Wedding Anniversary Names and Gift Ideas by Year

Each wedding anniversary has a traditional name: paper after one year, cotton after two, wood after five, and silver after 25. Here are common anniversary names and ideas for turning them into personal gifts—without buying something just to follow tradition.

How do you find the right anniversary name?

The anniversary name matches the number of full years you’ve been married: the first anniversary is paper, the second is cotton, and the fifth is wood. Count from the wedding date you want to celebrate, then use that same date every year to keep things simple.

Each anniversary marks one more full year since your wedding. Don’t count the years you lived together before getting married, or treat the wedding year as a full first year.

If your courthouse wedding and ceremony took place on different dates, choose your anniversary date together. You don’t have to celebrate both.

These names come from tradition, not one official calendar. Some names vary by country or list, especially for later anniversaries. A different version doesn’t make your celebration any less meaningful.

What are the traditional anniversary names by year?

The table below offers traditional names as a guide, not as an official or universal wedding-anniversary calendar. The materials associated with each year can vary between lists. Before choosing a permanent engraving, check which name the couple wants to use for their anniversary.

Year	Anniversary	Year	Anniversary
1	Paper	41	Land
2	Cotton	42	Improved real estate
3	Leather	43	Travel
4	Fruit or flowers	44	Groceries
5	Wood	45	Sapphire
6	Candy or iron	46	Original poetry
7	Wool or copper	47	Books
8	Pottery or bronze	48	Optical goods
9	Pottery or willow	49	Luxury
10	Tin or aluminum	50	Gold
11	Steel	51	Camellia
12	Silk or linen	52	Tourmaline
13	Lace	53	Cherry wood
14	Ivory	54	Sable
15	Crystal	55	Orchid
16	Silver hollowware	56	Lapis lazuli
17	Furniture	57	Azalea
18	Porcelain	58	Maple
19	Bronze	59	Mink
20	China	60	Diamond
21	Brass or nickel	61	Plane tree
22	Copper	62	Ivory
23	Silver plate	63	Lilac
24	Musical instruments	64	Astrakhan
25	Silver	65	Blue sapphire
26	Pictures	66	Jasmine
27	Sculpture	67	Chinchilla
28	Orchids	68	Granite
29	New furniture	69	Larch
30	Pearl	70	Platinum
31	Timepieces	71	Ochre
32	Conveyances	72	Titanium
33	Amethyst	73	Cast iron
34	Opal	74	Sienna
35	Coral	75	Diamond or alabaster
36	Bone china	76	Zinc
37	Alabaster	77	Silica
38	Beryl or tourmaline	78	Ebony
39	Lace	79	Bamboo
40	Ruby	80	Oak

For anniversaries beyond the table, check your family’s tradition before engraving a keepsake rather than settling on a name without confirmation.

A few terms may need explaining: astrakhan is a type of lamb’s wool, and hollowware means hollow metal pieces such as bowls or serving dishes. Some anniversary names refer to ideas or categories rather than a material you need to buy.

What gift goes with an anniversary name?

A gift can reflect the material, its color, or an idea it brings to mind. It doesn’t have to be made from that material. Start with something your partner would use or enjoy doing, then work in the anniversary theme through your choice, the wrapping, or the note you include.

Anniversary	Gift idea	Experience instead of an object
1 year, paper	A framed note or a favorite book	A handwritten letter and a picnic
2 years, cotton	A cozy throw or bedding you choose together	A picnic on a cotton blanket
3 years, leather	A card holder, if they like leather	A workshop to repair a favorite accessory
4 years, fruit or flowers	A bouquet or a basket of fruit	Visit a local farmers market together
5 years, wood	A frame with a photo from your wedding	A woodworking class
10 years, tin or aluminum	A small vintage piece to identify together	Visit a craft studio
15 years, crystal	A vase you pick out together	Visit a glassblowing studio
20 years, china	Two mugs you both genuinely like	A pottery-painting class
25 years, silver	Jewelry, if it suits their style	A photo session with silver-toned details
50 years, gold	A keepsake with gold-colored details	A meal with family and friends
60 years, diamond	Something with a faceted design	An evening looking through photos of your life together

For a paper anniversary, consider a handwritten letter or a memory journal. For a wool anniversary, a scarf works only if they like wearing one: the theme doesn’t matter more than their tastes.

Don’t take every anniversary name literally. Mercury and lead aren’t safe gift materials to handle. For ivory, coral, or fur, choose a color, illustration, or experience instead of an animal-derived material.

A card can explain the connection:

Five years married, a wood anniversary, and still so much to build together. I picked this frame for our favorite photo—not necessarily the most sensible one.

How much should you spend, and how do you plan the gift?

For a gift between partners, you might set aside about $15 to $50, but there’s no required budget. These are just guideposts for planning, not the result of a survey. Agree on a limit first so neither of you feels pressured to spend more than expected.

A letter, a meal made at home, or a walk where you first met can make the day feel special. A trip, on the other hand, is worth discussing in advance so you can agree on the budget, dates, and what you both want.

If you’re ordering a personalized item, check the estimated turnaround time before placing your order. Double-check names, dates, and the spelling of the anniversary name. For an activity, review the expiration date, booking requirements, and cancellation policy.

If friends or family are chipping in, ask the couple whether they’d prefer a surprise or a few suggestions. Seizenn, a free gift-list service, can help with wedding anniversaries and anniversary gifts: add gifts from different stores and share a single link. Guests can view the list and reserve gifts without an account to help prevent duplicates.

You can create a wedding gift list with a few ideas at different price points. Include helpful details, such as color or size, so guests don’t have to guess.

To agree on a budget without giving away the surprise:

Should we set a small limit this year and still keep the gifts a surprise? More than anything, I’d love for us to plan some time together.

The takeaway

To celebrate a wedding anniversary, start by counting the full years you’ve been married, then treat the anniversary name as inspiration—not a shopping requirement. The best gift is one that fits your story, your tastes, and a budget you’re both comfortable with.

• Find the right milestone: paper at one year, wood at five, silver at 25.
• Choose something useful: a gift they’ll enjoy is better than a themed item they won’t use.
• Play with the theme: a color, an outing, or a few thoughtful words may be enough.
• Plan for the details: engraving, shipping, reservations, and availability.
• Save a memory: a photo and a few lines each year can become a keepsake you share.