Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year in the UK
Anniversary themes can give you a starting point when choosing a gift for a couple. Paper, wood and gold are familiar examples, but lists vary, particularly for the years between major milestones. Use the theme if it helps, then choose something that means something to the people celebrating.
Common UK anniversary themes
| Year | Traditional theme |
|---|---|
| 1 | Paper |
| 2 | Cotton |
| 3 | Leather |
| 5 | Wood |
| 10 | Tin |
| 15 | Crystal |
| 20 | China |
| 25 | Silver |
| 30 | Pearl |
| 35 | Coral |
| 40 | Ruby |
| 45 | Sapphire |
| 50 | Gold |
| 55 | Emerald |
| 60 | Diamond |
| 65 | Blue sapphire |
| 70 | Platinum |
You do not have to buy an object made from the named material. A picture, a colour or a memory can take the theme in a personal direction. Check what the item is actually made from before ordering if the material itself matters to the couple.
Paper and the early years
For a paper anniversary, a print can hold a detail from the couple's life together. The personalised map print marks a place, with your words beneath it. Choose the street where they met or a first home, then check the location and the wording before making the design.
A star map shows the sky for a place, date and time. Gather those details first and ask a relative if you are unsure. It can suit a couple who would enjoy remembering one moment rather than displaying a list of events.
For other early milestones, you can use the theme as a prompt for a card or a note. A story about a shared home may suit the wood year, for example. The gift itself need not claim to contain the traditional material.
Bring a longer story together
The Our Story timeline takes five to nine moments, each with a date and a few words. A picture appears for each one. It gives you room to include the less formal parts of a shared life alongside the anniversary itself.
Make a rough list before starting. Ask family members for dates and the spelling of names, but leave room for the couple's own favourite memories. A first home, a journey or the arrival of a pet may belong on the timeline. Check the order and the preview before completing the design.
For a different approach, the personalised newspaper print creates a new front page for a chosen year. It is not an original paper from a particular day. Choose an available year, country and interests that will give the couple something to talk about.
Ruby and gold milestones
Forty years is commonly called the ruby anniversary. Our ruby anniversary gift guide has ideas for marking it. For fifty years, see the golden anniversary guide for parents, including ways to gather memories from the family.
When giving a print, think about where it might go. The map, star map, timeline and newspaper offer poster and framed options. Check the sizes on the product page and choose a frame colour that suits the couple's home, or let them select their own frame for a poster.
More gift ideas: Platinum Wedding Anniversary Gifts.