Anniversary gifts
In the UK the traditional anniversary themes are paper for the 1st, cotton for the 2nd, leather for the 3rd, wood for the 5th, tin for the 10th, silver for the 25th, ruby for the 40th, gold for the 50th, and diamond for the 60th. Modern themes, like clocks for the 1st, mostly follow the American list. Pick your year for themes, flowers and gift ideas.
Traditional themes follow Debrett’s British list first. Modern themes come from UK wedding sites that follow the American list. Where sources disagree, the year’s notes say so.
| Year | Traditional | Modern |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | Clocks |
| 2nd | Cotton | China |
| 3rd | Leather | Crystal or glass |
| 4th | Fruit and flowers | Appliances |
| 5th | Wood | Silverware |
| 6th | Sugar | Iron or wood |
| 7th | Wool or copper | Desk set |
| 8th | Bronze or pottery | Linen and lace |
| 9th | Willow or pottery | Leather |
| 10th | Tin | Diamond jewellery |
| 11th | Steel | Fashion jewellery |
| 12th | Silk and linen | Pearls |
| 13th | Lace | Textiles or fur |
| 14th | Ivory | Gold jewellery |
| 15th | Crystal | Watches |
| 16th | Wax | Silver hollowware |
| 17th | None | Furniture or watches |
| 18th | None | Porcelain or appliances |
| 19th | None | Bronze or jewellery |
| 20th | China | Platinum |
| 21st | None | Brass or nickel |
| 22nd | None | Copper |
| 23rd | None | Silver plate |
| 24th | None | Musical instruments |
| 25th | Silver | Silver |
| 26th | None | Original artwork |
| 27th | None | Sculpture |
| 28th | None | Orchids |
| 29th | None | Furniture |
| 30th | Pearl | Diamond |
| 31st | None | None |
| 32nd | None | None |
| 33rd | None | None |
| 34th | None | None |
| 35th | Coral | Jade |
| 36th | None | None |
| 37th | None | None |
| 38th | None | None |
| 39th | None | None |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby |
| 41st | None | None |
| 42nd | None | None |
| 43rd | None | None |
| 44th | None | None |
| 45th | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| 46th | None | None |
| 47th | None | None |
| 48th | None | None |
| 49th | None | None |
| 50th | Gold | Gold |
| 51st | None | None |
| 52nd | None | None |
| 53rd | None | None |
| 54th | None | None |
| 55th | Emerald | Emerald |
| 56th | None | None |
| 57th | None | None |
| 58th | None | None |
| 59th | None | None |
| 60th | Diamond | Diamond |
| 65th | Blue sapphire | Sapphire |
| 70th | Platinum | Platinum |
| 75th | Diamond | Diamond |
Gift angles are our own suggestions, not part of any official list.
Where lists differ: Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia) gives ‘cotton or paper’ for the 1st; Debrett’s, Magpie Wedding and Historic Newspapers give paper.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Pears gives ‘paper or cotton’ for the 2nd. Flower lists differ: Wikipedia (citing 1-800-Flowers and Harper’s Bazaar UK) gives cosmos; Magpie Wedding gives lily of the valley.
Gift angles
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Pears Cyclopaedia gives linen and silk instead of fruit and flowers. Magpie Wedding’s modern list adds linen. Flower lists differ: Wikipedia gives geranium; Magpie Wedding gives hydrangea.
Gift angles
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Debrett’s, Pears and Magpie Wedding give sugar; Historic Newspapers gives ‘iron or candy’ (the US list). Modern theme differs: Magpie Wedding says iron, Historic Newspapers says wood. Calla lily appears only on Magpie Wedding’s list.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Freesia appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Debrett’s gives bronze or pottery; Pears Cyclopaedia gives bronze and salt; Magpie Wedding gives salt. Lilac appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Where lists differ: Debrett’s and Magpie Wedding give willow and pottery; Pears Cyclopaedia gives copper. Bird of paradise appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Where lists differ: Magpie Wedding gives aluminium; Historic Newspapers gives tin or aluminium; Debrett’s and Pears give tin.
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Where lists differ: No 11th entry in Pears Cyclopaedia. Magpie Wedding’s modern theme is ‘jewellery’. Tulip appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Where lists differ: Debrett’s gives ‘silk, linen’; Pears gives ‘silk and fine linen’. Peony appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Where lists differ: No 13th entry in Pears Cyclopaedia. Chrysanthemum appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Where lists differ: Not in Pears Cyclopaedia. Historic Newspapers notes the theme is now marked with ivory-coloured or symbolic gifts, never real ivory. Dahlia appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Gift angles
Where lists differ: Wax is not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia; Magpie Wedding and Historic Newspapers both list it.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 17th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 16th (wax), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No traditional theme in Debrett’s, Pears or Magpie Wedding (Historic Newspapers lists furniture as traditional). Modern theme differs: Magpie Wedding says furniture, Historic Newspapers says watches.
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No traditional theme for the 18th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 20th (china), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No traditional theme in Debrett’s, Pears or Magpie Wedding (Historic Newspapers lists porcelain as traditional). Modern theme differs: Magpie Wedding says porcelain, Historic Newspapers says appliances.
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No traditional theme for the 19th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 20th (china), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No traditional theme in Debrett’s, Pears or Magpie Wedding (Historic Newspapers lists bronze as traditional). Modern theme differs: Magpie Wedding says bronze, Historic Newspapers says jewellery.
Gift angles
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 21st in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 20th (china), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: brass or nickel; modern: brass); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention. Magpie Wedding lists brass or nickel as the modern theme.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 22nd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 20th (china), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: copper; modern: copper); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention. Magpie Wedding lists copper as the modern theme.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 23rd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 25th (silver), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: silver plate; modern: silver plate); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention. Magpie Wedding lists silver plate as the modern theme.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 24th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 25th (silver), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: opal; modern: musical instruments); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention. Magpie Wedding lists musical instruments as the modern theme.
