What is a Wedding Anniversary?
A wedding anniversary is the anniversary of the date a wedding took place.
On a wedding anniversary in many countries it is traditional to give a gift to your partner (or couples) that symbolize the number of years of marriage.
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.
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).
U.S. and U.K. Traditional and Modern Wedding Anniversary Gifts List:
| Year | U.S. Traditional Wedding Anniversaries | U.K. Traditional | U.S. Modern | Flower Type |
| 1st | Paper | Paper | Clock | Carnation |
| 2nd | Cotton | Cotton | China | Lily of the valley |
| 3rd | Leather | Leather | Crystal, glass | Sunflower |
| 4th | Linen, silk | Fruit and flowers | Appliances (electrical) | Hydrangea |
| 5th | Wood | Wood | Silverware | Daisy |
| 6th | Iron | Sugar | Wood objects | Calla |
| 7th | Wool, copper | Woolen | Desk sets/pen and pencil sets | Freesia |
| 8th | Bronze | Bronze | Linens, lace | Lilac |
| 9th | Pottery | Pottery | Leather goods | Bird of paradise |
| 10th | Tin, Aluminum | Tin | Diamond jewelry | Daffodil |
| 11th | Steel | – | Fashion jewelry, accessories | Tulip |
| 12th | Silk | Silk and fine linen | Pearls, colored gems | Peony |
| 13th | Lace | – | Textiles, furs | Chrysanthemum |
| 14th | Ivory | – | Gold jewelry | Dahlia |
| 15th | Crystal | Crystal | Watches | Rose |
| 16th | – | – | Silver Holloware | – |
| 17th | – | – | Furniture | – |
| 18th | – | – | Porcelain | – |
| 19th | – | – | Bronze | – |
| 20th | China | China | Platinum | Aster |
| 21st | – | – | Nickel | – |
| 22nd | – | – | Copper | – |
| 23rd | – | – | Silver plate | – |
| 24th | Opal | – | Musical instruments | – |
| 25th | Silver | Silver | Silver | Iris |
| 28th | – | – | – | Orchid |
| 30th | Pearl | Pearl | Diamond | Lily |
| 35th | Coral, jade | Coral | Jade | – |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby | Ruby | Gladiolus |
| 45th | Sapphire | – | Sapphire | – |
| 50th | Gold | Gold | Gold | Yellow roses, violets |
| 55th | Emerald | – | Emerald | – |
| 60th | Diamond (yellow) | Diamond | Diamond | – |
| 65th | – | Blue sapphire | – | – |
| 70th | – | Platinum | – | – |
| 75th | Diamond, gold | – | Diamond, gold | – |
| 80th | – | Oak | Diamond, pearl | – |
| 85th | – | Wine | Wife’s birthstone | – |
| 90th | – | Stone | – | – |
NOTE: 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. 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.