Wedding anniversaries – especially round anniversaries, often referred to as ‘mating’ – are the perfect time to celebrate your love and the subsequent years of living together. What are the various anniversaries called and how are they celebrated? What might a wedding anniversary cake look like? Check out what you should know about this topic.
Where did the names of the different wedding anniversaries come from?
Although it’s hard to remember all the names, surely most of us can associate at least a few names of individual wedding anniversaries. The most recognisable is, of course, the imposing golden ‘fiftieth’, as well as the ceremony that takes place 25 years earlier, the Silver Wedding. But where did this nomenclature come from? Although the anniversaries themselves have been celebrated before, the current naming arrangement was only created 100 years ago. Emily Post, an American writer best known for her books and articles on manners and etiquette, was responsible for its creation. Initially, the author prepared names for the eight most important anniversaries:
- the first – paper,
- the fifth – wooden,
- the tenth – tin,
- the fifteenth – crystal,
- twenty-first – porcelain,
- twenty-fifth – silver,
- fifty-fifth – gold,
- seventy-five – diamond,
In doing so, it is worth noting a correlation – further anniversaries are associated with increasingly durable materials that symbolise the permanence of marriage. Interestingly, Emily Post herself was married for only 13 years – meaning that she and her husband made it to the anniversary now referred to as ‘lace’.
Where did the other names come from? They were largely developed by American jewellers before the Second World War, who were looking for a way to boost gemstone sales. This gave rise to a whole set of anniversary names – separate names apply to each of the first fifteen and then subsequent celebrations every five years until the 80th anniversary, called the oak due to the longevity of the tree. However, it is still the original set of eight major anniversaries that is best known, particularly the silver and golden anniversaries.
“Thank you” printed bags are perfect for a small anniversary gift for a spouse
Medal for Long Marriage – a special award straight from the President of Poland
When discussing the topic of anniversaries, it is important to mention the medals awarded by the government itself. This is a custom practised in many countries – in Poland, the president is responsible for presenting awards to married couples. This is a civilian decoration whose design resembles military medals. It is therefore quite an interesting, unique and elegant gift for a wedding anniversary. The award has been presented since 1960 – since then, more than a million marriages in Poland have received it!
Current traditions go back deep into the past
It is worth mentioning that the individual anniversary themes prepared by Emily Post did not come from nowhere either. Silver and golden birthdays have long been an important part of celebrating a life together – their history goes all the way back to ancient Rome. Historians report that husbands crowned their wives with a silver wreath on their 25th wedding anniversary and a gold wreath on their 50th anniversary.
What do successive wedding anniversaries symbolise?
We already know what motifs accompany each anniversary. Now is a good time to consider what else characterises each of them – making it much easier to choose an elegant wedding anniversary gift. Here are the highlights associated with some key anniversaries, starting with the paper mating and ending with the round 50th.
First anniversary – paper
This is the day when memories of the wedding and reception are still very fresh. The first year of building a life together or continuing a relationship in a new form is certainly very exciting – but it is only the beginning! The paper here refers to the blank page that will be written down with memories and experiences in the years to come. At the same time, it is worth pointing out that, despite the fragility of paper, it is also quite a long-lived material – the oldest paper documents that are still legible date back to the 12th century.
How to choose an elegant paper wedding anniversary gift? Gifts that relate to the beginning of their life together will certainly work well. An album with photos and space for more photos, a map (paper, of course!) with places to visit, or perhaps bags to collect small gifts? The choice is entirely up to you – but it should certainly be something that symbolises the start of your life together.
Jewellery or other trinket gift-wrapped into a gold satin pouch
Fifth anniversary, or wooden
Five years is a time when you can build an extremely solid base for the rest of your life together, and perhaps move into a new home. That’s what wood alludes to – it’s a symbol of warmth, durability and also the knowledge you’ve gained about each other over the first years of marriage. What gift will work best? There is no shortage of gifts made of wood in the shops – the choice is really great. To emphasise the symbolic meaning of this anniversary, you can also plant a tree that you will look back on during your years together.
Tenth anniversary – tin or aluminium
These are materials that are not always associated with high durability or strength – however, they are distinguished by their easy formability and versatility. For this reason, they have been chosen to symbolise the tenth anniversary – they refer to the shaping of a life together, which after ten years probably already looks very different from before the marriage. However, these are not materials that perform particularly well when it comes to making gifts. Jewellers recommend tourmalines – these are beautiful minerals with exceptional colours that will work perfectly as an elegant gift for a wedding anniversary. In Poland, the traditional gift for this anniversary is a bouquet of daffodils.
Fifteenth crystal anniversary
Fifteen years is already quite an impressive length of service, which is worth celebrating in unique style. Crystal is a symbol of purity, beauty and kindness. A classic gift for this anniversary are elegant decanters, glasses or wine glasses. You can use them immediately to celebrate with your favourite drinks, for example.
20th anniversary, or porcelain anniversary
Porcelain is a noble, timeless material that has been used since antiquity. Amongst other things, this material is used to produce numerous dishes – including cups, mugs or various sets, which would be a good choice as an elegant wedding anniversary gift. If your other half loves flowers, you can opt for a porcelain vase.
