Celebrating 50 years of marriage is an incredible milestone worthy of a big bash. But big parties can also come with big price tags.
The secret to pulling off a golden anniversary celebration on a budget? Dollar stores! With a mix of creativity and affordable decor, you can throw a festive 50th wedding anniversary party without breaking the bank.
In this guide, we’ll explore 50th wedding anniversary party ideas on a budget and how dollar stores can provide everything you need for party supplies, decorations, food and drink, activities, and more.
Follow these dollar store hacks to decorate and celebrate your honorees in style on a budget they’ll appreciate.
50th Wedding Anniversary Party Ideas On A Budget With Dollar Store Supplies
Party decorations from regular retailers can be shockingly expensive. But dollar stores have everything you need for festive anniversary decor at just $1 to $3 an item.
With balloons, banners, table accents, and DIY photo backdrops, you can decorate the entire party space for a fraction of the usual cost.
Balloons and Banners Set the Scene
No party is complete without balloons! Dollar stores typically carry latex balloons in every color and size imaginable, often in multipacks of 10 or more.
Grab a multi-pack of pearl white, metallic gold, or silver balloons and use them to decorate all around the space. These colors complement the traditional 50th-anniversary color scheme.
Spruce up your balloons by adding curling ribbon for an extra $1. Tie ribbons around each balloon or group them together to make a statement. Turn some balloons into an archway entrance into the party area for a fun focal point.
Use more balloons to create a large statement banner congratulating the couple. Spell out “Happy 50th Anniversary!” or simply “50!” using individual balloon letters and numbers. This can serve as the photo backdrop or hang above the head table.
For another easy banner, use a dollar-store vinyl tablecloth turned upside down. Write anniversary wishes on it with fabric markers or attach printed letters. Hang it on the wall for a budget banner in seconds.
Deck Out Dollar Store Tables
Dollar store plastic tablecloths, plates, napkins, and utensils make a picture-perfect table setting on a dime. Stock up on any color combo that suits the anniversary motif or honorees’ taste.
Scatter plastic gemstones, sequins, or confetti across the tables before laying down tablecloths for subtle sparkle.
Pick up a few inexpensive dollar-store vases and fill them with flowers from the grocery store or dollar-store stem assortments. Wrap some faux pearls or ribbons around the vases for extra decoration.
Turn plain plastic cups and bowls into glittering table accents. Coat the insides with spray adhesive, then pour in iridescent glitter and swirl it around. Shake off the excess for a sparkly look.
For a true focal point, construct a golden 50th-anniversary centerpiece. Use foam boards cut into 50 shapes.
Spray paint them gold and attach pieces together with hot glue to make 3D 50 centerpieces. Surround them with candlesticks topped with LED tealights for a stunning dollar-store creation.
Make a Photo Backdrop on a Budget
Part of the fun of an anniversary party is capturing the night through photos. Set up a festive photo booth backdrop so guests can snap pics with the happy couple to commemorate the occasion.
Simply grab a plastic shower curtain in a coordinating color. Use gold or silver if going for traditional anniversary colors. Hang it on the wall and attach various decorations to create the backdrop.
String-up curling ribbons, mylar confetti, artificial florals, photos printed at a pharmacy photo kiosk, signage with the couples’ names and anniversary date, anything you like for $1 to $3 per item.
Set up a table with goofy photo props like oversized picture frames, masks, hats, boas, signs—you name it.
Offer guests festive props to pose and make photos fun. Purchase disposable cameras to easily capture photos of the couple and guests throughout the night.
Favor Bags on a Budget
Don’t forget to send guests home with fun fifty-themed favors to remember the bash. Fill small cellophane treat bags tied up with a ribbon with candy, chocolates, bubbles, candles, lottery tickets, or other small gifts. Shop dollar store candy sections to find great favors for just a buck a bag.
For a useful favor, give out plastic champagne flutes or small picture frames embellished with ribbon and lace. Or assemble simple DIY favors like snack mixes or coffee with a tag featuring the anniversary details.
