My second event of the 2024 season wasn't a wedding, but rather a 50th wedding anniversary celebration! It was extra special because Marie and Patrick got married exactly 50 years ago, on Saturday, May 11, 1974 -- and had their reception at the exact same venue, Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills, just outside of Utica.

Marie told me she wanted something similar to a wedding reception, but skipping most of the "formalities" as the goal was to host "a fun evening with friends and family." We still had a cocktail hour. Marie and Patrick's three children stood up together to offer one brief toast before dinner. And once dinner was over, we opened the dance floor and the tunes ran non-stop until closing time.

That was it! No formal introductions, no first dance. There was a beautiful cake, but just like at many current weddings, we didn't stop things down to make an "event" out of cutting it. Near the end of dinner, staff quietly cut the cake and plated slices for guests to grab on their own.

We played a variety of music spanning the 50 years of Marie and Patrick's marriage. Marie said she had help from her grandchildren on some of the newer song on the request list. I filled in a few spots myself and took some guest requests as the evening rolled on. Everyone had a great time, as you'll see in the photos:

Thank you again to Marie and Patrick for choosing me to help you celebrate your golden anniversary! As I sit here writing this post, I can't help but consider what a remarkable achievement it is for a couple to enjoy 50 years of marriage. And what a wonderful group of people you had to surround you and celebrate this milestone. I wish you both many more years of love and happiness together!