Each wedding anniversary has a traditional material attached to it. The early years get everyday materials like paper, cotton and wood, and the later ones get precious metals and gemstones, on the idea that a marriage grows stronger and more valuable as it goes. You don't have to follow the list, but it's a useful starting point when you're stuck for an idea, and it gives a gift a little extra meaning.
A quick note on which list
There's no single official list. The one below is the traditional list most widely used in the UK. Some years have a well-known alternative, which is shown in brackets. You'll also find "modern" lists (mostly from the US) that swap in things like clocks, china or appliances. If your partner has seen a different list, you're not wrong, and neither are they.
Where a traditional material is no longer a good idea to buy, such as ivory or real coral, we've suggested something in the same spirit instead.
Anniversary gifts by year
| Year | Traditional material | A modern or personal idea |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | A framed map of where you met, a printed poem, or tickets to something you'll do together |
| 2nd | Cotton | A good cotton picnic blanket, or a shirt or dress from a shop they love |
| 3rd | Leather | A leather notebook, a wallet, a watch strap or a weekend bag |
| 4th | Linen (or silk) | Linen napkins or a tablecloth, used for a dinner you cook at home |
| 5th | Wood | A tree for the garden, an engraved chopping board, or a wooden photo frame |
| 6th | Iron (or sugar) | A cast-iron casserole dish or a garden ornament |
| 7th | Wool (or copper) | A wool blanket for winter walks, or a copper plant pot |
| 8th | Bronze | A small bronze sculpture, bookmark or piece of jewellery |
| 9th | Pottery (or willow) | A pottery class for two, or handmade mugs from a local maker |
| 10th | Tin (or aluminium) | A tin of their favourite biscuits with a note inside the lid |
| 11th | Steel | A steel watch, a good flask, or a decent kitchen knife |
| 12th | Silk | A silk scarf or tie |
| 13th | Lace | A vintage lace table runner, or a piece of family lace, framed |
| 14th | Ivory | Ivory-coloured stationery or ceramics (never real ivory) |
| 15th | Crystal | A pair of crystal glasses and something good to drink from them |
| 20th | China | A china tea set, or afternoon tea out |
| 25th | Silver | Silver jewellery, cufflinks, or an engraved silver frame |
| 30th | Pearl | Pearl earrings or a pendant, or a weekend by the sea |
| 35th | Coral (or jade) | Jade jewellery, or something coral-coloured (not real coral) |
| 40th | Ruby | A ruby pendant or ring, or a celebration meal |
| 45th | Sapphire | Sapphire jewellery, or something in deep blue |
| 50th | Gold | Gold jewellery, a family party, or a photo album of fifty years |
| 55th | Emerald | Emerald jewellery, or a tree or plant for the garden |
| 60th | Diamond | Diamond jewellery, or a family gathering |
| 65th | Blue sapphire | Blue sapphire jewellery, or a framed family tree |
| 70th | Platinum | Platinum jewellery, or the whole family in one room |
The milestone years
A few anniversaries get more attention than the rest. Here's what each material means and how to make the most of it.
1st anniversary: paper
Paper stands for a new marriage: blank, a little fragile, and ready to be written on. It's also the easiest material to make personal, because so much of a first year together is already on paper. Think of the wedding order of service, the tenancy agreement, train tickets and notes left on the side.
Good paper gifts include a framed print of the place you met or got engaged, a book with a long message written inside the cover, or tickets for a show, gig or match. A letter or poem about your first year works especially well, because the paper is the gift. If you'd rather not write it yourself, Poem Parlour writes personalised anniversary poems from a few details you give, as a print-ready A4 PDF you can frame. If you'd like to have a go, our guide on how to write a poem for someone you love walks you through it.
For Hannah — Our First Anniversary
— Love, James
A sample first-anniversary poem. The best ones are built from the small things in your own year.
5th anniversary: wood
Wood marks five years because by now the marriage has roots. A tree or shrub for the garden is the classic choice, and you get to watch it grow. If you don't have a garden, a wooden chopping board engraved with your names and wedding date, a hand-carved bowl, or a wooden box to keep cards and tickets in are all lovely.
10th anniversary: tin
Tin (or aluminium) stands for something durable and flexible, which ten years of marriage tends to need. It's a fun one to play with. Try a tin of their favourite biscuits with a handwritten note inside the lid, a vintage tin sign, or a "time capsule" tin filled with ten small things from ten years. It also pairs well with a bigger gift, such as a trip away.
25th anniversary: silver
The silver wedding is the first of the big celebrations. Silver jewellery is the usual choice: a bracelet, a necklace or cufflinks, perhaps engraved with the date. An engraved silver photo frame holding a wedding photo also works well. Many couples mark twenty-five years with a party or a renewal of vows, so a gift from family could be helping to organise one.
40th anniversary: ruby
Ruby's deep red is linked with passion and endurance. A ruby ring, pendant or earrings is the traditional gift between the couple. From children or friends, a ruby-red theme works just as well, whether that's a celebration meal, a bottle of port, or red flowers on the table. Our anniversary card messages include a few written for parents.
50th anniversary: gold
Fifty years is a genuine achievement, and the golden wedding is often the biggest family celebration of all. Gold jewellery is traditional. But the gifts that tend to mean the most are the ones that look back over the years, like a photo album, a framed family tree, or a gathering of everyone the marriage has brought together. A poem about their life together, read aloud at the party, can be a lovely moment too.
60th anniversary: diamond
Diamond is a symbol of something that lasts. At sixty years, the gift is usually less about objects and more about people: getting the family together, recording their story, or putting the old photos in order with names and dates. In the UK, couples reaching their 60th, 65th and 70th anniversaries, and every year after the 70th, can receive a congratulations card from the King. You can request one on GOV.UK, which explains how far ahead to apply.
Making any year personal
The material is a prompt, not a rule. A few ways to make it count:
- Tie it to a memory. A wooden spoon is just a spoon. A wooden spoon engraved with the name of the café where you had your first date is a story.
- Add words. A short note, a card or a poem turns almost any object into something worth keeping. If you're stuck, here are some ideas for what to write in an anniversary card.
- Mix the old and the new. Pair the traditional material with a modern gift, such as a tin of biscuits alongside tickets for a weekend away.
- Don't overspend to fit the theme. A thoughtful paper gift beats an expensive one that misses.
Buying for your other half? Our list of thoughtful gift ideas for your wife has more ideas that work for any year.
A poem for your year
Tell us a few details and see a free preview of a personalised anniversary poem, written in under a minute.
See anniversary poems