Milestone Wedding Anniversary Cards: Silver, Ruby, Golden and More
Every wedding anniversary has a traditional name attached to it, but most people only really know three: Silver, Ruby, and Golden. The full list goes much further, and knowing the right name for the year makes choosing a card - or simply writing the message inside one - feel a little more considered.
Here's the complete list, and what's worth knowing about the milestones people search for most.
The Traditional Anniversary Names
| Year | Traditional Name |
|---|---|
| 1st | Paper |
| 5th | Wood |
| 10th | Tin |
| 15th | Crystal |
| 20th | China |
| 25th | Silver |
| 30th | Pearl |
| 35th | Coral |
| 40th | Ruby |
| 45th | Sapphire |
| 50th | Golden |
| 55th | Emerald |
| 60th | Diamond |
| 70th | Platinum |
The three in bold - Silver, Ruby and Golden - are by far the most widely celebrated, and the ones most people search for by name rather than by year.
Silver Wedding Anniversary (25 Years)
A quarter of a century together is a genuine milestone, and Silver anniversary messages tend to lean into the sense of achievement as much as the sentiment.
- "25 years, and still going strong. Happy Silver Anniversary to you both."
- "A quarter of a century of marriage is no small thing. Wishing you a wonderful Silver Anniversary."
- "Here's to 25 years of partnership, and many more to come."
Ruby Wedding Anniversary (40 Years)
Forty years carries real weight, and the messages that suit it best tend to be a little more reflective.
- "40 years of marriage, built on something rarer than rubies. Happy Ruby Anniversary."
- "Wishing you both a wonderful Ruby Anniversary - 40 years of love that's only grown richer with time."
- "Here's to four decades together, and the deep, rare kind of love that lasts this long."
Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 Years)
Fifty years is the milestone most people recognise instantly, and it's often celebrated with genuine ceremony - a party, a renewal of vows, or a gathering of family spanning generations.
- "50 years of marriage - a truly golden achievement. Happy Golden Anniversary."
- "Half a century together. What an extraordinary thing to celebrate."
- "Wishing you both a wonderful Golden Anniversary, surrounded by everyone who loves you."
Choosing a Card for a Milestone Anniversary
A milestone anniversary tends to call for something a little more considered than an everyday card - elegant rather than novelty, blank inside so the message can properly reflect the occasion rather than being upstaged by pre-printed text.
Our anniversary cards are designed with exactly this in mind: foiled, illustrated or typographic, considered enough to suit any milestone from a first year to a fiftieth, and blank inside for a message that matches the occasion.
The Most Important Thing
Whatever the milestone, the name matters less than the message. A short, specific line acknowledging how long a couple has actually been together will always mean more than a generic "happy anniversary" - and now you've got the right name for the year, whatever it happens to be.
Shop our anniversary cards - designed in our North London studio, printed on sustainably sourced card and blank inside. Free UK delivery on card orders over £20.