What is the silver wedding anniversary?

The silver wedding anniversary marks 25 years of marriage. It's one of the rare years where the traditional and modern UK gift lists agree on the same material — silver — which makes it one of the more straightforward milestones to plan for. It's also widely treated as the halfway point to a golden (50th) anniversary, and often the first anniversary a couple marks with a proper party rather than a quiet dinner.

Silver shows up in the obvious places — jewellery, a hallmarked frame, cutlery — but plenty of couples mark the year with something silver-toned rather than literal silver. For the full run of years and their symbols, see wedding anniversary gifts by year. If you're buying for the day, our 25th anniversary gift guide covers ideas and budgets.

Written by Craig Fearn, Printed Weddings.