Wedding Anniversary Names by Year: Gifts and Symbols

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 27 Jun 2011 - Updated: 30 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This article provides a comprehensive and detailed list of wedding anniversary names, traditional and modern gift materials, and associated flowers for each year of marriage. It offers valuable information for couples celebrating their anniversaries, gift-givers, and event planners. The page also includes interesting facts about wedding anniversary traditions in different countries, such as receiving congratulatory messages from monarchs or presidents for milestone anniversaries. This resource serves as a handy reference guide for anyone looking to commemorate wedding anniversaries with appropriate gifts or symbols, making it both practical and culturally informative.

At a Glance

• 1 - The 5th anniversary is wood and the 10th is tin. These early materials are softer than the metals and gems that mark later years.
• 2 - U.S. and U.K. traditional lists do not always match for the same year. The 4th year is linen or silk in the U.S. but fruit and flowers in the U.K.
• 3 - Each year also carries a signature flower alongside its material. The rose marks the 15th year, the lily marks the 30th, and yellow roses mark the 50th.
• 4 - Modern U.S. lists assign different items than the traditional versions. The 1st year becomes a clock, the 10th becomes diamond jewelry, and the 20th becomes platinum.

Topic Definition

Wedding Anniversary

A wedding anniversary marks the yearly return of the date a couple was married, and in many cultures it has long been an occasion to celebrate the partnership and exchange gifts that reflect how many years have passed. Over time, specific years picked up traditional names tied to particular materials, such as paper for the first year, silver for the 25th, golden for the 50th, and diamond for the 60th, with the materials generally moving from softer or more fragile substances toward harder, more enduring ones to mirror a bond that strengthens with the years. Alongside these traditional materials, modern gift lists and associated flowers have grown up, and the customs can differ from one country to the next. Beyond gifts, milestone anniversaries often carry special recognition, including congratulatory messages from heads of state or monarchs and blessings from religious authorities, though the heart of the tradition is less about the prescribed present and more about pausing to honor a shared life together.

Overview

The names of some wedding anniversaries provide guidance for appropriate or traditional gifts for the spouses to give each other; if there is a party to celebrate the wedding anniversary these gifts can be brought by the guests and/or influence the theme or decoration of the venue. however please note, lists of some wedding anniversary gifts can vary according to country. Wedding anniversary names common to most nations include:

Wooden (5th), Tin (10th), Crystal (15th), China (20th), Silver (25th), Pearl (30th), Ruby (40th), Golden (50th), and Diamond (60th).

Listed below is a list of wedding anniversaries by year that includes materials, symbols, and flowers associated with the occasion.

Wedding Years Anniversaries

Wedding Anniversary Facts:

• The celebration of wedding anniversaries dates back to Roman times when husbands gave their wives a silver wreath for 25 years of marriage, and a gold wreath for 50.
• Today there are traditional and modern materials related to each wedding anniversary, usually progressing from the weakest to the strongest as the years go by, to symbolize the strengthening of the relationship.
• In the United States, one can receive a greeting from the President for any wedding anniversary on or after the 50th.
• In the British Commonwealth domains you may receive a message from the monarch for your 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, and any wedding anniversary after that by applying to Buckingham Palace in the U.K., or to the Governor-General's office in the other Commonwealth realms. An exception being Australia and Canada. The delivery of congratulatory messages marking 100th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversaries is arranged by the Anniversaries Office at Buckingham Palace.
• In Canada you may also receive a message from the Governor General for the 50th anniversary, and every 5th anniversary after that.
• In Australia may receive a letter of congratulations from the Governor General on the 50th and all subsequent wedding anniversaries; the Prime Minister, the federal Opposition leader, local members of parliament (both state and federal), and state Governors may also send salutations for the same anniversaries.
• Roman Catholics may apply for a Papal blessing through their local diocese for wedding anniversaries of a special nature such as their 25th, 50th, 60th, etc. anniversaries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 25th wedding anniversary called

The 25th wedding anniversary is known as the silver anniversary. It is one of the most widely recognized milestone years across most nations.

Which anniversary is the diamond anniversary

The diamond anniversary is the 60th year of marriage in most modern lists. In some older U.S. references the 75th year was also linked to diamond and gold.

Do you exchange gifts on a wedding anniversary

Many couples exchange gifts that reflect the traditional or modern material for that year. Guests at an anniversary party may also bring gifts or use the theme for decoration.

Why do anniversary materials get harder over the years

The materials progress from softer items toward harder ones to symbolize a relationship that strengthens with time. This is why early years use paper or cotton and later years use metals and gems.

What is the flower for the first wedding anniversary

The carnation is the flower associated with the first wedding anniversary. Later years feature blooms such as the daisy for the fifth and the rose for the fifteenth.

Is there a wedding anniversary gift for every single year

Early years have an assigned material for nearly every year of marriage. After the 25th year the traditional entries tend to appear at five year intervals.

What is the 40th wedding anniversary material

The 40th wedding anniversary is traditionally associated with ruby. Ruby appears in the U.S., U.K., and modern lists for that year.

Do anniversary gift lists change between countries

Yes, the assigned materials can differ from one country to the next. For example the fourth year differs between the U.S. and U.K. traditional lists.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While the symbolic progression from paper to diamond might suggest an increasingly expensive arms race in gift-giving, the real value in these anniversary traditions lies not in literal adherence to prescribed materials but in the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. A couple celebrating their 40th anniversary with rubies deserves admiration not for the gemstones themselves but for four decades of navigating life's complexities together - something no amount of precious metal can truly represent. What these traditions offer us is a framework for remembrance, a cultural nudge to pause and acknowledge the quiet miracle of sustained partnership in an era when permanence itself seems increasingly rare. Whether you're marking your first year with heartfelt words on paper or your 75th with a renewal of vows, the true measure of these milestones is the shared history they commemorate, not the gifts that accompany them.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.