Happy Anniversary, my darling love.
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? When you changed my light bulb all those years ago (remember that ridiculous floral dressing gown I was wearing?), you were so condescending. And so handsome that I was sure you were out of my league.
To this day, I still don’t know why you asked me out. We were so different – you were smart and dry-witted and lean, and I was a chubby romantic dork. And yet here we are, together for over thirty years, married for twenty-five, with two adult children. I still go to bed most nights feeling like I’ve won some sort of cosmic lottery.
You know you’ve saved me, don’t you? You’ve saved me from being soppy and tragic, because in all these years, you’ve never let me get away with anything. You are loving and affectionately indulgent, but you have never let me wallow in self-pity or lose perspective or carry on like a mad woman. And you’ve always managed to do it without hurting my feelings, for which I’m incredibly grateful.
I knew right from the start that you were going to be the best father ever. Our confident, creative, gorgeous sons are a direct product of your firm but loving parenting. Apart from all the time you lavish upon them, you’ve also taught by example – their calm dispositions, indefatigable attitudes and unquenchable thirst for knowledge are nurtured by and modeled on you. And oh, how they adore you! Remember when Big Boy was seven or eight, and he had that funny little laugh? It took us ages to figure out that he was trying to copy yours.
So here we are, my love, at our 25th wedding anniversary. We’re older and greyer and pudgier than we used to be, but I’m still completely mad about you. It’s hard to believe we’ve come this far – in some ways, it feels like we’re still at college, going out to Cordobes for a $4 pizza, or sitting up all night talking about the future. Thank you for a truly wonderful life. I can’t wait to see what the next twenty-five years will bring! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
That’s awesome – many congratulations!
Oh Celia, you’ve brought a little tear to my eye! Congratulations to both of you!
Congratulations! What a beautiful tribute :-)
That is proper beautiful, that is. Congratulations to both of you! x x x
Just beautiful!–Congratulations to you both! (I love the way you express your feelings, Celia)
What beautiful sentiments you express, Celia!
Congratulations to you both!
Beautiful – congratulations!
Congratulations! This is beautiful. Blessing and happiness to you both, Thanks and Love, nia
Congratulations on a blessed 25 years. When you do a thing right it stays right- and you are both lovely in that picture!
(Frank and I renewed our vows on our 25th anniversary- it was so meaningful- we wrote our own vows the second time and if I wasn’t already in love with the guy those vows would have done it for me! )
Congratulations to you both! 25 years is an awesome achievement. Your anniversary tribute is so lovely.
Lovely post Celia and many congratulations on 25 yrs well spent. Here’s to the next 25 :)
Cheers and to many more!
Celia, you brought tears to my eyes reading this! How wonderful.
You have a way with words Celia. Congratulations to you both x
My dear Celia, you brought tears to my eyes,,,, I want to congratulate the both of you with this beautifull 25th aniversary.
I have to tell you that my dad wrote every year a letter to his bride of the day, my mother, to thank her for the past year of care and love she gave him and to my brother an me.
I wish you and your dear husband will have much more beautifull years together in the future !!!!!
P.s. I love your weddingphoto !!!!!!!!
Hannie Poll – The Netherlands
I have tears too! Congratulations and a very happy silver anniversary to you both. You were obviously made for each other and it is so lovely to see when a couple are just like a two-piece jigsaw puzzle. Here’s to many more years ahead!
So beautiful! I hope my 25 years of marriage will be just like yours especially with 2 sons and also feeling like I’ve won a cosmic lottery with my husband too x a very happy anniversary to both of you x
Happy Anniversary
I think you both look wonderful in the photo. I’m sure Pete feels the same way about you. Congratulations on 25 years. I hope you have many more.
I will join the crowd with the box of Kleenex nearby… truly a beautiful declaration of love, and I am soooo happy for you both! Finding a perfect match is not easy, there’s luck involved, but there’s also commitment to make it work. You have it all!
I will make a special toast for you two tonight!
