Anniversary Symbols And Colors By Year

What are the Anniversary Symbols?

The Anniversary symbols and colors have come about from all of the gift lists that have developed over the years, some of the traditional symbols originate as far back as the Middle Ages. 

Every year you are together has a symbol to represent how you have both grown together. You will see from the lists below that as the years go by the Anniversary symbols get more valuable.

From as long as there are records men and women have celebrated love and it's nice to be part of that tradition of finding the best gift to fit with the theme.

Here you will find

Using the symbols as the theme of your gifts makes them even more special.

Anniversary Symbols & Gift Ideas

We have all of the years listed from all of the gift lists; traditional, modern, gemstones and even flowers. Finding the theme that you know they will love will make your Anniversary even more special.

Go straight to your anniversary year to find out the symbols from each of the lists.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 25 29 30

35 40 45 50 55 60 65

When you are planning a party or trying to think of a theme then these Anniversary symbols can really help you come up with the big idea. The great thing is that they will be linked to the year you are celebrating.

All The Anniversary Symbols & Meanings

1st Wedding Anniversary Symbols

1st anniversary symbols
  • Traditional Symbol: Paper gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Clock
  • Color: Yellow
  • Flower: Pansy
  • Gem: Mother of Pearl
  • Meaning: Paper represents the fragility of marriage and how you need to look after it.
  • Shop for 1st Anniversary Gifts in our store

    • 2nd Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    2nd anniversary symbol - cotton
  • Traditional Symbol: Cotton or Straw gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: China
  • Color: Linen White
  • Flower: Cosmos
  • Gem: Garnet
  • Meaning: Cotton represents the wiping of tears and the growing together.
  • Shop for 2nd Anniversary Gifts in store

    • 3rd Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    3rd Anniversary symbol - leather
  • Traditional Symbol: Leather gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Crystal or Glass
  • Color: Light Brown
  • Flower: Fuchsia
  • Gem: Moonstone
  • Meaning: Leather represents how robust you have become, the strength you have and the protection you give to each other.
  • Shop for 3rd Anniversary Gifts

    • 4th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    4th anniversary symbol - flowers
  • Traditional Symbol: Flowers, Fruits, Books
  • Modern Symbol: Silk or Linen
  • Color: Green
  • Flower: Geranium
  • Gem: Blue Topaz
  • Flowers represent the blossoming of your marriage.
  • Shop 4th Anniversary Gifts in our store

    • 5th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    5th anniversary symbol - wood
  • Traditional Symbol: Wood
  • Modern Symbol: Silverware
  • Color: Turquoise
  • Flower: Daisies
  • Gem: Rose Quartz
  • Meaning: Wood represents your strength as a couple and how over the past five years you have grown the roots that will hold you strong together. 
  • Shop for 5th Anniversary Gifts in store

    • 6th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    6th anniversary symbol - iron
  • Traditional Symbol: Candy or Iron gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Wood - see traditional 5th anniversary gift ideas
  • Color: White
  • Flower: Calla Lilly
  • Gem: Amethyst
  • Meaning: Candy for sweetness and a gentle reminder that fun in your marriage is important too, combined with the strength of iron shows how united you both are.
  • Shop 6th Anniversary Gifts

    • 7th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    7th anniversary symbol - copper
  • Traditional Symbol: Copper gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Desk Set
  • Color: Off-white
  • Flower: Jack-in-the-pulpit
  • Gem: Yellow sapphire or Onyx
  • Meaning: Copper is a mineral full of energy and known for its healing properties it represents how you are looking after each other.
  • Shop 7th Anniversary Gifts in store

    • 8th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    8th anniversary symbol is bronze
  • Traditional Symbol: Pottery or Bronze gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Linen and Lace
  • Color: Bronze
  • Flower: Clematis
  • Gem: Tourmaline
  • Meaning: Bronze is a metal alloy, a mixture of tin and copper and very strong, just like the two of you are strong together. 

    • 9th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    9th anniversary symbol - pottery
  • Traditional Symbol: Willow or Pottery gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Leather
  • Color: Terracotta
  • Flower: Poppy
  • Gem: Lapis Lazul
  • Meaning: Pottery gifts represent how time changes you both and that together you have become something beautiful and useful.