Silver wedding anniversary, or 25th anniversary
This is one of the two anniversaries whose tradition goes all the way back to ancient times. No wonder – after 25 years, nothing will probably ever separate you again, and you could probably write several thick books with your shared memories. Even after a quarter of a century of marriage, it is still worth taking care to nurture your love, which can be sealed, for example, by choosing a unique gift or an interesting way to celebrate this anniversary. As a reference to the silver theme, jewellery made from this material will be perfect. If you want to opt for a more practical gift, you could buy, for example, an elegant cutlery set or various home accessories.
A great idea for your 25th anniversary is also to go on a trip together – especially if your earlier years together were full of work and stress, and now you finally have time to breathe. Many couples also choose this moment to renew their marriage vows, which may involve giving each other new rings or adding an engraving to the previous ones.
Gold pouches perfect for golden wedding gifts
Golden Wedding – fiftieth wedding anniversary
For a 50th wedding anniversary, the main theme is of course gold. That’s as many as 600 months together! This period will be extremely difficult to sum up with one gift, but traditional proposals made of gold will certainly work well. As with silver anniversaries, it can also be an occasion to travel together and renew vows again. At this point, no one knows the other person as well as the husband or wife – so choosing the right gift should not pose the slightest problem.
Wedding anniversary cake – which one to choose?
A must-have for any marriage anniversary celebration is a cake – especially if the celebration also involves a larger party for friends and family. What to choose? Among other things, the size will be important – it should be adapted to the number of people who will be attending the party. If a dozen or more guests are to be present at the party, a cake with a diameter of at least 30 cm is a suitable choice. Its style can be kept in a typical wedding convention – so the dominant colour will be white, which can be accompanied by floral decorations and accents.
It will also be an interesting idea to look back into a photo album from your special day. This will give you the opportunity to reminisce about the moment of your wedding together and also to refer back to it when celebrating your anniversary. Perhaps you can prepare a cake that looks exactly like the one served at the wedding? This is an interesting solution that will immediately bring back to you all the feelings and memories of the wedding.
What for a wedding anniversary? The best gift ideas
The wedding anniversary is an important moment in life that is definitely worth celebrating. Each subsequent year cements the bond. However, it’s important to remember that the gift for a wedding anniversary after several years of marriage should look different than a gift for a golden wedding anniversary. The round anniversary requires appropriate setting. Much depends on how the spouses plan to celebrate the occasion. If a large event resembling a real wedding is in the plans, the gift should be somewhat larger. However, if the celebration is to have an intimate character, the family may consider pooling funds for one exceptional gift.
A universal gift, regardless of the wedding anniversary, would be a frame with a family photo. You can choose an elegant frame made of silver, for example. After many years of shared life, moments spent together become increasingly appreciated. If you’re approaching your 25th wedding anniversary, the gift can take the form of a shared experience. A spa getaway combined with a relaxing couple’s massage is an interesting idea. In such conditions, you’ll be able to truly relax and celebrate the important moment. A shared experience can also be a bit more adventurous. If you’ve always dreamed of skydiving or a hot air balloon ride, use this idea for an anniversary gift and ask your loved ones for a voucher or present it to yourselves. These moments will stay with you for a lifetime and will always bring a smile to your face.
Idea for a gift for golden wedding anniversary – how to celebrate 50 years of shared life?
Golden wedding anniversary, which marks 50 years of marriage, is a good time to organize a celebration for loved ones, with the main theme being the color gold. Half a century of shared life is evidence of endurance, loyalty, and true love. The celebration is a great opportunity to reminisce about all the important and touching moments that have occurred during these years. Individuals contemplating what to give for the wedding anniversary may consider preparing a special film featuring photos of the spouses from their youth. Such a journey through time is sure to evoke emotions and prove to be one of the most beautiful gifts.
A fascinating idea for jubilants would also be a marital or family photo session. The shared photos will become an excellent memento for the coming years and a lasting representation of the bonds between you. It’s worthwhile to frame the photographs and hang them on the walls at home, creating an even more intimate space.
If the spouses are planning a celebration, they should consider small gifts for their close ones. Thank-you gifts for guests on the 50th wedding anniversary can take various forms. Some people prepare personalized presents or cards. In addition, sweet gifts or specialties for which the husband and wife are known can be suitable. If you don’t want to invest in such accessories, simple verbal thanks to the guests, coupled with a toast, will be entirely sufficient. During the celebration in honor of the golden anniversary, a festive table decoration will also be useful. In addition to flowers, consider candles in gold color, elegant tablecloths, and napkins.
What should you wrap an elegant gift for your wedding anniversary?
Depending on what kind of gift you want to bet on, completely different ways of wrapping it can work. Do you want to give a gift in an unusual shape or maybe just opt for something unique? Check out our range of gift bags – a versatile, convenient and stylish solution that’s sure to impress your other half! It’s also a great choice for guests invited to an anniversary party who want to gift those celebrating their anniversary.
You will find a variety of beautiful pouches in our range. The individual products differ, among other colours. For example, you can buy pouches with colours relating to the individual anniversaries, including, of course, silver and gold. Feel free to browse through our range – we are sure you will find something to your liking.