Ooh, what a sweet love story! Congratulations on your 25th anniversary! We just had our 14th anniversary and it seems like the time flies! I really don’t feel any older but I suppose marriage is all about growing as individual people but together and sharing all life brings. May you have many more happy years! ( I will be posting my In My kitchen post. :) )
You certainly have a way with words! Congratulations to you both and I wish you many more years of the same together.
There’s so much gold in your silver. Congratulations and while you may feel you won some kind of cosmic lottery, his bingo card was filled the night he met you and every other night too.
Awww so sweet. It was meant to be. Happy Anniversary you two…and many more!
Celia, Happy Silver Anniversary to you and yours. Beautiful tribute.
What a beautiful, joyful post – I’m so happy for you both, That’s what a partnership like this is all about – the highs, the lows but the joy of being together and seeing it through with love and laughter. Congratulations you both :)
Happy anniversary Celia and Pete! Some matches are meant to be and yours is one of those.
A wonderful love letter to your love. Congratulations my friend x
Well chosen words to share with us about something deeply personal. With all the dysfunctional families in the world we do need to hear about the ones that work. Love to you both, Roz & John
happy anniversary celia and peter..your love is beautiful and a gift to your children and all those in your lives..x
Happy Anniversary to you both, Celia. May you have many more.
Bless you both. The next 25 years will probably bring more of the same….. you gotta be happy with that. Sounds to me as though you have been reading my diary … LOL
What a wonderful ode to your beloved husband! Congratulations to you both! What a pretty wedding picture! :) xxx
You both deserve each other, in the most wonderful way Celia! What amazing adventures you’ve had together over the past 25 years- both terrific and tragic. I’m sure your boys feel so blessed to have such wonderful parents to teach them the true meaning of Love xox
Happy Anniversary to you. Hope the next 25 are as memorable and joyous as the first.
Congratulations to two of my favourite people in the world! I hope hubby and I are as happy as you both are when we celebrate our 25th anniversary!! xxx
Wow congratulations you were lucky to find a real life partner. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
Happy anniversary!
I couldn’t say more than everybody else has done Celia, especially Sally (MCP). I love your wedding photo – 25 years seems not to have changed either of you. Many congratulations.
Okay, this made me cry. What a brilliant post and I think he could write a similar post that would convey the same sentiments. You’re a very special woman.
Celia that is so very very sweet :-) Its wonderful to know that people can still be so in love after so many years of marriage. What an inspiration!
Congratulations and happy anniversary to you and your other half :-)
Congratulations Celia and Pete! xx
Congratulations Celia wishing you both many more years of happiness.
Celia, your wedding photo was filled with hope and joy, and so were your musings 25 years later! That says everything there is to say, except Happy Anniversary and sooooo happy for you both. xo
Congratulations. What a beautiful tribute.
Happy anniversary Celia and Pete, so so good to see such love.
That’s so lovely!
Well, this did not make me cry ~ it made me laugh with deep joy: in this oft imperfect world of ours it is so wonderful to see that a relationship begun in love and with hope has developed and deepened and become even more joyous! Happy, happy anniversary you two and may the sparkle never go out of your eyes!!
A lovely post, Celia. Congratulations to you both.
You TWO!! Fantastic.. have a wonderful day.. and what a fabulous wedding photo… A good marriage takes some work. You are together because you both dug in and worked at it.. add magic to that scenario and you have a fantastic team of TWO. c
Congratulations! We are married 30 years and there is magic in how we met and so I understand when you say you feel like you won a cosmic lottery! Have a wonderful 25 more!
Congratulations Celia and Pete xox
This is just gorgeous Celia, congratulations. Love your wedding photo x
G’day and congrats Celia and Pete on your wonderful wedding anniversary!
Many more thoughts and wishes from Chef Georgio and me! GREAT photo!
Cheers! Joanne
so special, a great love x
Happy anniversary Celia, you have a way with words that was beautifully written. I had a tear in my eye as I was reading, congrats!
Congrats Celia, May Silver turn to Gold ! Audrey, Mumbai
aww so sweet! happy anniversary celia and pete!
What a wonderful post! Happiest of anniversaries and a continued long future together. So lovely!