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Where lists differ: Silver is the theme in every list we checked.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 26th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 25th (silver), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: pictures; modern: original artwork); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 27th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 25th (silver), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: sculpture; modern: sculpture); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 28th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 30th (pearl), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: orchids; modern: orchids); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention. Orchid is on Magpie Wedding’s flower list for the 28th.
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No traditional theme for the 29th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 30th (pearl), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: Only Historic Newspapers lists a theme for this year (traditional: furniture; modern: furniture); not in Debrett’s or Pears Cyclopaedia, so treat as a retailer convention.
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Where lists differ: Magpie Wedding gives ‘pearl and ivory’; other lists give pearl.
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No traditional theme for the 31st in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 30th (pearl), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
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No traditional theme for the 32nd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 30th (pearl), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 33rd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 35th (coral), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 34th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 35th (coral), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Coral is the traditional theme in Debrett’s, Pears and Magpie Wedding.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 36th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 35th (coral), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 37th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 35th (coral), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 38th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 40th (ruby), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 39th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 40th (ruby), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
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Where lists differ: Ruby is the theme in every list we checked.
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No traditional theme for the 41st in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 40th (ruby), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
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No traditional theme for the 42nd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 40th (ruby), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 43rd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 45th (sapphire), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 44th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 45th (sapphire), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Sapphire is the theme in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding and Historic Newspapers.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 46th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 45th (sapphire), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 47th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 45th (sapphire), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 48th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 50th (gold), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 49th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 50th (gold), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Gold is the theme in every list we checked.
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No traditional theme for the 51st in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 50th (gold), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 52nd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 50th (gold), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 53rd in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 55th (emerald), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 54th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 55th (emerald), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
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Where lists differ: Emerald is the theme in every list we checked that covers the 55th.
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No traditional theme for the 56th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 55th (emerald), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 57th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 55th (emerald), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 58th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 60th (diamond), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
No traditional theme for the 59th in the British lists we checked. The nearest milestone with one is the 60th (diamond), or simply pick something from the ideas below.
Where lists differ: No theme for this year in Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia), Magpie Wedding or Historic Newspapers lists.
Gift angles
Where lists differ: Diamond is the theme in every list we checked. Poppy appears only on Magpie Wedding’s flower list.
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Where lists differ: Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia) gives blue sapphire; Magpie Wedding gives sapphire; Debrett’s has no 65th entry.
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Where lists differ: Platinum is given by Debrett’s, Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia) and Magpie Wedding.
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Where lists differ: Debrett’s gives no 75th entry; Pears Cyclopaedia (via Wikipedia) gives ‘diamond, gold’; Magpie Wedding gives diamond.
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A spread of prices, for years with no theme or when the theme isn’t quite them.
A metal or wooden sign for the shed door with their name on it.
Makes it official that the shed is theirs, which is the point.
Not for: Anyone without a shed, or who shares it reluctantly.
See options on Amazon for Personalised shed sign, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A minimalist poster of an F1 track layout with corner names.
Silverstone on the wall is cheaper than a ticket, and looks smart in a home office.
Not for: Anyone who will want it framed: budget for a frame too.
See options on Amazon for F1 circuit map print, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A small book of prompts you fill in about the recipient, then give.
Costs almost nothing and takes an evening to fill in; the sort of present that gets kept for years.
Not for: Anyone who will be awkward about receiving it in front of the family.
See it on Amazon for ‘What I love about you’ fill-in book, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A print showing the stars over a chosen place on a chosen date.
Choose the night they met, married or became parents, and it becomes a print with a story.
Not for: Anyone with no wall space or who dislikes sentimental art.
See it on Amazon for Personalised star map print, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A wooden board engraved with a family name, date or kitchen joke.
A wedding, housewarming or anniversary present that lives in the kitchen and gets used.
Not for: Anyone who prefers a dishwasher-safe plastic board.
See options on Amazon for Engraved chopping board, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A lightweight parachute-nylon hammock that packs into its own pouch.
Ten minutes between two trees and they have the best seat at the campsite or the bottom of the garden.
Not for: Anyone without trees, or with a bad back.
See options on Amazon for Camping hammock with tree straps, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A gift voucher for afternoon tea for two at a choice of hotels or tea rooms.
A day out with scones and sandwiches, and it gets the two of you in the same room.
Not for: Anyone a long way from the participating venues: check the list first.
See options on Amazon for Afternoon tea for two voucher, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A voucher for a spa day with pool access and a treatment at a choice of venues.
Something to look forward to in the grey bit of January.
Not for: Anyone who would hate being in a robe with strangers.
See options on Amazon for Spa day for two voucher, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
A soft throw with a low-wattage heater and an auto-off timer.
Warms one person on the sofa without heating the whole house, which feels sensible as well as cosy.
Not for: Anyone with a pacemaker or who should avoid electric blankets on medical advice.
See it on Amazon for Electric heated throw, paid link, opens in a new tab Ad
Paper is the traditional British theme for a first wedding anniversary. The modern alternative is clocks.
Traditional themes come from long-standing British lists such as Debrett’s. Modern themes were added later, mostly following the American convention, and there’s no British authority behind them.
No. After the 30th, most British lists only name the milestones: coral or jade for the 35th, ruby for the 40th, sapphire for the 45th, gold for the 50th, emerald for the 55th and diamond for the 60th.
Not at all. A theme is a nice nudge when you’re stuck, but a present that suits the two of you always beats a strict match.
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