify prosperity and beauty. Violets symbolize commitment, humility, and loyalty.
