Love Late in Life

There’s nothing quite as idyllic as young people in love, with their eyes glowing and big dreams for their future together. It makes for great books, great films, and even great reality.

But romance can be just as powerful after age 50 as it is for people in their 20’s. After all, those happy young couples all aspire to become happy middle-aged couples.

For some couples, that magical relationship comes only after previous relationships have ended through death or divorce, and they find themselves with those glowing eyes and big dreams long after the storybooks would have ever said it would happen.

That leads to them to a wedding in their later years, an event that’s just as exciting for them as it is for couples half their age. Other couples may choose to renew their vows after a milestone, such as a 30th anniversary or perhaps even after overcoming a serious illness.

Of course, there are differences when you tie the knot a few more years down the road, and they can have an impact on what your wedding looks like. Here are a few ways that you might plan to handle your nuptials at a more advanced age:

The Price Tag

Because you’ve been in the workforce and have a little money in the bank, you’ll be able to do a lot of the things you couldn’t afford to do before.

Jewelry is an obvious starting point here. When you’re young and scratching for funds, you tend to go with simpler pieces, choosing the symbolism over the specifics of the rings. But if you’re marrying again or renewing your vows later on, you’re in a better position to get a ring with some financial meaning as well. It’s a time when you can shop a little more extensively and consider different options.

And speaking of options, well, there are more! If you first married in the 1980’s, you probably found a lot less to choose from, especially for the man, than what you can see today. Front Jewelers has a wide selection of metals, stones, and setting styles that are truly impressive in comparison to the choices of decades ago.

The Ceremony

The usual starting point of a wedding ceremony is the father walking his daughter down the aisle. Sadly, of course, an older bride may not have her dad still around to do this for her. But if she doesn’t want to walk alone, what should she do?

This is where you have the chance for some very special and meaningful choices. Perhaps the bride has a brother who has been important in her life. Maybe she has a son who would like to do the honors. Or perhaps it’s just a special friend. Whoever you choose, make sure to spend some time on the selection. It’s a very nice honor.

We also think about music. What songs will you choose? With many years of radio enjoyment behind you, you have a long list of meaningful songs to choose from. In fact, you’ll probably be overwhelmed trying to think of all the great songs you’ve loved over the years. Go online and search some archived charts for reminders of the songs you’ve loved.

The People

When you’re mixing the families of two people, there is a huge network of relatives and friends spanning several decades. Finding ways to include some of them can be a very meaningful step. For example, as we refer back to the bride’s escort down the aisle, you might choose a longtime mutual friend who introduced you to each other.

What about attendants? Children and grandchildren are obvious choices for attendants, ring bearers, flower girls, and junior attendants. You’ll likely know many singers who can perform, musicians who can play, and even bakers who can help with the cake. The great thing about a later marriage is that you know so many people who can not only serve in an important role in the wedding but who have also served important roles in your lives.

People who marry or renew vows later in life have the opportunity to make a more meaningful and sentimental ceremony than younger couples.