Wedding
Wedding anniversaries and their meanings: the complete list of “noces”
Every marriage is a unique adventure, made of memories, challenges, and tenderness.
Over time, couples celebrate their wedding anniversaries, also called “noces.”
Behind these poetic names, cotton, silver, gold, diamond anniversaries, lies a whole symbolism: a love that grows and strengthens year after year.
In this practical guide, discover the complete list of wedding anniversary years and their meanings, along with ideas for celebrating each milestone in your union.
Why does each wedding anniversary have a meaning?
The tradition of “noces” dates back to the 19th century. At first, people mainly celebrated major anniversaries like 25 years (silver) or 50 years (gold).
Little by little, each year of marriage was given a symbolic material.
The idea? To illustrate the couple’s progression: fragile at the start, like cotton, it becomes strong and precious over time, up to diamond.
These symbols tell a love story woven over time, where every year deserves to be honored. It’s also a beautiful opportunity to remember the beginnings and rekindle the spark.
The early years: the sweetness of beginnings (1 to 10 years)
The first years represent building the couple, with tenderness, discoveries, and learning.
|
Year |
Anniversary name |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
1 year |
Softness, tenderness, a bond still fragile |
|
|
2 years |
Leather anniversary |
Strength and resilience of the couple |
|
3 years |
Wheat anniversary |
Fertility, abundance, and growth |
|
4 years |
Wax anniversary |
Warmth, light, and sincerity |
|
5 years |
Roots, stability, solid nature |
|
|
6 years |
Chypre anniversary |
Elegance, sensuality, balance |
|
7 years |
Wool anniversary |
Comfort, protection, and warmth |
|
8 years |
Poppy anniversary |
Passion and romance |
|
9 years |
Faience anniversary |
Delicacy and controlled fragility |
|
10 years |
Tin anniversary |
Endurance and faithfulness of the marital bond |
This is often when couples celebrate their first major milestone: 10 years of marriage.
Symbolic years of maturity (11 to 25 years)
From the 11th year onward, the marriage grows stronger.
Partners know each other deeply and build lasting life projects together.
|
Year |
Anniversary name |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
11 years |
Coral anniversary |
Vitality and energy of the couple |
|
12 years |
Silk anniversary |
Softness, flexibility, and harmony |
|
13 years |
Lily-of-the-valley anniversary |
Good luck and renewed freshness |
|
14 years |
Lead anniversary |
Strength and endurance |
|
15 years |
Crystal anniversary |
Transparency, trust, and clarity |
|
20 years |
Porcelain anniversary |
Refinement, delicacy, and care |
|
25 years |
Silver anniversary |
Loyalty, brilliance, and longevity of the couple |
Silver anniversaries are often celebrated with family and friends. It’s a powerful moment to relive your wedding, exchange renewed vows, and mark a quarter-century of love.
The major milestones of life together (30 to 60 years)
These decades embody the solidity, trust, and strength of a couple who have journeyed through life together.
|
Year |
Anniversary name |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
30 years |
Pearl anniversary |
Purity, rarity, and beauty of love |
|
35 years |
Ruby anniversary |
Deep passion and renewed energy |
|
40 years |
Emerald anniversary |
Growth, harmony, and stability |
|
45 years |
Vermeil anniversary |
Strength and brilliance of the marital bond |
|
50 years |
Golden anniversary |
Enduring love, achievement, and legacy |
|
55 years |
Orchid anniversary |
Elegance, balance, and refinement |
|
60 years |
Diamond anniversary |
Eternal, indestructible, and pure love |
These anniversaries are true symbols of lasting love and success.
Golden and diamond anniversaries are among the most celebrated, often in the presence of several generations.
And beyond? Rare and exceptional anniversaries
Some unions cross the decades with remarkable strength.
These couples celebrate rare anniversaries, full of wisdom and emotion:
|
Year |
Anniversary name |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
65 years |
Rosewood anniversary |
Robustness and nobility |
|
70 years |
Platinum anniversary |
Absolute purity and rarity |
|
75 years |
Alabaster anniversary |
Transparency and serenity |
|
80 years |
Oak anniversary |
Strength and deep-rootedness |
These celebrations are true testaments to life, love, and faithfulness across time.
How to celebrate your wedding anniversaries?
Every couple is free to celebrate their anniversaries in their own way.
Here are a few simple and symbolic ideas:
- A romantic dinner at home or in a meaningful restaurant.
- A couples’ weekend to reconnect away from daily life.
- A family celebration to share this lasting love.
- A symbolic ritual such as planting a tree, renewing vows, or creating a memory album.
- A personalized gift that reflects the material associated with the year being celebrated (wood, crystal, gold, diamond, etc.).
What matters is not the size of the party, but the meaning and emotion you put into it.
Jewelry ideas for each wedding anniversary
Jewelry is a timeless gift for wedding anniversaries.
It embodies a promise of love and is often passed down from generation to generation.
Here are a few ideas for the main anniversaries:
- Cotton (1 year) → braided bracelet or delicate necklace, symbol of softness.
- Crystal (15 years) → pendant or ring in translucent glass.
- Silver (25 years) → engraved wedding band or ID bracelet.
- Gold (50 years) → a timeless piece, symbol of radiant love.
- Diamond (60 years) → ring or necklace set with diamonds, reflecting an indestructible love.
Tip: for a truly unique gift, consider engraving your wedding date or a meaningful phrase.
A beautiful love story to celebrate every year
Celebrating your wedding anniversaries is more than a tradition: it’s honoring the journey you’ve taken together.
Each material tells a chapter of this story: the tenderness of cotton, the strength of wood, the purity of crystal, the brilliance of gold, the eternity of diamond.
Year after year, these symbols remind us that love is built, nurtured, and reinvented.
So, whatever year you’re celebrating, take time to say thank you, relive your memories, and dream of what’s next.
To go further
Discover our dedicated articles:
- Cotton anniversary: 10 gift ideas to celebrate 1 year of marriage
- Silver anniversary: how to celebrate 25 years of marriage?
- Golden anniversary: symbolism, gift ideas, and party planning
