Thank you for joining us today as we share moments from February 23, our 50th wedding anniversary celebration. In the months prior, we had envisioned an intimate time with a small group of friends at a venue that would also hold a sweet memory. Our son, daughter-in-love and precious grands made dreams come true, as they chose to honor us by hosting an evening we will always cherish, in their home, which is not too far from ours. We now have 2 very special nights to remember…exactly 50 years apart!
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24 ESV
The afternoon of February 23, 2023 was warm, not unlike our wedding day in 1973. As guests arrived, we were able to greet many of them outside.
Most of you, at least through the blog, have met Pam’s dad, sometimes called Pawpaw. Let us re-introduce him here as father of the bride. What a tremendous blessing to have him with us. He’s 92, but we aren’t telling his age. No “give the bride away” duties this time, only food and fellowship! Pam’s mom and dad had been married 54 years when she passed away suddenly in 2007. Pawpaw reminded all of us of how blessed he was that God not only gave them 54 wonderful years, but then allowed him to celebrate 50 years with us!
Preparations for just over 30 guests to join you for dinner can be challenging, but as you can see, someone had figured a way to make it happen! Dear friends, Wade and Tiffany were not only guests, but were busy all evening taking photos, capturing precious moments for us!
Friends and family worked hard to make it a great night, which included delicious food at a sit down dinner after the ceremony. The menu included fried chicken fingers (southern folks love their fried chicken), Black Forest ham, potato salad, baked beans, broccoli salad, sweet rolls and southern cornbread, along with a few other goodies!
Our friend Benny, a floral designer who has assisted Pam with many events, created the beautiful floral arrangements that graced each table. Hydrangeas, Eskimo roses, delphiniums, stock, thistle, and seeded eucalyptus provided the soft whites and greens with an added touch of blue, which was exactly what Pam had envisioned.
February 23, 1973…and we’ve not changed one bit. Amazing!
Wyatt, as one of our hosts, joined us as we welcomed everyone and shared a few funnies to get the evening started. One such funny was that Pam’s brother was heard to say at the wedding that he would give it 6 months, and she will be back home. Normally a very wise individual, he missed this one!
Did you happen to notice a green heart hanging on the door knob? EK made decorations for the anniversary several weeks prior, and hung them on knobs around the house where they remained for quite a while. She prepared well in advance!
Ella Mae and Emma Kennedy were so excited to be flower girls…and a little nervous too. Both said they had always wanted to be a flower girl. They talked about it for weeks. After the welcome, prayer by our pastor, and a short video, the girls enjoyed sprinkling white rose petals all about!
We wrote our original vows, and in keeping with that, we wanted to share our thoughts, and a bit of our story in a personal way with everyone. Instead of a traditional renewal of vows led by a pastor, we chose to express our continued commitment to each other in a very intimate manner. Going back in time was important as we spoke “a little of how things were then, and a little of how things are now”.
Pam is holding a 45 rpm vinyl record which was a gift that was the beginning of our love story. We had no idea of such on a hot summer day in 1970 when an almost stranger named Butch showed up at Pam’s house with a record by a group named Bread that was entitled “Make It With You”. Pam is telling the story here, and has also shared it in one of our very first blog posts which you can see at Summer Of ’70.
There was no turntable to play an old 45 record, but not to worry, something much better was available. Seth played my guitar and did a live version of “Make It With You” which was really awesome. We even sang along, at least a little when we weren’t crying! Very meaningful that he would take the time to learn this song for us, and he truly did it well! David Gates of Bread would be proud. Seth also surprised all of us later with a video he had worked on for several months which included old clips of 8mm footage taken with Papa Kennedy’s (Butch’s grandfather) movie camera. He had managed to convert footage from our wedding, our honeymoon and even some from years prior. He showed the video on his big screen near the close of the ceremony, and of course we now have a digital copy to keep. There were clips that we did not remember or even knew existed!
Butch (also known as my Renaissance Man) has always made me laugh with his quick wit, mischievous nature, and wonderful sense of humor.
As Butch is also sentimental and a romantic, I can quickly go from smiles to tears. Once again, before God, family, and friends, we simply spoke from our hearts about commitment, promises, faithfulness, and the fact that we love and cherish each other more with each passing day! This part of the evening was definitely a mixture of smiles, tears, pause, and reflection! Rather than a renewal, we viewed it as a continuation of what was established and promised 50 years ago.
