Wedding Gift Inspiration: Which Material Belongs to Each Wedding Anniversary?

A 12.5-year wedding anniversary is called a copper wedding. But did you know that almost every wedding anniversary has its own material? From paper and wood to gold and diamond – each anniversary has a symbolic meaning.

Are you looking for an original wedding gift or anniversary gift? Then it's nice to choose a gift that matches the material of that wedding year. This makes the gift not only personal, but also extra meaningful.

In this article, you'll discover which materials belong to each wedding anniversary, and we'll share a unique gift idea.

Why does each wedding anniversary have its own material?

In Europe, there's a long tradition of associating each wedding anniversary with a specific material. These materials symbolize the growth of a marriage.

In the early years, the materials are often softer or more fragile, like paper or cotton. As the marriage lasts longer, the materials become stronger and more valuable – think of silver, gold, and eventually diamond.

You've probably heard of:

• a copper wedding (12.5 years)
• a silver wedding (25 years)
• a golden wedding (50 years)
• a diamond wedding (60 years)

This tradition makes giving a fitting gift even more enjoyable.

What makes a good wedding gift?

On the wedding day itself, you naturally give a gift to the bridal couple. Sometimes there's a gift registry, sometimes an envelope is requested, but it's also nice to surprise the couple with a personal gift.

What we're seeing more and more often these days is that people also give gifts for a wedding anniversary. For example, partners surprising each other, friends or witnesses wanting to celebrate a special moment, or family members wanting to mark a milestone.

A gift that is becoming increasingly popular is a personal keepsake of a special day.

✨ For example, consider a MrStarsky star map poster.
It shows the exact position of the stars at the moment of your wedding day. This way, you capture the magic of that one day forever.

A unique and personal gift for a wedding or wedding anniversary.

An original idea: give a gift in the anniversary material every year

A fun tradition is to give a small gift each year that matches the material of that anniversary year.

For example:

• for a paper anniversary: a beautiful poster or card
• for a wooden anniversary: a wooden frame
• for a copper anniversary: a copper-colored artwork

And yes... for a paper anniversary, you now know exactly where to go 😉

Overview: materials per wedding anniversary

• 1 year – Cotton
• 2 years – Paper
• 3 years – Leather
• 4 years – Silk
• 5 years – Wood
• 6 years – Iron
• 7 years – Wool
• 8 years – Bronze
• 9 years – Pottery
• 10 years – Tin
• 12.5 years – Copper
• 15 years – Crystal
• 20 years – Porcelain
• 25 years – Silver
• 30 years – Pearl
• 35 years – Coral
• 40 years – Ruby
• 45 years – Sapphire
• 50 years – Gold
• 55 years – Emerald
• 60 years – Diamond
• 65 years – Brilliant
• 70 years – Platinum
• 75 years – Alabaster
• 80 years – Oak
• 90 years – Granite

Please note: there is no official list of wedding materials. The names may vary slightly by country or source.

Capture your special day in the stars

Do you want to give a personal wedding gift that is truly unique?

With a MrStarsky star map poster, you capture the exact star position of a special day, such as:

• a wedding
• an engagement
• a birth
• or an anniversary

A stylish and personal artwork that tells your story – forever captured in the night sky.