How many people have you known who have been able to celebrate a 65th wedding anniversary? Zero? Two? If you’re reading this, chances are it’s either because a) the first 65th wedding anniversary you will have been a part of is coming up, or b) you want to make sure this article is serious and that a 65th wedding anniversary is a real thing.
Well, take heart, kids. It is–in fact, the longest marriage ever lasted 84 years. So there sure are some 65ers to be found. That is, if yours is the former reason for reading this article, then you’re not alone.
Below, we’ll get into four of our favorite 65th wedding anniversary gifts, followed by a discussion of our very favorite.
Our 4 Favorite Anniversary Gift Ideas
1. Customized Underwear
The thing about custom underpants is that you can put any picture on them that you like. You could choose an image of identifying information–name, health insurance policy number, drug allergies–or get wild with something more like a candy cane or a commemoration of the ‘65 World Series. When it comes to unique knickers, the size is the limit. That is, you don’t want to go for something that’s too big to fit on them.
If you’re thinking, “But I’m fairly sure my great-grandfather wears adult diapers!” no problem. Your great-grandmother can hang them on a bedpost on her side of the bed to show everyone that the spark hasn’t died after all these years. It’s unclear if every pair actually says “Jeep” like the one in the picture. There’s only one way to find out.
2. A Blue Sapphire
The traditional and modern symbol for a 65th wedding anniversary is the blue sapphire. That makes sense because sapphires weigh more than diamonds and diamond symbolize the easy-by-comparison engagement.
Now, it’s important to make sure you end up with a blue sapphire, and not any other color. Red ones, for example, are considered rubies in the gem world, and ruby symbolizes a 40th wedding anniversary, which is nothing–kid stuff–to a couple that’s about to clock 65.
In fact, bronze, silver, and gold all stand for marriages of inferior length to the one on your mind. Thus, it’s vitally important to only give the couple a loose, naked sapphire (make sure it’s big enough to be worthwhile) or to put it in a platinum setting, as platinum is the symbol for the 70th wedding anniversary. It’s good to have goals, is it not?
If you’re concerned about price, you can relax. The most expensive sapphire ever to sell at auction went for just over $17 million. That’s less than $20 million, which means it should be easy to find one in the low millions. So there really is a sapphire for every budget, and no excuse–other than lack of love–not to give the bride and groom each their own.
3. A Throw Pillow with Owls on It
If your still-rockin’ loved ones like puns and gender normativity, the best gift to give them besides a sapphire and a song (more on the song below) is this throw pillow. It depicts a blue cartoon owl and a pink cartoon owl, sitting side-by-side on a branch that has hearts for leaves. Under the branch, some text says, “Still Having a Hoot After 65 Years”. Get it? “A hoot” means fun, but there’s a picture of owls on the pillow and owls hoot. So they’re both hooting and having a hoot.
What a hoot!
4. A Baby
Now, this could either mean adopting a baby and gifting it to the happy couple or having one yourself. Everyone loves welcoming grandchildren and great-grandchildren into their families. And if your offspring would be great-great-grandchildren for your ever-married relatives, you rather owe it to them to give them the experience of meeting their great-great-grandchildren. Almost no one gets to do that.
But however many generations there would be between the couple having their 65th wedding anniversary and your next baby, it’s common knowledge that babies are nice to have. They’re not called bundles of joy for nothing. Five will get you twenty that you can find a better present for keeping an old, gray mare and her stud young.
Celebrating a 65th Wedding Anniversary with Tall Tribute
But seriously, folks.
A 65th wedding anniversary is a rare achievement. Yes, because divorce happens, but–may we acknowledge the reaper in the room?–it’s also because the members of a couple celebrating its 65th wedding anniversary are in all likelihood at least 83. Life expectancy in the US is less than 79. At this point, it’s not morbid to acknowledge the inevitability of death; it’s necessary.
But from death springs life. After 65 years together, the couple probably has children and grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. In fact, as mentioned above, they may even get to meet their great-great-grandchildren, something most of us never get to do.
How fun and sweet it would be if all those people–probably at least 24 of them–could pool their memories and feelings about the happy couple and create an immortal memorial that encapsulates at least a small part of what they’ve meant to everyone.
With no mind paid to rhythm, rhyme, or other facets of form, each individual could pour it all out into a medium that not only catches their feelings, but delivers them to the couple in a way that they will love.
If that medium is Jim Asleson, you can consider the delivery done. He’s been writing custom tribute songs for loved ones to give each other for over a decade; it’s a major part of his life’s work. Having raised a family of his own, Jim understands the tenderness of feeling that must be communicated in a gift like this and looks forward to every new project, knowing that it makes another family’s celebration glow a little bit brighter.
Click here to start your own special anniversary gift that will honor the occasion for years–generations?–to come.