Although it is purely optional, listed below are the traditional materials matching each wedding anniversary year. This is a great way to start your brainstorming for anniversary gift-giving even if you end up choosing a material that is different from your current anniversary year.
| Year |
Traditional
|
Modern
|
Alternate
|
Flowers
|
Alternate Stones
|
|
1
|
Paper
|
Plastic
|
Clocks
|
Pansy
|
Gold Jewelry
Alt: Peridot |
|
2
|
Cotton
|
Cotton and Calico
|
China
|
Cosmos
|
Garnet
|
|
3
|
Leather
|
Leather
|
Crystal and Glass
|
Fuchsia
|
Pearls
Alt: Jade |
|
4
|
Fruit and Flowers
|
Linen, Silk, Nylon
|
Appliances
|
Geranium
|
Blue Topaz
Alt: Blue Zircon |
|
5
|
Wood
|
Wood
|
Silverware
|
Daisy
|
Sapphire
Alt: Pink Tourmaline |
|
6
|
Candy
|
Iron
|
Wood
|
Calla Lily
|
Amethyst
Alt: Turquoise |
|
7
|
Copper and Wool
|
Brass
|
Desk Sets
|
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
|
Onyx
Alt: Yellow Sapphire |
|
8
|
Bronze
|
Pottery
|
Linen
|
Clematis
|
Tourmaline
Alt: Tanzanite |
|
9
|
Pottery
|
Willow
|
Leather
|
Poppy
|
Lapis Lazuli
Alt: Amethyst |
|
10
|
Tin
|
Aluminum
|
Diamond
|
Daffodil
|
Diamond
Alt: Blue Sapphire |
|
11
|
Steel
|
Steel
|
Jewelry
|
Morning Glory
|
Turquoise
Alt: Citrine |
|
12
|
Silk
|
Linen
|
Pearl
|
Peony
|
Jade
Alt: Opal |
|
13
|
Lace
|
Lace
|
Textiles, Faux Fur
|
Hollyhock
|
Citrine
Alt: Moonstone, Hawk's Eye |
|
14
|
Ivory
(use an elephant-friendly material) |
Ivory
(use an elephant-friendly material) |
Gold
|
Dahlia
|
Opal
Alt: Agate, Bloodstone |
|
15
|
Crystal
|
Glass
|
Watches
|
Rose
|
Ruby
Alt: Alexandrite, Rhodolite Garnet |
|
16
|
|
Silver Holloware
|
Wax candle flowers
|
|
Peridot
Alt: Red Spinel |
|
17
|
|
Furniture
|
Shell roses
|
|
Watch
Alt: Carnelian |
|
18
|
|
Porcelain
|
Feather flowers
|
|
Cat's Eye or Chrysoberyl
|
|
19
|
|
Bronze
|
Chili pepper roses
|
|
Aquamarine
Alt: Almandine Garnet |
|
20
|
China
|
China
|
Platinum
|
Day Lily
|
Emerald
Alt: Yellow or Golden Diamond |
|
21
|
|
Brass and Nickel
|
|
|
Iolite
|
|
22
|
|
Copper
|
|
|
Spinel
|
|
23
|
|
Silver Plate
|
|
|
Imperial Topaz
|
|
24
|
|
Musical
Instruments |
|
2 Dozen Roses
|
Tanzanite
|
|
25
|
Silver
|
Silver
|
Silver
|
Iris
|
Silver Jubilee
|
|
26
|
|
Pictures
|
26 fine chocolates
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Sculpture
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Orchids
|
|
Orchid
|
|
|
29
|
|
Furniture
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
Pearl
|
Pearl
|
Pearl
|
Sweet Pea
|
Pearl Jubilee
|
|
31
|
|
Timepieces
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
Transportation
|
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
Amethyst
|
|
|
Amethyst
|
|
34
|
|
Opal
|
|
|
Opal
|
|
35
|
Coral
|
Coral and Jade
|
Jade
|
|
Emerald
|
|
36
|
|
Bone China
|
|
|
|
|
37
|
|
Alabaster
|
|
|
|
|
38
|
|
Beryl
|
Tourmaline
|
|
Beryl
Alt: Tourmaline |
|
39
|
|
Lace
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
Ruby
|
Garnet
|
Ruby
|
Nasturtium
|
Ruby
|
|
41
|
|
Land
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
|
Real Estate
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
Travel
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
Gourmet
|
|
|
|
|
45
|
Sapphire
|
Sapphire
|
Sapphire
|
|
Cat's Eye
|
|
46
|
|
Poetry
|
|
|
|
|
47
|
|
Books
|
|
|
|
|
48
|
|
Optical
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
Luxury Goods
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
Gold
|
Gold
|
Gold
|
Violet
|
Golden Jubilee
Alt: Imperial or Golden Topaz |
|
55
|
Emerald
|
Turquoise
|
Emerald
|
|
Alexandrite
|
|
60
|
Diamond
|
Gold
|
Diamond
|
|
Diamond Jubilee
Alt: Star Ruby |
|
65
|
Diamond
|
Gold
|
Diamond
|
|
Blue Spinel
|
|
70
|
Diamond
|
Gold
|
Diamond
|
|
Sapphire Jubilee
Alt: Smoky Quartz |
|
75
|
Diamond
|
Gold
|
Diamond
|
|
Diamond Jubilee
|
|
80
|
|
Diamond
|
|
|
Ruby Jubilee
|
