CELEBRATING 50 years of marriage on Saturday, Brian and Lowleen Buchner rekindled memories of their special day as they stood on the steps of the St Peter's Lutheran Church with their wedding party.

The former local couple met on the June long weekend in 1962 when Mr Buchner was asked to escort the young lady to a mutual family gathering. The two hit it off and started courting, were engaged in March, 1963, and married on February 29, 1964.

Mrs Buchner said back then it was customary to be married in the morning so the farmers could get home to milk the cows.

"After the ceremony, the reception for 70 guests was held at the old RSL club, currently the Chung Hing Restaurant," she said.

"We also enjoyed lunch there today with our wedding party as part of our trip down memory lane."

During the past 50 years the couple has enjoyed success in their careers and been blessed with five children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mr Buchner said some may remember him from the Dunlop Tyre Service (formerly National Tyre Service) which is where he worked as a junior office boy until he was transferred in 1965.

"This was the start of a very rewarding 30-year career with Dunlop as I advanced to management and worked in many locations around Australia," he said. "I left the company to begin our own business, IBC Water Treatment which we built together over the past 20 years."

Mrs Buchner said she was happy to stay at home and raise the children and when the eldest started school she went back to study herself at night school to become a psychologist.

"Our life together has been very exciting with the children, the travel and working together," she said.

Although Mr and Mrs Buchner moved away from Warwick in 1965 the couple visits Warwick regularly.

They have remained close with all the members of their wedding party, many of whom are well known around the town. Mrs Buchner was born and bred in Allora and attended Warwick State High School, which is where she met bridesmaid Betty Fricke. Upon completing her education she worked for the telephone exchange and boarded at the CWA Hostel, which is where she met bridesmaid Colleen Scotney.

Mrs Scotney was engaged to Roger Scotney at the time and they were married shortly after the Buchners.

Mrs Buchner said the last 50 years have been about supporting each other and a lot of give and take.

"I think the secret to a happy marriage is compromise, commitment, caring and a lot more compromise," she said.