Dollar Store Food and Beverages
Party provisions don’t need to blow the budget either thanks to dollar stores’ extensive food and beverage options. Keep appetites satisfied and the drinks flowing with these dollar-store goodies.
Serve Signature Anniversary Beverages
Quench guests’ thirst with festive beverages served up in style. Purchase plastic champagne flutes or wine glasses and fill them with bubbly juice, soda, or sparkling cider for an instant toast.
For additional pizzazz, suspend plastic 50 or heart-shaped confetti or flowers in each glass.
Create a champagne tower by stacking rows of plastic dollar store cups in decreasing layers. Carefully pour juice, sparking cider, or still water with floating pearl beads down the tower.
For the signature 50th anniversary toast, fill inverted plastic champagne glasses halfway with water and freeze.
Add a glow stick to each “ice cube” then top with champagne once inverted. The glow stick will sink dramatically as the ice melts.
Make an illuminated 50th-anniversary ice sculpture as a beautiful centerpiece using plastic foam bowls.
Nestle bowls or cups inside each other with the numbers 5-0 exposed. Add blue glow sticks and fill with lemonade, punch, or iced tea for a stunning display.
5 Ways to Use Dollar Store Plates and Napkins
Incorporate clever ways to display the number 50 throughout your party for fun. Purchase packs of plastic plates, cups, and napkins in the couple’s preferred colors. Encourage guests to get crafty by:
- Writing well wishes, memories, or marriage tips on disposable tableware for the bride and groom to enjoy reading later.
- Making paper fans or origami with extra napkins.
- Autographing disposable plates for the couple to commemorate the night.
- Making paper chains out of napkins in gold and silver hues to hang across the space.
- Stacking cups into pyramids of 50.
You could even give each guest a permanent marker to leave their mark! Consider putting out metallic Sharpies in gold and silver for writing on dark plastic dinnerware.
Sweet and Savory Dollar Store Bites
One advantage to dollar stores is the extensive pre-packaged snacks, candy, nuts, and desserts available for party munching. Keep appetites satisfied with bowls of chocolate, assorted nuts, chips,
Chex mix, and other tasty snacks. You can typically find all these party staples for just $1-2 a bag at dollar and discount stores.
For fresh appetizers, assemble veggie or fruit trays with produce from the grocery store displayed on dollar store plastic platters.
You can also serve up a cheese ball molded in the shape of 50 for a fun food display. Arrange dollar store crackers, bread sticks, and other accompaniments in baskets or bowls around the main food table.
Don’t forget to include a cake or cupcakes! Check your grocery or warehouse store’s bakery for sheet cakes you can customize yourself with a 50th-anniversary message and photos printed from your home computer. Or indulge in golden Oreo truffle balls, a sweet callout to the 50th anniversary.
Decorating the Party Space for Pennies
Why stop at just the tables when you can decorate the entire party space? Use dollar store finds to embellish from floor to ceiling for an immersive, festive affair.
Dress Up Doorways and Walls
Draw guests’ attention as soon as they walk in by decorating entryways. Make a tissue paper tassel garland in gold and silver for doorways.
Twist and tie tissue paper around strips of cardboard or cardstock, then tape up your homemade garland. This adds instant movement and color as guests arrive.
Drape shiny garlands across any railings, mantels, shelves, or walls. Fold foil fringe garlands in half lengthwise for extra fullness and sparkle. Incorporate curling ribbons into garlands or loop them around stair railings.
For quick wall accents, secure mylar 50th-anniversary confetti shapes, tissue paper pom poms, cutouts, or plastic floral picks around the space with painter’s tape. No need to worry about wall damage!
Light It Up with String Lights
One of the easiest ways to transform a space is also one of the most affordable: string lights! Dollar stores sell strands of battery-operated LED string lights which make lighting up a venue a breeze.
Drape string lights above seating areas for a cozy, romantic feel. Outline windows, door frames, staircases, or the photo booth area.