    • 10th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    10th anniversary symbol - tin
  • Traditional Symbol: Aluminum
  • Modern Symbol: Diamond jewelry
  • Color: Silver
  • Flower: Daffodils
  • Gem: Blue Sapphire, Diamond
  • Meaning: Tin is useful, practical and preserves and is something you cannot leave with out. Just like the two of you.
  • Shop 10th Anniversary Gifts

    • The 10th wedding anniversary is usually a milestone in a married couple's life. Ten years is an anniversary worth celebrating. Children might be a part of the equation now. "ME" time for the married couple might be somehow affected by the nitty-gritty of family life. Don't let the kids affect your celebration. Make them part of the celebration. Anniversary symbols are tin and diamonds!

    11th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    11th anniversary symbol - steel
  • Traditional Symbol: Steel
  • Modern Symbol: Fashion jewelry
  • Color: Turquoise
  • Flower: Morning Glory
  • Gem: Turquiose
  • Meaning: Steel is one of the strongest metals, showing the strength of both of you together.
  • Shop 11th Anniversary Gifts

    • 12th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

  • Traditional Symbol: Silk and Linen
  • Modern Symbol: Colored Gems or Pearls
  • Color: Oyster White
  • Flower: Peony
  • Gem: Jade
  • Meaning: Silk and Linen are made of thousands of threads, their beauty is in how they come together. Your marriage has many threads, shared love, years, experiences and they are all holding you together.
  • Shop 12th Anniversary Gifts


    • 13th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    13th anniversary symbol - lace
  • Traditional Symbol: Lace
  • Modern Symbol: Faux Fur
  • Color: White
  • Flower: Hollyhock
  • Gem: Citrine
  • Meaning: Lace represents beauty and your marriage is a thing of beauty and one to be treasured.
  • Shop 13th Anniversary Gifts


    • 14th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    14th anniversary symbol - ethical ivory
  • Traditional Symbol: Ivory - we have lots of ethical and alternative ivory themed gift ideas 
  • Modern Symbol: Gold Jewelry
  • Color: Ivory
  • Flower: Dahlia
  • Gem: Opal
  • Meaning: Ivory has always been rare and sought after, your marriage is just that too, unique to you both and treasure.


    • 15th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

  • Traditional Symbol: Crystal gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Watches
  • Color: Ruby Red
  • Flower: Rose
  • Gem: Rhodolite Garnet
  • Meaning: There are many meanings of a Crystal anniversary; strength, beauty and a crystal clear understanding of each other.
  • Shop 15th Anniversary Gifts

    • 20th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

    20th anniversary symbol - china
  • Traditional Symbol: China
  • Modern Symbol: Platinum
  • Color: Emerald Green
  • Flower: Day Lily
  • Gem: Emerald
  • Meaning: China represents how you need to look after your marriage, it is more beautiful when it is cared for.
  • Shop for 20th Anniversary Gifts

    • The 15th and 20th anniversaries are important milestones too. These occasions are celebrated by the whole family as the couple's children are probably in their teens or late childhood already. Fifteen and twenty years of marriage are traditionally celebrated, though in a quiet and small scale way. The 25th wedding anniversary is commonly known as the silver wedding anniversary and the anniversary symbols are silver. In some countries, the 25th wedding anniversary is celebrated with a renewal of wedding vows.

    25th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    25th anniversary symbol - silver
  • Traditional Symbol: Silver gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Silver
  • Color: Silver
  • Flower: Iris
  • Gem: Silver or Green Garnet
  • Meaning: Silver has always been a prized gift, it shines just like the two of you after twenty five years of marriage.
  • Shop for 25th Anniversary Gifts


    • As far back as the Middle Ages Silver and Gold wreaths were given by husbands to their wives to celebrate their 25th and 50th Anniversaries. Due to shorter life expectancy it was a rare event to be celebrating such a milestone Anniversary and only the rich could afford such a luxurious gift. Those that couldn't afford it would look to symbolic gifts to celebrate their Anniversary. (source: Debretts)

    30th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    30th anniversary symbol - pearls
  • Traditional Symbol: Pearl gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Diamond gift ideas
  • Color: Green
  • Flower: Lily
  • Gem: Pearl
  • Meaning: Pearls grow from a small speck into a treasure and over the thirty years so has your marriage.
  • Shop for 30th Anniversary Gifts

    • 35th Wedding Anniversary Symbols 

    35th anniversary symbol - coral
  • Traditional Symbol: Coral
  • Modern Symbol: Jade
  • Color: Coral
  • Flower: Red Roses
  • Gem: Coral
  • Meaning: Coral symbolizes immortality and happiness.