Congratulations! Happy Anniversary! A beautiful wedding picture. You both look so radiant and happy. You are so good at putting your thoughts and feelings into words.
Congratulations darling Celia on catching that fella even though you were wearing that ridiculous dressing gown. You know exactly why he asked you out….because you have what he needs and I have seen him look at you when you are doing something silly and…..he is so glad he married you xxxx
My dearest Celia Happy New Year to you and to your family!
Congratulations! Happy Anniversary!
Only love can do miracles and may reign over both of you for ever…
..Because while i was reading your beautiful post, i recalled the Who song..
“Only love can make it rain,/ The way the beach is kissed by the sea/
Only love can make it rain/ Like the sweat of lovers layin’ in the fields/
Love, reign o’er me..”
✿◠‿◠) gina
well aren’t you two just adorable! Happy Anniversary to you and Pete! xx
PS, i’d LOVE to see the full length photo of your dress! I have a thing for 80’s and early 90’s wedding dress’s. Shoulder pads, lace and all ;)
What a lovely post! Congratulations to the both of you.
So I’m reading this in the middle of a very busy hair salon with ridiculous amounts of foil on my head trying to make sure that no one sees that I’m all sorts of teary. Such a gorgeous post Celia, and so lovely of you to share your joy. May the next 25 years bring you just as much love and happiness! Xx
what a beautiful letter you have written Pete, for all of us to share! BIG congratulations to both of you xox
Congratulations!! What a wonderful milestone.
Two bodies, two minds, two souls 25 years bound by mutual consent, sharing, loving and honouring.
Dancing and laughing with abandonment whilst moonbeams and sunshine
have surrounded you.
Embracing and capturing the joyful moments of youth, nurturing and treasuring
the golden years to come.
Enjoying stolen moments of silence, golden days of peace, blissful summers of happiness and warm winters of togetherness.
Happy Anniversary Celia and Pete.
xo
Very best wishes to you both for continued happiness and long life.
Congratulations Celia and Pete. You both look gorgeous in the photo – oh so young, where have the years gone?
Lovely words. Congratulations. x
Woohoo! 25 years and getting better! Love it! Congratulations! This is something to be proud of.
What a beautiful post – congratulations & many more happy years to come. You look beautiful.
Congratulations Celia & Pete! That was a moving & beautiful declaration of love. Happy silver anniversary!
Congratulation to you both! What a wonderful and so very lovely letter, it almost made me tearful. It’s a huge accomplishment.. I’ll toast you tonight!! xx
Wow congratulations Celia and Pete! Just lovely!
What a sweet, sweet, love letter – congrats to you both!
Happy Anniversary to you both. xx
Happy Anniversary! I found your blog through orgasmicchef.com This post is beautiful. What special words you wrote to your husband. Here’s to another 25!
congratulations – what a lovely expression of your marriage – long may you continue to find comfort and happiness together
So sweet! Congratulations, Celia! You inspire us. xo
Such a beautiful post. May the next twenty five years bring you further joy and deepening love.
Thank you all for your wonderful comments, and for sharing our anniversary with us! xxx
As a post script, that is a beautiful photograph of the two of you, Celia. You look so happy… just beautiful!
Congratulations! I’m sure the next 25 years will be equally wonderful!
What a nice letter. You guys sound like a great match. Happy 25th!
Happy Silver Anniversary to a golden couple!!
Look at you two lovelies :-)
Happy Anniversary!
There is simply nothing better than finding real love and joy together and seeing it so beautifully sustained and deepened over the years. Happy anniversary to you two, and many, many more!!!!
xo
Congrats on 25 years and Here’s to 25 more years of adventuring through life together!!!
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Late late but heartfelt congratulations for the 25 happy successful years together, and writing one of the sweetest-funniest things I’ve ever read :)
Pete must have been proud as punch to read this. What a beautiful tribute to him and what lovely words. You were a stunning bride, Miss C. What beautiful hair you had! And the gown is gorgeous. And you both scream happiness. I’m so glad I found this post way down in my in-box. Congrats to you both xx