[chrisro]

Are our plans to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and renewal of wedding vows appropriate?

I would like to wear a silver silk bolero jacket with floor length gown. My hair swept up in a chignon with diamond hair clip. I will carry our family bible with an open deep red rose tied with a silver sheer ribbon.

My husband will wear a black suit with a white shirt and silver tie. No boutonniere, but a silver handkerchief and a ruby tie tack.

We will greet our guests at the door of our church
We will have a mass and our 2 boys (23 & 21) will light 25 silver candles before mass and do a reading each.
They will be dressed in black suits with gray shirts and deep red ties and deep red handkerchiefs.
We will sit in the front of the church with our boys and walk up to the priest together at the appropriate time.

After the mass we will have drinks and hors d'œuvres with acoustic guitarist while we have our photographs taken in the church one with our family and priest.

Then a trio of bagpipers will announce that dinner or lunch is being served in the Villa (this is our church’s name for our banquet hall) and to follow them.
We will have a sit down dinner or lunch buffet. I’m thinking three hours. Towards the end of dinner we will serve our silver anniversary cake with a big silver 25th on the top and deep red roses all around.

We will have Mariachis play at the dinner strolling from table to table serenading our guests. Live music, dancing and drinks after dinner.

I am a very formal person. It’s my signature characteristic, but it is more important to me not to be ridiculous.
Are my plans inappropriate?
Thank you,

[Etiquette Now]

Dear Chrisro,

I was a bit concerned about the Bible, since that is more of a wedding element. But, it isn't huge, since you ceremony is held in a church. All of your other elements seem very appropriate. A 25th wedding anniversary can be formal. So, you are just fine.

Celebrate!