Marriage Celebration Activities

1.  Awards Events

Celebrate the marriages in your community with these suggested awards.  The celebrations
can be banquets, receptions, luncheons, dinner parties, breakfasts or something of your
choosing.  Each of these awards can be a separate event as well.

Pioneer Award- This award will recognize the couple that has been married the longest in
the community.

Longevity Award-This award recognizes all the couples that have been married 25
years or longer.

Joy and Pain Award-This award will recognize a couple that has struggled and
endured to maintain their marriage.

Blended Family Award-This award will recognize a couple that has been married is
trying marriage again with the added challenge of blending families.  They must
be married for at least five years to be eligible for this award.

Wife of the Year-This award will recognize a woman who is the wind beneath her
husband�s wings.  It is someone who is not in the limelight but has taken her role as
wife seriously and worked to maintain their marriage.

Husband of the Year- This award will recognize a man who is the wind beneath
his wife�s wings.  It is someone who is not in the limelight but has taken his role
as husband seriously and worked to maintain their marriage.

Business Couple-This award will recognize the couple that has used their marriage
to be successful as business partners.  They have worked together to create new
businesses that have served our community.

Family Award-this award will recognize the couple that has placed their family first
and worked to give their children the gift of a two-parent family.

First Love Award-This award will recognize a couple that has been married for
more than 20 years and were childhood sweethearts (high school or college).

Couples and individuals will be nominated by a one-page explanation and selected
by the group sponsoring the awards banquet.

2. Create a "Ten Best Marriage Dates" list/contest for your community.
Have people nominate their best entry to the list.  Get these to the media - radio, TV, newspapers,
community newsletters.  Ask radio stations to promote such a contest.  Get businesses to donate
dinners and weekend stays at hotels as prizes for winning selections.

3.  Role Model Marriages.
Honor members of your extended family, community group or place of worship whose marriages
have had an impact on your life. Organize family members and others to participate.  This could
be done at family reunions.  Make it a surprise party or celebration.

4.  Marriage Hall of Fame 
Launch a Marriage Hall of Fame for those married in two categories, 25 ­50 years and 50
years or more.  Post their pictures and their tips for success in a prominent public place like
the marriage license office, schools, library or places of worship.  Develop an admissions
committee that reviews nominations for the Marriage Hall of Fame.  Develop a local web site
that honors these couples with their photo and their marriage story.

5.  Newlywed Night Out
Organize a newlywed night out for couples married one year or less in your community.
Reserve space at a restaurant that will also publicize the newlywed night out.  Get hotels,
motels, theatres, travel agencies, department stores, Home Depot, Target and others to
donate prizes to honor those in the community that get married.

6.  Speaking Opportunities
Offer to speak/teach at civic groups, high schools, community groups, day care, etc about
the benefits of marriage and the gift of a two-parent family.  These groups are especially
eager to learn more.  Organize a marriage-strengthening seminar in your civic or religious
community.  Make sure you have a sign in list to get contact information from everyone that
attends.

7.  Married Couples Monthly Meeting
Organize monthly events for married couples that connect them with mentoring couples.
Each month the meeting is held at a different couples home with refreshments and a
different topic of discussion.

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