You and your partner have shared another year of love and happiness. As you look forward to celebrating your anniversary, you might be curious—what is this year called? And what does it signify?
This ultimate guide will reveal the secrets and meanings of every wedding anniversary. From quirky names like the paper anniversary to grand ones like the gold anniversary, you’ll discover the history, traditions, and best gift suggestions for each year.
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of wedding anniversary names! You might find some new ways to honor your lasting bond.
The History Behind Anniversary Celebrations
Before diving into the names, let’s go back in time to understand how this tradition began. While anniversary celebrations date back to medieval Germany, the symbolic materials linked to each year are a more modern invention.
In the Middle Ages, Germanic tribes would honor couples who reached 25 and 50 years of marriage. It was seen as quite an accomplishment to maintain a relationship for that long!
By the 15th century, Poland adopted the tradition from Germany. The celebrations involved parties, banquets, and lavish gifts for the happy couple. As anniversary celebrations spread across Europe, different regions began observing additional years beyond the 25th and 50th ones.
In Victorian England, etiquette manuals started assigning symbolic materials to some anniversaries. For example, 5 years was wood, 10 was tin, and 15 was crystal. However, these guides weren’t comprehensive.
The American National Retail Jeweler Association took wedding anniversary traditions a step further in the 1930s. They linked every year from 1 to 75 with a specific material or gemstone. This expanded list aimed to guide husbands in selecting anniversary gifts for their wives.
Over time, these symbolic materials became a playful way for couples to reflect on their married life together. Each material ties into broader themes or values associated with that duration of marriage.
Now that we’ve explored the history, let’s look at the meaning behind each anniversary name!
1st Anniversary: The Paper or Clock Anniversary
Ah, the first year of marriage! This whirlwind time is full of passion and discoveries. But it also brings plenty of adjustments.
The fragility of paper represents the delicate balance of romance and reality during the newlywed phase. Grand gestures like love notes must be balanced with mundane tasks like paying bills.
Some also call this the clock anniversary, as you “clock” one year together. Clocks represent being in sync and keeping pace with one another.
Popular 1st-anniversary gifts:
- Stationery, poetry books, love letters
- Paperweights, bookmarks, framed photos
- Watches, clocks
2nd Anniversary: The Cotton Anniversary
By year two, life has settled into a more predictable routine. Cotton symbolizes the everyday comfort and warmth that grows between you and your partner.
As an affordable, breathable fabric, cotton also represents adaptability. The second year of marriage requires flexibility as you navigate differences and disagreements.
Popular 2nd-anniversary gifts:
- Clothing or accessories made of cotton
- Cotton throws, sheets, towels, or home decor
- Flowers, especially roses which are the 2nd anniversary flower
3rd Anniversary: The Leather Anniversary
Three years in, your marriage has been tested and become supple yet durable. Hence the symbolism of leather for year three.
Leather also represents security and flexibility. At this stage, couples have established trust in the relationship and may start exploring joint goals like buying a house.
Popular 3rd-anniversary gifts:
- Leather jackets, belts, wallets, purses
- Desk items made of leather
- Gifts for the home, like leather couches or rugs
4th Anniversary: The Fruit & Flowers Anniversary
By the fourth anniversary, your relationship has blossomed into a nurturing partnership built on care and appreciation. The juicy vitality of fruit and the beauty of flowers evoke this sentiment.
In some traditions, the 4th anniversary is specifically linked to lilies or fruit trees. Both represent fertility and passion.
Popular 4th-anniversary gifts:
- Flowers, fruit baskets, fruit tree saplings
- Jams, wine, fruit scented candles
- Linens and artwork featuring floral or fruit motifs
5th Anniversary: The Wood Anniversary
Five years in, your marriage has developed strength and stability. The hardy nature of wood represents this durability.
Wood also symbolizes steady growth. Like tree rings, your love continues maturing while building on your shared history.
Popular 5th-anniversary gifts:
- Wood carvings, art, or furniture
- Picture frames, boxes, or anniversary clocks made of wood
- Paper made from wood pulp, like specialty stationery
6th Anniversary: The Candy or Iron Anniversary
At six years, the sparks are still there thanks to a persistent sweetness between you and your spouse. Candy keeps things fun and passionate.
Alternatively, some name this the iron anniversary since the metal represents durability. Iron conveys that at this mature stage, your bond is solid and unwavering.
Popular 6th-anniversary gifts:
- Chocolates, candy, cake
- Iron jewelry or décor items
- Kitchenware made of iron or steel
7th Anniversary: The Wool or Copper Anniversary
Like copper’s natural warmth and wool’s cozy softness, your seventh year glows with comfort and security. The trials you’ve endured haven’t unraveled your bond, quite the opposite.
Copper also alludes to conductivity. At this point, you and your partner can communicate without words. Your intuition about each other heightens intimacy.
Popular 7th-anniversary gifts:
- Wool clothing, blankets, or crafts
- Copper jewelry or kitchenware
- Items made from both copper and wool
8th Anniversary: The Bronze or Pottery Anniversary
By now, you and your partner have molded a singular blend of your personalities, preferences, and quirks. Like clay shaped into an elegant pot, your relationship has been molded over time into a vessel of closeness.
The strength of bronze also parallels the resilience of an 8-year marriage. Not without its roughness, but the patina makes it beautifully unique.
