Wedding anniversary gifts by year: the UK list, with ideas

By the Great Gifts team · Updated 30 September 2026

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Glasses of champagne being poured at a candlelit table

The traditional themes are a handy starting point — and a little bit of fun. Here’s the UK list, with ideas for each year that go beyond the obvious.

The traditional UK anniversary list

Year	Theme	Gift ideas	Shop
1st	Paper	Love letters for every year to come, framed map of where you met, concert or theatre tickets	Ideas
2nd	Cotton	Good bedding, a picnic blanket, a personalised apron	Ideas
3rd	Leather	Wallet, watch strap, a leather-bound journal of your year	Ideas
4th	Linen / silk	Linen tablecloth for a dinner at home, silk pillowcases	Ideas
5th	Wood	A tree to plant together, carved chopping board, wooden keepsake box	Ideas
6th	Iron / sugar	Cast-iron cookware, a cake from their favourite bakery	Ideas
7th	Wool / copper	A cosy throw, copper mugs, a knitted jumper	Ideas
8th	Bronze / pottery	A pottery class for two, handmade mugs	Ideas
9th	Pottery / willow	Willow picnic hamper, a planted willow in the garden	Ideas
10th	Tin / aluminium	A tin of letters from friends and family, engraved tin keepsake	Ideas
11th	Steel	A good knife, steel jewellery, engraved hip flask	Ideas
12th	Silk / fine linen	Silk scarf or tie, linen shirt	Ideas
13th	Lace	Lace-trimmed keepsake, vintage lace framed	Ideas
14th	Ivory	Ivory-coloured (never real ivory) ceramics or stationery	Ideas
15th	Crystal	Crystal glasses and a bottle to share	Ideas
20th	China	A china tea set, a trip with afternoon tea	Ideas
25th	Silver	Engraved silver jewellery or frame, a silver-anniversary party	Ideas
30th	Pearl	Pearl earrings or cufflinks	Ideas
35th	Coral	A coast trip, coral-coloured flowers	Ideas
40th	Ruby	Ruby jewellery, a red rose bush, ruby port	Ideas
45th	Sapphire	Sapphire jewellery, a night away	Ideas
50th	Gold	Gold jewellery, a family celebration, a photo book of 50 years	Ideas
55th	Emerald	Emerald jewellery, a trip somewhere green	Ideas
60th	Diamond	Diamond jewellery; the couple can also receive a card from the King	Ideas
65th	Blue sapphire	Blue sapphire keepsake, family gathering	Ideas
70th	Platinum	Platinum keepsake, a video of messages from everyone they love	Ideas

Lists vary a little between sources, especially for years 4, 6, 7 and 12 — any of the themes shown is fine to use.

Ideas that suit any anniversary

An anniversary star certificate, “Tom and Kate”, framed on a table between two glasses of red wine

We make this

A star named for the two of you

Name a real star. A heartfelt gift they’ll cherish forever. The Star Naming Co. — our sister company — dedicates a real catalogued star to the name you choose — couples often use both names, like “Emma & James, est. 2016” — with a certificate, a sky chart and a live viewer to find it. It’s symbolic rather than official, and it suits almost any year; for a paper first anniversary the printed certificate is a natural fit.

£9.99 delivered in minutes, or £19.99 as a printed Gift Pack posted free in the UK.

See anniversary stars

Recreate your first date

Same restaurant, same film, same walk — or as close as you can get. It costs little and it’s almost always the one people remember.

A letter for every year

Write one letter for each year you’ve been together: one thing you remember from that year and one thing you love about them now. It works for a 3rd anniversary and it works for a 40th.

An experience to share

A cookery class, a hot-air balloon flight, a night somewhere you’ve always said you’d go. Experiences beat things for most couples — you get the day and then the story.

Red Letter Days · Virgin Experience Days

Parents’ or grandparents’ anniversary?

For a big one — 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th — the best gifts are usually collective: a photo book of their years together with messages from children and grandchildren, a family meal, or a video of messages from friends they’ve lost touch with. For a 60th, 65th or 70th anniversary in the UK you can apply for a congratulatory card from the King; check the official Royal household guidance for how and when to apply.