Whether it’s the imperfect beauty of a pearl, the durability of leather or the fragility of porcelain, we love the idea of marking our moments with stories and traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Join us as we explore some of the meanings, colours and materials behind wedding anniversaries, and share some of our favourite gift ideas for marking each year.
1st Wedding Anniversary: Paper
As simple as it is meaningful, paper is intended to signal the blank page, as you are just at the start of your married life journey together.
For this very special first anniversary, still in the glow of the excitement of exchanging wedding vows, we love the idea of adding to a sparking new bridal stack, perhaps with a Follow Your Dreams diamond ring or celebrating that sense of hope and optimism with a Hope & Magic grey diamond necklace.
Here are some of our favourite paper-themed gift ideas:
- Tickets to a fun joint experience, like a gig or a cooking course
- Did you have beautiful wedding stationery? You could frame the invite or the table plan, as a thoughtful memento of the day
- If you haven’t gotten around to printing any of your wedding photos or doing up a wedding album, now is the perfect opportunity
2nd Year Wedding Anniversary: Cotton
Strong, versatile and adaptable, cotton is the traditional material associated with two years of marriage.
The gemstone for this anniversary is garnet, like the fierce, fiery stone in the garnet Hero ring. A symbol of energy, strength and passion, Chupi made the Hero ring as a reminder of our strength.
Here are some of our favourite cotton-themed gift ideas:
- Beautiful bedding is always a winner (we love Irish brand Amurelle)
- A super comfy, super fluffy cotton robe would make a sweet gift
- A cool throw or cute cushion
3rd Year Wedding Anniversary: Leather
Another durable but versatile material, leather is said to stand for resilience, warmth and flexibility.
Pearl is the gemstone for three years of marriage, so now would be the perfect time to add a timeless piece of pearl jewellery, like a pair of Teardrop pearl earrings, to your heirloom collection.
Here are some of our favourite leather-themed gift ideas:
- A classic leather bag, that will only look more gorgeous as it ages
- A beautiful leather-bound notebook
- A leather passport holder – and perhaps a surprise trip away to go with it
4th Year Wedding Anniversary: Fruit, Flowers or Linen
For a four year anniversary, opinions are divided – in the US, it is marked with fruit and flowers, while in the UK it is linen and silk.
Blue and green are traditional colours associated with four years of marriage, so you could opt for a Dreamers of Dreams sapphire teamed with an Evil Eye emerald ring.
Here are some of our favourite four-year anniversary gift ideas:
- A bouquet subscription, for a fresh floral surprise every month
- A linen tablecloth or linen napkins (we adore Stable of Ireland’s pieces)
- A fruit tree, ideally one that is native and will bring bees, birds and butterflies to your garden
5-Year Wedding Anniversary: Wood
Wood represents strength, wisdom and putting down roots together. We couldn’t think of a more fitting gift than a beautiful Edwardian Hawthorn half eternity diamond ring or Just the Two of Us gold hawthorn double circle necklace, cast in solid gold from a beautiful real hawthorn twig found by Chupi in Kildare.
Here are some of our favourite wood-themed gift ideas:
- Find a local craftsperson working with sustainable wood (we love these candleholders by Irish maker Colin Harris)
- Get a photo of the two of you professionally mounted and framed in a solid wood frame
- Sponsor a native woodland tree, or plant one in your garden
10 Year Wedding Anniversary: Tin or Aluminium
Tin or aluminium is a traditional anniversary gift to celebrate ten years of marriage, and it is said to symbolise strength – aluminium doesn’t rust or wear down, it is resilient.
The key colours for this anniversary are silver and blue, so a white gold Love is All blue sapphire and diamond ring would be a beautiful fit.
Here are some of our favourite tin-themed gift ideas:
- A tin mug (perhaps pre-filled with hot chocolate and marshmallows)
- A scented candle in a tin (we like The Bearded Candlemakers)
- A cute tin planter for the garden, filled with some seasonal plants or herbs
15-Year Wedding Anniversary: Crystal
It is said that crystal represents clarity, and how you are seeing each other clearly. A precious, sparkling ring from our lab-grown diamond collection would honour this sentiment beautifully.
Here are some of our favourite crystal-themed gift ideas:
- Some cool whiskey tumblers or a sleek decanter
- Toast to your 15 years with some sparkling crystal champagne glasses
- Bring the good vibes with a piece of rose quartz crystal, the stone of unconditional love
20-Year Wedding Anniversary: Porcelain
Marriages can be strong, but also fragile – it takes care and attention for them to stand the test of time, so porcelain is a fitting theme to celebrate an incredible 20 years together. Nod to this delicate beauty with a 1920s-inspired Luna halo opal and diamond ring.
Emerald green is the traditional colour associated with this anniversary, so you could also mark the milestone with an unforgettable Starlight emerald ring or emerald Lucky Star necklace.
Here are some of our favourite porcelain-themed gift ideas:
- A gorgeous porcelain essential oil diffuser, and some sweet, love-themed oils to go with it (we like sandalwood, ylang-ylang and rose)
- A porcelain mug made by a local craftsperson to bring joy to morning coffees or afternoon cups of tea
- A sweet piece of decorative porcelain, like these two love birds by Irish Design Shop
30-Year Wedding Anniversary: Pearl
A symbol of love and marriage to the Ancient Greeks, each pearl is completely unique, filled with its own imperfections and beauty. A Teardrop pearl necklace would be an elegant way to mark such a significant milestone.
40-Year Wedding Anniversary: Ruby
A symbol of love and passion, rubies were thought represent a flame that never burns out. Celebrate with a stunning Love is All ruby and diamond ring or add to a signature stack with ruby Evil Eye ring.
50-Year Wedding Anniversary: Gold
It’s a momentous milestone, so no wonder a 50th wedding anniversary is marked with gold. Known as ‘the golden anniversary’, we love the idea of honouring in a contemporary way. Each and every one of our pieces is made using 100% recycled solid gold. A North Star signet ring or North Star diamond necklace would be a beautiful tribute to the guiding light that has kept you together all this time.
