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Wedding Anniversaries

Wedding Anniversary Gifts

The act of giving specific gifts on wedding anniversaries dates back to the middle ages. The list of gifts varies by country and has varried over time. Below we give a list of what after much research we believe are the currently accepted anniversary gifts and presents in the UK. The gifts start simply with paper and cotton and increase in value over the years as a symbol of the couples commitment to each other.


The earliest know references are to Silver (25th Wedding Anniversary) and Gold (50th Wedding Anniversary). These appear to originate in Middle Europe (Germanic Region) and involved the spouse giving his wife a silver garland when they had been married for 25 years.


There are two Diamond Anniversaries, one at 60 and one at 75 years. The 75th anniversary is the original traditional diamond anniversary with the 60th being added when Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee on her 60th anniversary of accession to the throne in 1897 and this has since been adopted as an appropriate Wedding Anniversary.


The milestone anniversaries are:

15th wedding anniversary
20th wedding anniversary
25th wedding anniversary
30th wedding anniversary
35th wedding anniversary
40th wedding anniversary
50th wedding anniversary / Golden wedding anniversary

In the UK the longest marriage couple on record was recently reported as a couple from Hereford who celebrated their 80th or Oak Wedding Anniversary together on 1st June 2005 (click here for details). The Guinness book of records were looking into the news story to see if they are the longest married couple in the UK.

Our list of Wedding Anniversary names by year

Year
Anniversary Gift
Comments
1st
Paper
Consider quanlity photo albumns and journals as suitable qifts.
2nd
Cotton or China
As a material, cotton is both durable and versatile. These are both important qualities in a successful marriage. Cotton has also been known as a symbol of great prosperity.
3rd
Leather or Crystal
Traditionally consider leather desk sets and leather lugage that the couple can enjoy together more often these days Crystal gifts are given instead of leather. Crystal can however be difficult to buy for other people because taste and style varries. Consider candle holders, vases, wine glasses and mirrors.
4th
Fruit or Flowers
If the couple have a garden and depending on the time of year then consider a plant or rose that they can plant and enjoy for years to come.
5th
Wood or silverware
 
6th
Sugar
Consider chocolate or other luxury food items.
7th
Copper or Wool
Copper or Wool. Copper has long had a traditional meaning of prosperity, good luck, and good fortune.

The gift of wool represents the comfort, durability, security, and warmth that couples married this long give one another. Roman brides touched their the threshold of their new home with wool.

The Old Testament has a passage (Proverbs 31) describing wives of noble character as women who select wool and spin yarns with eager hands.

8th
Bronze or Pottery or Linens and Lace
Consider Kazuri jewellery for ladies. (see Kazuri Jewellery)
9th
Pottery or Willow
 
10th
Tin or Aluminum or Diamond Jewelry
 
11th
Steel
 
12th
Silk or Linen or Pearls
 
13th
Lace or Textiles and Furs
 
14th
Ivory or Gold Jewelry
 
15th
Crystal or Watches
 
16th
Tungsten or Silver
 
17th
Turquoise or Furniture
 
18th
Bismuth or Porcelain
 
19th
China or Bronze
 
20th
China or Platinum
 
21st
Brass or Nickel
 
22nd
Copper
 
23rd
Silver Plate
 
24th
Musical
 
25th
Silver
 
26th
Pictures
 
27th
Sculpture
 
28th
Orchids
 
29th
Furniture
 
30th
Pearl
 
31st
Time pieces
Consider clocks, watches or for a modern alternative the gift of time for busy people by giving them a service.
32nd
?
 
33rd
Amethyst
 
34th
Opal
 
35th
Coral
 
36th
Bone China
 
37th
Alabaster
 
38th
Beryl or Tourmaline
 
39th
Lace
 
40th
Ruby
Gifts don't actually need to be made of Ruby they could just be Ruby in colour. Consider a fine red wine or Ruby/red candles and candle holders.
41st
Land
 
42nd
?
 
43rd
Travel
 
44th
Groceries
 
45th
Sapphire
 
50th
Gold
 
51st
?
 
52nd
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53rd
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54th
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55th
Emerald
 
56th
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57th
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58th
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59th
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60th
Diamond

The tradition of celebrating a 60th anniversary came into popularity after Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee.

In the UK since 1917, the Sovereign has sent congratulatory messages to people celebrating notable anniversaries. The delivery of these messages is arranged by the Anniversaries Office, part of the Private Secretary's Office in the Royal Household, based at Buckingham Palace. The Pension Service informs the Anniversaries Office of birthdays for recipients of UK State pensions. For data privacy reasons, there is no automatic alert from Government records for wedding anniversaries.For this reason, to make sure that a message is sent for birthdays and wedding anniversaries alike, an application should preferably be made by a relative or friend in advance of the special day. (Click here for more information)

60th Anniversary Traditional Gift: Diamond which comes from the Greek word adamas which means unconquerable and enduring.

61st
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62nd
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63rd
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64th
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65th
Star Sapphire
This gemstone is believed to stand for devotion which which makes it a perfect gift for a 65th wedding anniversary.
66th
 
67th
 
68th
 
69th
 
70th
Platinum
 
75th
Diamond
A favourite stone for a engagement or eternity ring most likely as it stand for "virtue".
80th
Oak
 
90th
Granite
 


View our selection of wedding anniversary gifts and presents for the special couple

 

If you have any more information, comments or gift ideas for wedding anniversaries please send us your feedback using the form below:



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