There are the traditional and modern materials related to each wedding anniversary, usually progressing from the weakest to the strongest as the years go by, to symbolise the strengthening of the relationship. You can see the full lists below. If you want to find a full explanation of why each material has been chosen for each year and their meanings you can do by visiting our articles page.

Before the 1930’s not all wedding Anniversaries had a material representing the year. Only the first anniversary and milestone anniversaries such as 5th 10th, 20th, 25th, 50th and 75th had a gift suggestion. Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home by Emily Post, published in 1922, contained suggestions for these milestones. Over the years more materials have been added and the list updated and modernised.

The UK list featured below comes is what is now today considered the list to go by. The traditional and modern U.S. versions below were compiled by librarians at the Chicago Public Library in 2000, and are based on the American National Retail Jeweler Association’s list published in 1937.

A lot of research has gone into creating these lists to ensure they are correct and you buy the right traditional or modern gift for your wedding anniversary, some websites have slightly different variations of the lists.

Browes the traditional and modern materials below and see what we have to offer by clicking your year

Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts(UK)

1st – Paper
2nd – Cotton
3rd – Leather
4th – Linen
5th – Wooden
6th – Iron
7th – Copper
8th – Bronze
9th – Pottery
10th Wedding Anniversary – Tin

11th – Steel
12th – Silk & Fine Linen
13th – Lace

14th – Ivory

15th – Crystal

20th – China
25th – Silver
30th – Pearl
35th – Coral
40th – Ruby
50th – Gold
60th – Diamond
65th – Blue Sapphire
70th – Platinum
80th – Oak
85th – Wine
90th – Stone

Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts(US)

1st – Paper
2nd – Cotton
3rd – Leather
4th – Linen (Silk)
5th – Wood
6th – Iron
7th – Wool/Copper
8th – Bronze
9th – Pottery (China)
10th – Tin/Aluminum
11th – Steel
12th – Silk
13th – Lace
14th – Ivory
15th – Crystal
20th – China
25th – Silver
30th – Pearl
35th – Coral/Jade
40th – Ruby
45th – Sapphire
50th – Gold
55th – Emerald
60th – Diamond
75th – diamonds, diamond-like stones, gold

Modern Wedding Anniversary Gifts (US)

First – Clocks
Second – China
Third – Crystal/Glass
Fourth – Appliances
Fifth – Silverware
Sixth – Wood Objects
Seventh – Desk sets
Eighth – Linen, Lace
Ninth – Leather Goods
Tenth – Diamond
Eleventh – Fashion jewelry
Twelfth – Pearls, Colored gems
Thirteenth – Textiles
Fourteenth – Gold jewelry
Fifteenth – Watches
Sixteenth – Silver holloware
Seventeenth – Furniture
Eighteenth – Porcelain
Nineteenth – Bronze
Twentieth – Platinum
21st – Brass, Nickel
22nd – Copper
23rd – Silverplate
24th – Musical instruments
Twenty-Fifth – Sterling Silver
26th – Original pictures
27th – Sculpture
28th – Orchids
29th – New furniture
Thirtieth – Diamond
31st – Timepieces
32nd – Conveyances (e.g., automobiles)
33rd – Amethyst
34th – Opal
Thirty-Fifth – Jade
36th – Bone china
37th – Alabaster
38th – Beryl, Tourmaline
39th – Lace
Fortieth – Ruby
41st – Land
42nd – Improved real estate
43rd – Travel
44th – Groceries
Forty-Fifth – Sapphire
46th – Original poetry tribute
47th – Books
48th – Optical goods (e.g., telescope, microscope)
49th – Luxuries, any kind
Fiftieth – Gold
Fifty-fifth – Emerald
Sixtieth – Diamond
80th – Diamond, Pearl
85th – Diamond, Sapphire
90th – Diamond, Emerald
95th – Diamond, Ruby
100th – 10-carat Diamond

Buying a traditional gift for your wedding anniversary is very important, each anniversary material has its own unique meaning which represents the stage you are in your marriage, the meaning may related to you personally and provide a really great thoughtful touch to the very important task of buying gifts for your wedding anniversary.

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