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Celebrating any wedding anniversary, regardless of how many years it is since getting hitched, has been customary for centuries. How a wedding anniversary is celebrated may have changed over time, but one tradition that seems to have stuck is how each of these momentous occasions are recognised.
Each year is represented by a material, precious metal or stone which gradually increases in value as the years go by. This tradition dates all the way back to the Middle Ages and is something we still follow today.
Starting with paper (which represents the 1st anniversary), right through to the likes of diamond and platinum which represent the 60th and 70th wedding anniversaries.
Gifts should follow the theme associated with the wedding anniversary but some themes can feel limiting. Paper gifts? Where do you even start? We’ve put together this run down of the main wedding anniversaries that tend to be celebrated and a list of potential gifts to go along with them that we hope will inspire you.
Every wedding anniversary is special, but some feel more sentimental than others. Here's a list of what are considered the milestone wedding anniversaries.
As it’s the very first anniversary, the traditional gift is paper. If you’d like to get really personal, pen your loved one a handwritten letter to show them how much you mean to them. Or what about a “love token”? This could be anything from a back massage to a promise that you’ll clean and cook for a whole week! Don’t hesitate to get creative. If you’re not really one for putting your feelings into words, you could go for a ticket to the theatre or a voucher for an experience day. Alternatively what about a framed print? This personalised wedding dance music sheet printis a unique and personal momento. A perfect way to reminisce about the special day and keep the memories alive for years to come.
The next big milestone wedding anniversary tends to be the 5th one. Wood is traditionally the gift that’s exchanged and could be anything from a picture frame to a piece of handmade furniture, depending on your budget. If you’d rather spend some quality time with your nearest and dearest, then a hike in the woods on the day of your anniversary could be super romantic and something you’ll remember for years to come.
You’ve probably heard the term “7 year itch”, the notion that by the 7th year of marriage you’re ready to throw the towel in. Well, research would suggest quite the contrary, and those couples that reach their 7th anniversarygo on to see many more. So surely it’s worth celebrating when you get there, right? Traditionally, gifts made from wool would be exchanged on the 7th anniversary. This could be anything from a scarf, a piece of clothing to a handmade blanket. Some wool such as cashmere can be quite expensive, so it’s not too difficult to splurge if you’d like to!
By your 10th wedding anniversary, it’s probably fair to say you’ve got a serious amount of fond memories stacked up between you. This could be having kids, moving house, or that once in a lifetime holiday to name a few. With that in mind, an old vintage biscuit tin that’s filled to the top with old photos and mementos of fun times can be the perfect sentimental gift for your other half.
It might seem like a big jump and it’s not that the 11th through to 24th anniversaries aren’t important, but the 25th wedding anniversary is where the celebrations tend to ramp up a little. Traditionally, silver has been the gift of choice and still remains a favourite today. If you’d like to get your loved one a practical gift, then a silver pen is a great option. Or, if you’d prefer to go for something a little more fancy and occasional, then jewellery or cuff links make a wonderful treasured keepsake. Most silver gifts can be engraved too, allowing you to add a personal touch.
Sophisticated and classy, your first thought for gifts might be jewellery, but that doesn’t have to be the case at all. You could opt for a fancy dinner where oysters are served as part of your meal. Alternatively, if jewellery really isn’t for your loved one, then maybe you could go for something with a mother-of-pearl inlay instead. This could be anything from a watch to a hand-carved wooden box, to a picture frame.
Your first thought for a ruby wedding anniversary gift might be jewellery, but that certainly doesn’t have to be the case, either. The colour red can be interpreted in many ways and of course it’s also the colour of love, so it’s the perfect opportunity to go all out romance. You could go for something typical like red roses, or something a little more unconventional like a personalised anniversary yearbook that’s bound in red leather.
After 50 years of marriage it’s clear that a rich tapestry of memories will have been woven, and there’s no precious metal better than gold to denote that. Gold can be interpreted in so many ways and is perfect for making a grand gesture. Whether that’s with jewellery or golden flowers such as yellow roses, sunflowers or daffodils… all wrapped in a gold ribbon bow of course!
There’s something extra special about reaching the 60th anniversary of your wedding. You’ve spent a whole lifetime together and been through so much, so to mark the occasion it’s only right that you do it in style. Represented by one of the most precious stones on earth, diamonds can be a somewhat expensive gift. But there are alternatives if your budget doesn’t quite stretch so far. One thing you could do is take a “second honeymoon” and indulge in a touch of luxury. If you’d prefer to keep things a little more low key, a pair of personalised cut crystal glasses and a bottle of champagne is a great way to celebrate your time together and reminisce over fond memories.
There’s a reason platinum represents the 70th wedding anniversary; it’s one of the most precious metals in the world. It’s super strong and it’s resistant to corrosion - perfectly summing up a marriage with such longevity. It’s only right that the gift you give reflects that. While platinum jewellery seems like the one to go to, you might prefer to go for something a little more sentimental. A gathering of all your friends and family is a great way to reminisce and share all the joys of the past 70 years.
Some wedding anniversaries are represented by a theme rather than by a material, stone or metal. Here are a few of the theme-based wedding anniversaries that we love: