Golden Wedding Anniversary Flowers: What to Send for 50 Years

The traditional flowers for a golden wedding anniversary are yellow roses and violets. Fifty years is gold, so a golden anniversary bouquet is usually built around yellow and warm gold tones: yellow roses, sunflowers, golden garden roses and cream. Below is what to send, how many stems, what to write on the card and how to time the delivery. Written by our florists at the studio in Southwark (SE1), with same-day delivery across London.

A golden wedding is rare enough that the flowers usually matter to the whole family, not just to the couple. Children and grandchildren send bouquets, there is often a lunch or a party, and the flowers end up on the table in photographs that will be kept for years. The ideas below are what our customers order for a 50th wedding anniversary and what we suggest when someone asks us on WhatsApp. For the flowers of every other year, see our guide to anniversary flowers by year.

What are the traditional flowers for a 50th wedding anniversary?

The traditional golden anniversary flowers are the yellow rose and the violet. Yellow roses stand for joy, warmth and friendship, which after fifty years together is exactly the point. Violets stand for faithfulness and modesty. Violets are small and do not keep well in a cut bouquet, so in practice florists use the colour rather than the flower: yellow roses with purple or lilac accents, or a fully golden bouquet with yellow roses as the heart of it.

What colour flowers are best for a golden anniversary?

Gold, yellow and cream. A golden anniversary bouquet does not have to be bright yellow: soft butter yellow, champagne, apricot and ivory all read as "gold" and suit couples who prefer quieter colours. Three combinations work almost every time:

• Sunny and bright. Sunflowers with yellow roses and greenery. Sunflowers also stand for loyalty, which fits a fifty-year marriage. See our sunflower bouquets, for example the Golden sunflower bouquet.
• Warm and soft. Yellow and peach garden roses with cream hydrangeas, such as Golden reverie or Golden meadow.
• Gold with white. White hydrangeas with sunflowers and garden roses look elegant on a dining table; see the Sunflower and white hydrangea bouquet.

The whole range in these tones is in our yellow flowers collection.

How many roses should I send for a 50th anniversary?

Fifty is the natural choice: one rose for every year of marriage. A bouquet of 50 roses is large and makes a real statement on the day; red is the romantic choice, for example our Signature bouquet of 50 red roses. If 50 stems feels too much for the room, a smaller bouquet of yellow roses with a card that says "one for every ten years" works just as well. Our guide to how many roses to give explains what each number means.

Should golden anniversary flowers come in a vase?

Often, yes. A couple celebrating fifty years may receive several bouquets on the same day, and not everyone keeps five vases in the cupboard. A bouquet already arranged in a vase arrives ready to put on the table, with nothing to cut or arrange. Bouquets in a vase are delivered within London only, because a parcel courier would break the glass.

What else can I add to golden wedding flowers?

Gold and champagne balloons are the most popular addition for a 50th: a number "5" and "0" pair, or a cluster in gold and ivory tones, makes the party table and the photographs. See our balloons; helium balloons are delivered within London only. Chocolates are the other classic, for example the Golden heart of roses with Ferrero. For a couple who would rather have a hamper than flowers, see our gift hampers.

What should I write on a golden anniversary card?

Short and personal works best. A few lines our customers use:

• "Fifty years, and still each other's favourite. Happy golden anniversary."
• "One rose for every year you have made us proud. With love from all of us."
• "To Mum and Dad: thank you for fifty years of showing us how it is done."
• "Happy golden wedding. Here is to the next chapter together."

If the flowers are from the whole family, list everyone on the card or sign it "from all your children and grandchildren", so the couple knows who to thank.

Should the family send one bouquet or several?

On a golden wedding day several relatives often order flowers separately, and the house ends up full of bouquets that arrive one after another. If you can, agree with the family on one generous bouquet from everyone, plus perhaps a smaller arrangement for the party venue. It is easier for the couple, and a single large bouquet looks better in photographs than five medium ones.

Can I send golden anniversary flowers to a party or restaurant?

Yes. Give the venue name and the full address, the name the table is booked under and a phone number of someone who will be there. Choose a future date and a delivery window at checkout: 9 am to 1 pm, 1 pm to 6 pm or 6 pm to 11 pm. For a lunch, the morning window is the safest. If the flowers need to arrive at an exact time, write to us on WhatsApp before ordering and we will tell you what is possible.

Can I get golden anniversary flowers delivered the same day in London?

Yes. We deliver across London seven days a week, and same-day orders are accepted until 10 pm, weekends included. A same-day order has no fixed window, so if timing matters, order the day before and pick a window. You will find more ideas for every anniversary in our anniversary flowers collection.

Can I send golden wedding flowers outside London?

Yes, hand-tied bouquets and flower boxes are delivered across the UK in 2 to 3 working days, so order a few days ahead of the anniversary. Bouquets in a vase, flower baskets and helium balloons are delivered within London only. If you are not sure what the couple would like, a Floritta gift card lets them choose their own bouquet and delivery date.

How long will the flowers last?

Yellow roses and sunflowers usually last about a week in a vase with fresh water and a trimmed stem every couple of days. Every bouquet comes with care instructions, and our freshness guarantee covers at least three days from delivery: if the flowers wilt sooner, send us a photo within those three days and we will replace them. More tips are in our guide to how long flowers last.