Wrap them around pillars, booths, or railings to add twinkle wherever you need it. Use command hooks to easily hang string lights straight from the ceiling too.
For extra sparkle, look for specialty light options like lantern string lights, starburst lights, or icicle lights. Set the ambiance aglow for just a couple of dollars!
Shimmer and Shine with Metallics
Metallic decor offers high-impact shine at bargain prices. Incorporate bling in small doses throughout the party space for instant glam.
Sprinkle loose glitter, confetti, or sequins across tables before laying down tablecloths to make surfaces sparkle. Scatter acrylic gems, beads, or gold plastic coins around votive candle holders and vases.
Drape gold tassel garlands across mantels, stair railings, beams, and more. Cluster gold, silver, or pearl balloons in each corner of the room.
Arrange inexpensive Christmas ornaments on tables and shelves for metallic beauty on a budget.
Flowers for Practically Pennies
Flowers can often be one of the biggest party decor expenses. But dollar stores offer faux florals that make beautiful budget accents.
Small stems of roses, hydrangeas, carnations, and other blooms cost just $1-3 a bunch and look surprisingly realistic.
Arrange dollar store floral stems in vases on tables, food stations, shelves, the sign-in table, and anywhere else that could use a pop of color.
Work them into DIY centerpieces, wreaths, garlands, and the photo booth backdrop too.
For fresh flower power, head to the grocery store to purchase loose stems, filler blooms like baby’s breath, and greens like ferns or eucalyptus.
Pair a few fresh grocery store stems with dollar store faux flowers in arrangements for a budget booster.
Activities and Entertainment on a Dime
The décor and food will set the scene, but activities and entertainment are what will make your 50th-anniversary party truly unforgettable. Keep guests involved from start to finish with these budget-friendly ideas.
Playlist of Golden Hits
Get guests on the dance floor with a carefully curated playlist packed with hits and love songs from the 1970s, the decade of the couple’s marriage.
Create the playlist yourself for free on Spotify and present it as a gift by sharing a QR code for scanning at the party. Include meaningful tunes from their wedding and chart toppers through the years.
During slower songs, encourage guests to share memories over the mic about the bride and groom’s marriage milestones, funny moments, and what they most admire about the couple. Compile these “toasts” into an anniversary memory book or video.
Photo Album Sentimental Journey
Provide guests an opportunity to stroll down memory lane with the couple by creating a 50th-anniversary photo album.
Source pictures of the honorees throughout their marriage and together from family and friends. Print them for just cents each at a drugstore photo kiosk.
Select a coordinating photo album or scrapbook from the dollar store. Arrange the photos inside along with captions, well wishes from guests, song lyrics, and any other memories.
Set it out at the party for guests to browse and contribute their own photos or notes celebrating the couples’ lasting love.
Games, Contests, and Activities Galore
Get everyone involved in the festivities and friendly competition with anniversary-themed games and contests.
Host newlywed game-style trivia with funny questions about the bride and groom’s marriage. Give romantic advice cards for guests to complete with marriage tips for the couple. Have small prizes for the winners of each game.
Set up classic carnival games like toilet paper wedding dress contests, ring tosses, or newlywed bingo. Give out “prize tickets” to winners to redeem for favors or treats.
Provide kits for making greeting cards, photo frames or coaster crafts guests can make to gift the couple.
Play the shoe game where the bride and groom hold up shoes to answer relationship questions. Include any activities meaningful to the couple!
Celebrating 50 Years of Matrimony on a Dime
The secret is out—dollar stores are the ticket for an affordable yet amazing 50th wedding anniversary bash.
With balloons, banners, table decorations, string lights, activities, food, and more, you can decorate and entertain on the cheap.
Get inspired by these dollar-store party ideas to throw a festive soiree celebrating 50 years of marital bliss, without the high cost.
Most of all, remember that while the trimmings are lovely, the real importance is cherishing time together.
Use creativity to show your honorees how much their enduring love and commitment mean to family and friends.
Because a marriage reaching the golden 50 mark deserves to be celebrated in every way possible—budget or not.