It wasn’t common for anyone to sing at their own wedding in 1973; at least we didn’t know of anyone who did. I sang a popular song that night to Pam during the wedding. The song was “The Twelfth Of Never”. I am playing my guitar that Pam surprised me with about 46 years ago, and if you haven’t figured it out yet, I am singing that song to her once again. A wonderful privilege to be able to do this 50 years later, almost to the very minute. I was probably more nervous singing at our wedding than at any time I have ever attempted a song…until this time!!
In ’73 the preacher gave us permission to kiss at the end of the ceremony. We thought after 50 years it was OK to grant ourselves permission to do it again. We are not sure the girls thought this was a good idea. EM is afraid to look and EK is wondering what is going on. Wyatt was unmoved by the scene.
When Butch and I married, he didn’t care for sweets. Through the years, I have been a very bad influence, at least in this regard. Since he now loves desserts more than me, I allowed him to choose the flavor of our anniversary cake. Not only did Butch love this cake, but everyone raved over it…a classic white cake with buttercream icing made by our friend Muriel! Butch says the “cake” part is simply there to have a place for all that wonderful icing. He shared later that he ate 3 large pieces that night!
We both have genuine smiles, as this is the first time we have cut a cake together since our 25th anniversary. I am suspicious however, that deep down Butch is hoping there will be a lot left over to take home.
It was an honor to have family and friends share this special evening with us. Amazingly, everyone was able to join us …all well and with no scheduling conflicts, including four members of the original wedding party!
We are so blessed and grateful that Seth, Allison, and the grands live nearby. They made this night one of the most memorable and special times in all of our 50 precious years!
“What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Mark 10:9
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch,Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary Pam and Butch! What a wonderful celebration with family and friends. How wonderful Pam’s dad was able to attend, along with your sweet grands. Beautiful cake and flowers to go with your sweet memories. ♥
Thanks so much, Mary. We made many memories!
You are so blessed. What a beautiful celebration you had. Can feel the love right through this computer!
Thank you, Ruthie!
Wow, this is so moving. I definitely shed a few tears reading through all the details. You look so beautiful and Butch so handsome, Pam! And I can’t believe how tall your Daddy is! What a gift and privilege to have such a great marriage and family and friends to share in this memorable occasion. Congratulations! Definitely worthy of celebrating all year long!
Thanks so much, Rita. You warm our hearts with your sweet comments!
A beautiful post for a beautiful anniversary. Congratulations on 50 wonderful years together! You two are the best and I love your blog!♡
Thanks so much, Donna!
Congratulations on 50 years! What a beautiful celebration of love, laughter, and friendship. Thank you for sharing your special day with us.
Thanks so much, Gail!
Beautiful family you are so blessed. Congratulations
Thanks so much, Judy!
Your commitment to and love for each other is such a beautiful testament to the vows of marriage. What a beautiful example for Seth and Allison. I have tears in my eyes reading this wonderful post.
Thanks so much, Beverly. You warm our hearts with your comments!
Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary! Wonderful post!
Thanks so much, Rebecca!
Congratulations! Your father looks amazing for 92! A wonderful family photo and here’s to your 60th!
Thanks so much, Maureen!
Oh Pam and Butch I have happy tears flowing down my face as I read your post. What a beautiful celebration. I think small intimate times like this with special family and friends makes life the best. Happy Happy 50th to both of you. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris for your sweet comments!
Sniffle, sniffle, this is so sweet! What an incredible celebration of your life, marriage and love…surrounded by family, your pastor and friends, in your son’s home, saying your vows, and having a traditional wedding cake and cutting…not to mention the music and special songs, you must be over the moon with happiness! I’m so glad your father was able to be there, and how lucky you are that he is so healthy! You both are truly blessed, I am so happy for you 💕
Jenna
Thanks so much, Jenna. Your sweet comments warm our hearts💗
Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary, what a very special way to celebrate with family and friends. Truly, a night to remember always.
Thanks so much, Carole!
Congratulations! May you be blessed with many more years to enjoy together.
Thanks so much, Bobbie!
Incredibly sweet. I loved every detail. Praise God for His obvious hand of blessing over your marriage. Happy anniversary!
Thanks so much, Cindie!
It took awhile to read this because I had to keep wiping away tears. What a beautiful evening and how wonderful so many contributed. It means so much that I actually got to spend with one of the sweetest couples on the planet and experience your genuine love and goodness. Here is to many, many more years.
Thanks so much, Roxanne. It was a highlight to spend time with you!