Popular 8th-anniversary gifts:
- Bronze artifacts, jewelry, or home goods
- Handmade pottery items, clay crafts
- Ceramic dishes or cookware
9th Anniversary: The Willow Anniversary
The ninth anniversary correlates to willow trees which represent flexibility. At this stage, you and your partner can bend without breaking—weathering life’s storms by supporting each other.
Willows also symbolize eternal love. Their weeping branches evoke overcoming challenges while remaining rooted in your affection.
Popular 9th-anniversary gifts:
- Willow tree figurines
- Items made from willow wood
- Green-colored accessories that evoke willow trees
10th Anniversary: The Tin or Aluminum Anniversary
Ten years is an impressive milestone representing the melding of your lives. Appropriately, ductile metals like tin or aluminum depict how you’ve molded yourselves around each other.
The shiny surface also represents how you both keep polishing each other to bring out your purest essence. It’s a time of renewal and celebrating how far you’ve come.
Popular 10th-anniversary gifts:
- Tin or aluminum jewelry, kitchenware, or art
- Mirrored decor symbolizing reflection
- Gifts catered to hobbies you enjoy together
15th Anniversary: The Crystal Anniversary
You’ve made it to the Crystal Anniversary! Translucent, yet luminous, crystal conveys the clarity of perspective you’ve gained after 15 years together.
Like a prism, you appreciate facets of your partner you never noticed before. Crystal also refracts light into a rainbow—a fitting metaphor for the many colorful memories you share.
Popular 15th-anniversary gifts:
- Crystal jewelry, figurines, or vases
- Glasswork containing crystal details or accents
- Unique optical gifts like kaleidoscopes
20th Anniversary: The China Anniversary
Porcelain china commemorates two decades of married life. The delicacy and refinements of this ceramic parallel your cultivated understanding and care for each other.
The blend of materials in fine china also mirrors the perfect melding of your personalities after 20 years as partners. You cherish both your individuality and unity.
Popular 20th-anniversary gifts:
- China dinnerware – plates, bowls, mugs
- Porcelain collectibles like vases or jewelry boxes
- Taking a trip to China together!:
25th Anniversary: The Silver Anniversary
You’ve arrived at the impressive silver anniversary! As precious as this metal is, so is the relationship you’ve built over a quarter of a century.
The radiance and longevity of your bond are mirrored in lustrous silver’s shine that never tarnishes. This milestone calls for lots of celebration and admiration for sticking together through life’s ups and downs.
Popular 25th-anniversary gifts:
- Sterling silver jewelry
- Silver-plated serving dishes, picture frames, or other sentimental decor
- A trip to a tropical paradise!
30th Anniversary: The Pearl Anniversary
Thirty years of marriage deserves an elegant pearl anniversary. Pearls represent how your love has only become more lustrous and valuable over time.
Like grains of sand transformed into iridescent gems, simple moments in your relationship continue accumulating into a treasure. Pearls also convey wisdom, calm, and faithfulness.
Popular 30th-anniversary gifts:
- Pearl jewelry like necklaces, rings, bracelets
- Mother-of-pearl accessories and decorative objects
- Luxurious trips, like a cruise or beach vacation
40th Anniversary: The Ruby Anniversary
The ruby anniversary honors four decades of steadfast commitment. The ruby’s crimson brilliance symbolizes how your passion is still going strong.
This precious stone also represents integrity and harmony. Through ups and downs, you’ve kept your loyalty and nurtured an unshakable bond.
Popular 40th-anniversary gifts:
- Ruby jewelry, especially rings
- Wine, roses, or any reddish gifts
- Romantic trips or experiences
50th Anniversary: The Golden Anniversary
You’ve hit the gold—the golden anniversary, that is! Five decades of marriage calls for a grand celebration befitting of gold’s prestige.
The purity and elegance of the metal honors your relationship’s shining integrity. Gold doesn’t corrode, just as your bond withstands the test of time.
Popular 50th-anniversary gifts:
- Gold jewelry – rings, necklaces, cufflinks
- Golden décor for the home – vases, candles, picture frames
- A luxury trip, cruise, or vacation package
Beyond 50: Milestone Anniversaries
While the first 50 years have traditional names and symbolic materials, the party doesn’t stop there! Every five years after 50 is considered a major milestone.
The 55th anniversary is represented by Emerald. This stone conveys compassion, prosperity, and eternal renewal. At this stage, you likely appreciate each other and life itself more than ever before.
Next up is the 60th platinum and diamond anniversary. Rarity, brilliance, and intrigue are embodied in these gems reserved for six decades of partnership.
The oak anniversary marks the 80th year. Mighty oak trees represent strength, longevity, and wisdom—fitting for this epic journey you’ve shared.
While fewer couples reach these advanced milestones nowadays, cherish each year you have together. Take inspiration from these symbolic materials and most of all—enjoy your love journey!
Celebrating Your Anniversary
Whatever year you’re commemorating, incorporate touches that reflect the symbolic association. Seek out traditional color schemes, materials, flowers, and gemstones linked to the anniversary. Share memories from your years together and express what your relationship means to you now.
Most importantly, the day should honor your unique story while looking ahead to the bright future you will continue building, side by side.
Here’s to many more anniversaries and creating new traditions that keep your love alive year after year! Cheers to growing old with your partner in life!
