50 Years of Marriage and the Truly Essential Items for a Wedding

Something old, 
Something new, 
Something borrowed, 
Something blue,
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

This traditional Victorian-era English wedding rhyme is meant to bless the couple with a happy marriage and bring them good luck. It’s a cute saying, but most of realize that it won’t guarantee a happy marriage.

On November 1, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary! Three local churches joined forces united to host a dinner for us with about 100 people in attendance. Our pastor asked us to share a little about our wedding day and if anything amusing had happened.

Both the English wedding rhyme and the question from our pastor made me reflect. The only “new” thing at our wedding was our love for each other. Everything else was “old.” I think the only “blue” were my blue eyes. As for what we “borrowed” it was our official witnesses.

Even without following tradition, our marriage has been blessed — and has lasted.

Our love was the “new” thing

Mario and I met on October 1, 1976, in Denver Colorado. I was in the Army, and he was in the Navy and we met on an Air Force base. Two weeks later, he proposed! I said yes, but only because I thought he was joking. I figured I’d go along with what I thought was a joke.

A few days later he asked, “So, when?” I, of course, asked “When? When what?” “When shall we get married?” he responded. We then moved up the date after learning that our families couldn’t come from Michigan and New York.

On November 1st, just one month after first meeting, we got married. So yes, our love was new, brand new!

Celebrating 50 years of knowing each other

Since our courtship was so short, we had such a short courtship, Hubby decided years ago that we must celebrate the entire month of October. Enjoy these photos from the 50-year celebration of our first meeting.

Celebrating our first meeting, 50 years ago

We had a fantastic feast in a beautiful, rustic agriturismo. The restaurant owner has a tradition of having guests hang a page from a calendar of sayings on a tree near the entrance. The quote on our page said, “To learn life’s most important lessons, you must overcome a fear every day.”

It was so apropos. We have been through so many things during these years, including moving more than 50 times. We’ve often been afraid, but God has helped us overcome every fear. He has been with us, strengthening our marriage day by day!

Our wedding was fun, amusing, and quite unique

Sorry, we can’t share any wedding photos. It’s one of the many things we didn’t think of!

The old, new, and borrowed things

The only new thing was our love for each other, and it was brand new. You’ll see why in a moment. The only old things were the Denver Courthouse, the judge who married us, and his elderly secretary –who I’m sure were anxiously awaiting their retirement days. We borrowed them as our witnesses.

It was all amusing from start to finish

“Are you of age?” the judge inquired dubiously.

The two of us, Judge Bennett who married us, and secretary, Gertrude, made up our entire wedding party. The judge started by making sure we were actually of age. We certainly didn’t look it! I was 3 months past 18; Mario was 19.

Marriage license and witnesses?

Once that was out of the way, he asked to see the license. “A marriage license?” we asked dumbly. He sent us downstairs to get one.

With the license in hand, we returned to the judge, thinking we were all set. “Where are your witnesses?” he asked. Once again we dumbly repeated his question, “Witnesses?” It turned out that we were supposed to have two people witness our marriage. Who knew?! “Well, no matter, the judge decided. “We’ll be your witnesses.” So he and Gertrude signed as our witnesses!

Gertrude was hard of hearing. Every time the judge spoke, she would say “Eh, Eh??” Even though there was no need for her to speak at all!

Imagine the scene. “Do you, Mario, take this woman…” followed by Gertrude’s Eh, eh?” And do you, Sheila, take this man…” Gertrude always responded before us with her “Eh, eh?

However, we finally made it to the end. The judge told us that we could exchange rings. Our response? “Oh no, the wedding rings!” We had never thought about them, even though we knew that they were traditional. We went out and bought some later.

The judge stood there shaking his head. However, he did pronounce us man and wife, saying “You may now kiss the bride!”

The wedding dinner

After the congratulations, Mario took me to a nearby Italian restaurant called Mario’s–what else? It had to be nearby because we didn’t even own a car! We didn’t really need one in the military.

But the restaurant was closed! Mario knocked on the door to see if they were opening soon. But it was their day off! “Oh no, we just got married and I wanted to bring my wife here!”

“Oh but this is differente,” he exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. “Come in, come in!” They fixed us a very special wedding dinner. Since we were their only clients, they waited on us hand and foot! Afterward we took the bus home to our little rented apartment, happy as larks. (At least we thought about getting an apartment ahead of time!)

Tradition and finery are not really necessary, nor are lots of guests

Not that there’s anything wrong with tradition and finery. They can make a celebration special and enrich it greatly. But they’re not truly necessary. Ultimately, all that’s needed are a bride, a groom, a state-recognized officiant, a license, two witnesses, even if they’re “borrowed”! And of course, a place to live after the wedding.

These are the only things truly needed to start married life. But living out the married life takes ever so much more! Here’s our list of the true necessities for a happy and lasting marriage.

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.

Now here are a few photos of the big celebration on November 1st. It went from just the two of us to being surrounded by a big crowd of loving and faithful friends|

P.S. I didn’t have a silver sixpence in my shoe, but at least we had jobs and money!

All images are mine.