What is the ruby wedding anniversary?

Forty years of marriage is marked as the ruby wedding anniversary. Ruby is unusual on the anniversary list because both the traditional and modern UK conventions agree on it, so there's no "which list do I follow" question to work through — ruby is simply correct for year forty. The deep red stone is generally read as a symbol of enduring warmth and passion, fitting for a marriage that has reached this stage.

In practice this means red is the safe colour cue too — cards, flowers, table settings. For the milestone either side of it, see the pearl wedding anniversary (30th). For gift ideas built around the occasion, see 40th anniversary gift ideas.

Written by Craig Fearn, Printed Weddings.