    • 40th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    40th anniversary symbol - ruby
  • Traditional Symbol: Ruby gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Ruby
  • Color: Ruby Red
  • Flower: Nasturtium
  • Gem: Ruby
  • Meaning: Rubies represent passion and protection, there is a fire that burns brightly inside these stones, just like your marriage of forty years.
  • Shop for 40th Anniversary Gifts


    • 45th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    45th anniversary symbol - sapphires
  • Traditional Symbol: Sapphire
  • Modern Symbol: Sapphire
  • Color: Sapphire Red
  • Flower: any bouquet of flowers of blue, orange, yellow, pink and purple
  • Gem: Sapphire
  • Meaning: Sapphires are the stone of wisdom, something that forty five years of marriage represents, the wisdom of time together and the knowledge of how important you are to each other.

    • 50th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    50th anniversary symbol - gold
  • Traditional Symbol: Gold gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: gold
  • Color: gold
  • Flower: violet
  • Gem: Golden 
  • Meaning: Nothing shines brighter than gold and your love shines brightly after fifty years.
  • Shop for 50th Anniversary Gifts in store

    • The 50th wedding anniversary is truly a momentous event. Not every couple loves and are lucky enough to share half a century of married bliss. It is but fitting for the golden couple to renew their vows with their family and friends as witnesses. Anniversary symbol is gold.

    55th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    55th anniversary symbol - emeralds
  • Traditional Symbol: Emerald
  • Modern Symbol: Emerald
  • Color: Emerald Green
  • Flower: Bouquet of flowers
  • Gemstone: Alexandrite
  • Meaning: Emeralds are the stone of lovers.

    • 60th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

    60th anniversary symbol - diamonds
  • Traditional Symbol: Diamond gift ideas
  • Modern Symbol: Gold
  • Color: White
  • Flower: Bouquet of flowers
  • Gem: Star Ruby or Diamond
  • Meaning: Nothing is stronger than diamonds, nothing can break you after sixty and seventy years of marriage.

    • 70th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

  • Traditional Symbol: Diamond
  • Modern Symbol: Platinum or Iron
  • Color: Diamond White
  • Flower: Bouquet of Flowers
  • Gem: Smoky Quartz

    • 75th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

  • Traditional Symbol: Diamond
  • Modern Symbol: Diamond
  • Color: Diamond
  • Flower: Bouquet of flowers
  • Gem: Diamond

    • 80th Wedding Anniversary Symbols

  • 80 years are celebrated with oak
  • Meaning: Wisdom and strength come with eighty years of marriage.

    • Anniversary Symbols By Year

    anniversary gift symbol chart

    Anniversary Colors By Year 

    The colors come from the colors of the traditional gifts and to make it easier to see we have put them together in their very own color wheel.

    anniversary colors

    The funny thing about anniversary colors is that there are a number of duplicates, each anniversary does not have it's own distinct color. Quite a few are in different shades of white and this is because the anniversary colors are linked to the traditional and modern anniversary lists. The colors represent the gift of that year.

    Take a look at the full list of anniversary colors and the meaning behind the colors.

    What Are The Different Anniversary Milestones?

    People often refer to big Anniversaries as milestones and plan big Anniversary parties and vow renewals round them.

    • Your first Anniversary milestone is your 5th Anniversary which is traditionally celebrated with wood
    • Your second Anniversary milestone is your 10th Anniversary and this is traditionally celebrated with tin or aluminum
    • Your third Anniversary milestone is your 15th Anniversary and this is traditionally celebrated with crystals
    • Your fourth Anniversary milestone is your 20th Anniversary and this is traditionally celebrated with china
    • Your fifth Anniversary milestone is your 25th Anniversary and is celebrated with silver
    • Your sixth Anniversary milestone is your 30th Anniversary and this is celebrated with Pearls
    • Your seventh Anniversary milestone is your 40th Anniversary and is traditionally celebrated with rubies
    • Your eighth Anniversary milestone is your 50th Anniversary and this is celebrated with gold
    • Your ninth and tenth Anniversary milestone is your 60th and 65th Anniversary, they are both described as your Diamond Anniversaries. 

    You might like these

    anniversary flowers
    Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Affiliate Disclosure|Anniversary Blog
    Terms & Conditions | About | Advertise With Us | Site Map