Congratulations to you both. What a wonderful evening! Your Dad looks great and what a blessing it is for him to be able to celebrate with you. He is a very tall man! The ceremony sounds like it was great celebration of love, Christ, and family with many good memories to enjoy and share. The floral arrangements were beautiful as was the cake. The table arrangements were well placed and nicely adorned. The girls are so cute. How thoughtful of Seth to sing and put together the movie reel of digital memories. That’s truly wonderful to have and pass down to the generations that follow. Your DIL did a terrific job of having everything arranged so nicely. Thank you sharing this precious memory! The family photo is a treasure! It’s truly a blessing to have your family living close. Wishing you many more happy, healthy years together! Clara❤️
Thanks so much, Clara. Your words warm our hearts ♥️
❤️ oh you guys!!!!! and that you have shared moment by moment of this beautiful milestone with us all. thank you for including us in your celebration. you make 50 years look fabulous. so so very happy for you, Pam!
xo
Thanks so much, Linda for your heartwarming words!
Oh, my goodness! This post made me cry. I LOVE that your son learned that song for you and sang it to you. My, that is just so touching. And “The Twelfth of Never” was one of my Daddy’s favorite songs. That brought some tears, as it made me think of him. You all are such a Divine gift to this world, and your love for Jesus and each other is so evident in these photos. I love that your Daddy is still with you and was able to be there for this special milestone in your lives. You are a testimony to the goodness and mercy of God and such an example that proves it pays to serve God and follow Him all the days of your life. May God grant you many, many more healthy, happy, good quality years together, in Jesus’ name.
Thanks so much, Cheryl. God has been so gracious and faithful all of these 50 years!
Tears of joy came to my eyes as I read this post and saw the sweet pictures of your love and commitment to each other. Oh how I would have loved to have been there to hear Butch sing to you Pam. What good pictures. EM and EK look so precious and Wyatt was wide eyed. I’ll bet you have looked at the digital copy .
What a blessing to have your dad there to see your love that has lasted 50 years.
Thanks so much, Alice! Your sweet comments warm our hearts!
What a beautiful love story! I am thrilled that Pam’s father was able to attend.
Everyone looked beautiful but you and Butch are the most beautiful and handsome! Thanks for letting us come to not only your party but for all the years of your blog shares!
Congratulations on 50 years my dear friends!
💕💗💕
Thanks so much, Nancy! Your sweet comments are heartwarming 💕
Oh my gosh you two – I have tears in my eyes! What a wonderful life you’ve had together! And to paraphrase CS Lewis, even the challenging parts turn into beauty when you look back at them from the place you are now. Here’s to more wonderful years together. I’m touched and inspired. Thank you for sharing! 💗
Thanks so much, Barbara 💗
Very moving and joyous celebration! Thank you for sharing it with us and Happy 50th Anniversary. Such a beautiful example for your grandchildren. Blessings and many more years of happiness and health!
Thanks so much, Margaret!
Congratulations! It is wonderful to see such a beautiful family celebrate their love and commitment. We need more of that in this world!!
Thanks so much, Caron!
Such a beautiful evening Pam! What a blessing to have a family organise & hold such a very special night for your 50th Wedding Anniversary. I can see where your son gets his height from his granddaddy!
Thank you for sharing this very special occasion with us.
Bless you both, Jennifer 💝
Thanks so much, Jennifer. 💗
What a wonderful, beautiful celebration! 50 Years is quite a milestone that not many have the privilege to experience. You can see the true love in both of you. Happy 50th Anniversary Butch and Pam! Thank you for sharing this special event with all of us. 💕🌹🎊
Your sentiments are heartwarming. Thank you so much, Lynda!
Such a rich BLESSING you two are to each other & all of us!! Happiest 50th Anniversary to you lovebirds who thrive together so well & so deep❤️😍Sending much love & hugs to y’all!!!
You are so sweet! Thank you so much, Penny♥️
HAPPY 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! TRUE LOVE NEVER FAILS!
Thank you so much, Nancy!
Pam and Butch, this is such a special post and I’m so happy I didn’t miss this. How beautiful you both look on this special day and to have you sweet daddy with you is such a blessing! I’ve enjoyed reading every little detail and wish you both a very Happy Anniversary all year long. Blessing to you both……
So sweet of you, Emily! Thank you so much!
