Wedding anniversary gifts by year: the complete list

By Cyrille Varin · Published on 27 October 2026 · 3 min read

Every wedding anniversary has its own name and its own gift theme: paper for the first year, silver for the 25th, gold for the 50th. The idea is that the materials grow stronger and more precious over the years, just like the marriage. Here is the full list, year by year, with ideas to celebrate the big milestones.

Wedding anniversary gifts by year

Year	Traditional	Modern
1 year	Paper	Clocks
2 years	Cotton	China
3 years	Leather	Crystal or glass
4 years	Fruit or flowers (linen in the UK)	Appliances
5 years	Wood	Silverware
6 years	Iron or sugar	Wood
7 years	Wool or copper	Desk sets
8 years	Bronze	Linen or lace
9 years	Pottery or willow	Leather
10 years	Tin or aluminium	Diamond jewellery
11 years	Steel	Fashion jewellery
12 years	Silk or linen	Pearls
13 years	Lace	Textiles
14 years	Ivory (today, ivory-coloured gifts)	Gold jewellery
15 years	Crystal	Watches
20 years	China	Platinum
25 years	Silver	Silver
30 years	Pearl	Diamond
35 years	Coral	Jade
40 years	Ruby	Ruby
45 years	Sapphire	Sapphire
50 years	Gold	Gold
55 years	Emerald	Emerald
60 years	Diamond	Diamond
65 years	Blue sapphire	Blue sapphire
70 years	Platinum	Platinum

In the UK, the first two are often swapped: cotton for the first anniversary and paper for the second. The milestone years never change: silver at 25, ruby at 40, gold at 50, diamond at 60.

The milestones worth celebrating

The first years

Dinner out, a weekend away, a gift that nods to the year's material: early anniversaries are mostly celebrated as a couple. A framed print for paper, a wooden keepsake at five, a tin gift at ten.

Silver and beyond

From the 25th anniversary, the celebration often becomes a family affair. Children organise a surprise, gather the couple's friends, put together a slideshow of old photos, or recreate the wedding photo in the same place.

Golden wedding anniversary

Fifty years of marriage is an event for the whole family. Many couples renew their vows and bring several generations together around a meal.

Organise a group gift with Pikki

For a silver or golden anniversary, children and grandchildren often club together for one big present: a trip, a piece of jewellery, a weekend away. An online gift list on Pikki makes it simple:

everyone sees the ideas and reserves what they are giving, without an account;
a cash fund link at the top of the list lets several people fund a big gift;
several organisers can manage the list together, for example siblings;
with secret mode, the couple sees nothing of the reservations if the list is shared with them.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important anniversaries?

The 1st (paper or cotton), the 25th (silver), the 40th (ruby), the 50th (gold) and the 60th (diamond).

What is the difference between traditional and modern gifts?

The traditional list goes back to the early 20th century. The modern list was created later as a more practical alternative. Both are fine: choose whichever inspires you.

Do you have to give a gift in the year's material?

No, it is just a fun nod. A gift that hints at the material, even loosely, always raises a smile.

Sources

Anniversary gifts by year, Historic Newspapers, accessed 25 October 2026
Wedding anniversary, Wikipedia, accessed 25 October 2026

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrille Varin · Founder of Pikki

Founder of Pikki and of the web agency 33C. A developer and data analyst with a background in digital marketing and SEO, he builds Pikki so that giving gifts to loved ones stays a pleasure: shared lists, Secret Santa draws and baby games.

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