Wedding anniversary gifts by year: the UK list, with ideas for each
By the Notre Livre editorial team · · 8 min read
Anniversary materials started as a way to give a small, symbolic present each year, getting more precious as the marriage lasts. The British list is close to the American one but not identical, and UK retailers do not always agree on the minor years.
Below is the list most UK sources share, the traditional and modern material for each year, and one gift idea for every milestone.
The UK list, year by year
| Year | Traditional | Modern | Gift idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | Clocks | A book of your first year together, or framed wedding vows |
| 2nd | Cotton | China | Good cotton bedding or a picnic blanket |
| 3rd | Leather | Crystal or glass | A leather-bound journal or weekend bag |
| 4th | Fruit and flowers | Appliances | A fruit tree for the garden |
| 5th | Wood | Silverware | A wooden keepsake box with a letter inside |
| 6th | Sugar or iron | Wood | A cake from your wedding baker, or a cast-iron pan |
| 7th | Wool or copper | Desk sets | A wool throw for the sofa |
| 8th | Salt or bronze | Linen or lace | A weekend at the seaside |
| 9th | Copper or willow | Leather | A willow basket for a summer picnic |
| 10th | Tin | Diamonds | A tin of love letters, one for each year |
| 15th | Crystal | Watches | Crystal glasses and a bottle from your wedding year |
| 20th | China | Platinum | A china tea set, or a trip to a place you always meant to visit |
| 25th | Silver | Silver | Silver jewellery, or the story of your 25 years as a book |
| 30th | Pearl | Diamond | Pearl earrings or cufflinks |
| 35th | Coral | Jade | A trip to the coast |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby | Ruby jewellery or forty red roses |
| 45th | Sapphire | Sapphire | A sapphire pendant |
| 50th | Gold | Gold | A family party and a book of their life together |
| 55th | Emerald | Emerald | An emerald ring or a garden day out |
| 60th | Diamond | Diamond | A diamond keepsake, and the card from the King |
| 65th | Blue sapphire | Blue sapphire | A family portrait with every generation |
| 70th | Platinum | Platinum | Their full story written down for the great-grandchildren |
Where two materials are shown, UK lists disagree: John Lewis gives iron for the 6th and copper for the 7th, while other wedding sites give sugar and wool. Either is fine; what matters is the thought.
How the UK list differs from the US one
Most years match. The differences are in the minor years: the UK tradition often lists sugar for the 6th and salt for the 8th, which you rarely see on American lists, and some British sources swap the order of paper and cotton. The big milestones (silver, ruby, gold, diamond) are the same everywhere.
The milestones that matter most
Few couples mark every year with the right material. The ones that get a real celebration are the 1st (paper), 10th (tin), 25th (silver), 40th (ruby), 50th (gold) and 60th (diamond).
For the big ones, a gift that lasts beats a gift that sparkles. Paper for the 1st and gold for the 50th have something in common: they are the perfect excuse for a book about the marriage itself.
A book of your story, for any year
A personalised anniversary book from Notre Livre is a novel of 120 to 200 pages about your marriage: how you met, the wedding, the homes, the children, the hard years and the good ones. One of you tells the story in a guided conversation, and it is written in the first person with AI assistance. Nothing is invented, and you review every chapter before printing.
It fits the paper anniversary literally, and the silver, ruby and golden weddings in spirit. Prices from £29 digital or £55 as a hardback printed in the UK, VAT and delivery included. See the prices page.
The King's anniversary message
Couples celebrating their 60th (diamond), 65th or 70th (platinum) wedding anniversary, and every anniversary after the 70th, can receive a message of congratulations from the King. According to GOV.UK, you can apply online no earlier than five weeks before the date, or three weeks before by post, and up to six months afterwards.