Congratulations Pam and Butch. I can’t imagine a more wonderful way to celebrate this special anniversary. Thank you for sharing with us. Everything looks beautiful right down to the colors everyone chose to wear. Having your son perform the song Butch first presented to you is so awesome and then Butch singing to you. The grandchildren all look so beautiful and I’m sure it has been hard for them to contain their excitement. It is such a blessing to have your Dad by your side and in such good health. The cake, the flowers, the music and the years of such commitment and love is really quite the love story. God has been the center of your beautiful life. The photos are beautiful and you both look fabulous. You will be reliving this evening for a very long time.
Thank you so much, Dianne. It was truly an evening filled with love and making memories!
This is so beautiful, Pam. I am in awe and delight at all the detail and care you both took to make this anniversary so special. You both look wonderful and I love all the touches. (Tell the girls that the hearts on the door are among my favorites of those touches!). The music, the memories, the love — it’s all so wonderful. You both look so happy and of course you are, and making this such a family affair made me smile to the max. So many good wishes are flowing your way and such joy and congratulations. Add mine to them all!
Thank you so much, Jeanie. The girls love making things!
What a beautiful post. I loved every detail and picture. I know you were thrilled to have your family and close friends for such a beautiful occasion.
Happy happy 50th. I know now, why it is called the Golden anniversary and you do too. Both of you look fabulous. Hearty congratulations.
Thank you so much, Bonnie!
Permeating love, surrounded by love, immersed in love, sharing love…. just about what 50 years together in the Lord has manifested in your lives and we have gotten
to share the culmination with you. Proud Paw Paw looks jubilant and the Children and
Grands are beaming with blessedness and rich reward for all their dedication to making it all so special. Hollywood, even the old one, could not have produced a more
beautiful love story, fitted with highs and lows, but surviving in triumph at 50 years length. That is what happens when you allow the Lord to write the script and you cooperate with lines you might not have even chosen yourself. What a blessed occasion of joy and remembrance. Thank you for the endearing invitation.
Thank you so much, Mary! Your sweet comments warm our hearts ♥️🥰
Happy 50th Anniversary to you both. You are both a wonderful example of commitment, dedication and yes, hard work! God has surely blessed beyond your beyond. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you so much, Cindy!
Wishing you both a very Happy Anniversary! Looks like it was a perfect celebration of your love and commitment to each other. Congratulations ~ Suzanne.
Thank you so much, Suzanne!
Congratulations. 50 years is awesome and wonderful!
Thank you Donna!
Pam and Butch, it was a magical evening. So touching, intimate, and heart felt. Mike and I consider it a privilege to have you as family, and to be able to be with you on this special occasion. You set the bar high for a loving marriage. We love you both.
Thank you dear friend. Love to you and Mike.
Pam
Pam and Butch……..Congratulations on 50 years of marriage. Love hearing about couples who have long been married and are still happy together. Awesome. Thanks for sharing this with us,
and it looks like a lovely and sentimental time. May the Blessings of the Lord continue to chase you all year long and beyond.
Blessings, Nellie
We had a wonderful celebration and thank you Nellie!
What a joyful celebration for a loving and wonderful couple.
Thank you, Linda!
Wow, what an amazing celebration! Such sweet and sentimental touches. I enjoyed reading this so much and felt like I was there. Congratulations on 50 wonderful years.
Thank you, Pam for your heartwarming wishes!
Happy golden anniversary, so rare these days. How special Pam’s dad was ever to attend this lovely celebration of love. Surrounded by family is such a blessing. The cake is beautiful. Here’s to many more.
What a beautiful and touching post. Pam and Butch, you both look radiant. How fabulous to be able to celebrate your special day with family and friends and that Pam’s dad was able to be there too! The cake is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your special day with us and wishing you many more blessed years together. Happy Golden Anniversary!
Thank you, Kim for your heartwarming comments!
Congrats on 50 years of wedding bliss!
Thank you!
Pam, I thought this post would be hard to read since I just lost my husband, Ron, last January. But I am so happy I clicked over to read about you 50th anniversary. Instead of being crushed at your happiness of 50 years, I was blessed by what you said and how many beautiful memories it brought to my mind about my marriage to a godly man.
I wish only the very best for the two of you 🙂
Love,
Rachelle
Rachelle, I had no idea. I am so very sorry. I went to your blog and read the beautiful tribute to your precious husband. You all were a beautiful couple. Prayers for you, dear one.
I commented on your loving tribute♥️
What a beautiful celebration, may God continue to bless your years together.
I was clearing out my emails and found this. Happy Belated Anniversary! Beautiful story!
Thanks so much, Rebecca. I miss keeping up with you on FB!