But for Ivor "Curly" Hughes and Grace Hughes (nee Johnston), the best part was having most of the original wedding party there for the day.
The couple, who married in Caversham Presbyterian Church on April 23, 1955, had the groomsman Don Parsons, bridesmaid Mary Wall, matron of honour Shirley Anderson and flower girl Glenis Loughnan present for the 70th anniversary celebrations at Leslie Groves Home and Hospital on Saturday.
The oldest member of the wedding anniversary party is Mr Parsons, now 95, while the flower girl Glenis Loughnan is 75.
"I remember our wedding day," Mrs Hughes, 91, said.
"It was a fine and sunny day ... I wasn’t nervous at all."
Daughter Glenda Alexander said her parents had hosted a similar event for their 60th wedding anniversary in 2015, which included best man Geoff Dick, who died in 2017.
"They just love their friends."
Ms Alexander said her parents would have first met at one of the St Kilda dances in 1951.
Mr Hughes worked at stock and station agency Wright Stephenson in Dunedin for 45 years.
Asked about the secret to their long life together, Ms Alexander said it was largely down to them being "just good old-fashioned people" and a basic healthy lifestyle.
"Nothing too frilly, just, you know, good.
"Dad was a very, very good vege gardener — who had a big home-grown garden.
"Mum was a baker in her former life before she married, and so there was always home baking.
"It’s nothing ostentatious. It’s just good, honest living."
Ms Alexander said the couple were pleased to receive a commemorative card from King Charles III for their 70th wedding anniversary — particularly as they had received a card for their 60th from Queen Elizabeth II.
"It’s a pretty momentous occasion.
"But the best thing about it is that the friends came all that way to see them."
Asked about the secret for a successful marriage, Mrs Hughes said it was all about "give and take".
