In Polish tradition every wedding anniversary has its own name — from the paper anniversary to the diamond one. The name hints at the material of the gift: the longer a couple has been together, the more durable and precious the anniversary “material”. Below you will find the names of wedding anniversaries by year with a gift idea for each, plus tips for the first anniversary and for the silver and golden jubilees. We have also gathered ready-made gift formats on the page wedding anniversary gift.
To be honest from the start: the lists differ from source to source. Some years have several names, and not every list covers every year. We give the names that appear most often, with other variants in brackets. Treat them as a hint, not a strict rule.
Wedding anniversary names by year
The first ten years
- 1st anniversary — paper (papierowe gody). A handwritten letter, an album of photos from your first year, tickets to a concert or the theatre.
- 2nd anniversary — cotton (bawełniane). Cotton bed linen, matching pyjamas or a soft blanket.
- 3rd anniversary — leather (skórzane). A leather wallet, belt, document holder or bag.
- 4th anniversary — linen (lniane) (sometimes flowers). A linen tablecloth with napkins, linen bedding or a bouquet.
- 5th anniversary — wood (drewniane). A wooden box, a board engraved with your names or a young tree to plant together.
- 6th anniversary — cast iron (żeliwne) (sometimes sugar). A cast-iron pot for cooking together or a box of favourite sweets.
- 7th anniversary — wool (wełniane) (sometimes copper). A wool jumper, a scarf or a warm blanket for autumn evenings.
- 8th anniversary — bronze (brązowe) (sometimes poppy). A candle holder or a bronze ornament.
- 9th anniversary — clay (gliniane) (sometimes faience). Handmade ceramics, a pair of mugs or a pottery workshop together.
- 10th anniversary — tin (cynowe) (sometimes roses). A tin jug, a bouquet of roses or a keepsake with the words “10 years together”.
From 11 to 20 years
- 11th anniversary — steel (stalowe). Steel jewellery or a good set of kitchen knives.
- 12th anniversary — silk (jedwabne). A silk scarf, a tie or silk bedding.
- 13th anniversary — lace (koronkowe). Lace lingerie or a lace tablecloth.
- 14th anniversary — ivory (z kości słoniowej). Accessories in a creamy ivory colour — not made of real ivory, of course.
- 15th anniversary — crystal (kryształowe). Crystal glasses, a vase or a carafe.
- 20th anniversary — porcelain (porcelanowe). A porcelain dinner set or a pair of cups for coffee together.
The great jubilees: from silver to stone
- 25th anniversary — silver (srebrne gody). Silver jewellery, new wedding rings or a party for the family.
- 30th anniversary — pearl (perłowe). Pearls: a necklace, earrings or cufflinks.
- 35th anniversary — coral (koralowe). Coral jewellery or a trip to a warm sea.
- 40th anniversary — ruby (rubinowe). Ruby jewellery or something in deep red.
- 45th anniversary — sapphire (szafirowe). Sapphire jewellery or a trip together.
- 50th anniversary — golden (złote gody). Gold jewellery, a family party and a keepsake from the children and grandchildren.
- 55th anniversary — emerald (szmaragdowe). Emerald jewellery or something in emerald green.
- 60th anniversary — diamond (diamentowe). A family reunion and a gift from several generations at once.
- 65th anniversary — iron (żelazne). A keepsake for years: a family album or a frame with the whole family.
- 70th anniversary — stone (kamienne) (sometimes platinum). Above all, time and the whole family being there.
What to give for a wedding anniversary — a gift that stays
The material from the list is a good hint, but the gifts that bring the most joy are the ones that show the couple themselves. Figures from photos stand on a shelf or hang in a frame on the wall and grow more precious every year — they suit any anniversary, whatever its name.
The couple in a frame with the wedding date
The most popular choice is a frame with two figures: your hairstyles, your favourite clothes, and on the background “Together since …” with the wedding date or the number of years together. Flowers, a cake or your dog can stand next to the figures. You can build the frame in the frame set builder — choose a size from 13×18 to 40×50 cm, a white or black frame, the figures, background and text.
Figures in wedding outfits
If you send a wedding photo, we will match a similar dress and suit — a lovely way back to that day. A good starting point is the bride and groom figures: a white lace dress with a red rose in hand, a black tuxedo with a bow tie. You adjust the hairstyles, hair colour and faces to the two of you. Other designs for couples, such as the sweethearts figures, are in our ready-made designs.
A stand with a message
A stand with a message can go under the two figures: names, the wedding date or “10 years together”. It is a simple way to link the gift to a specific anniversary right away.
A heart keychain for two
The heart keychain is two joining halves — one for each of you. It is just the keychain, without a figure, so it works well as an extra to a frame or figures.
1st wedding anniversary — the paper anniversary
In Poland the first wedding anniversary is most often the paper anniversary (papierowe gody): paper stands for a marriage that is only beginning to be written and is still delicate. Traditional ideas are a handwritten letter, an album of photos from your first year together or tickets for a night out.
A paper gift is easy to combine with figures: add a letter or a greeting card to the frame with the two of you, and put the wedding date on the frame background. After one year, figures in wedding outfits are still a fresh memory — and in ten years they will be a keepsake from the very beginning.
25th wedding anniversary — silver jubilee
The silver anniversary (srebrne gody) is the first great jubilee. Many couples celebrate it in style: with a family party, new wedding rings and sometimes a renewal of their wedding vows. Spouses give each other gifts, and so do children who want to thank their parents for a quarter of a century together.
- For each other — a frame with two figures and “25 years together” or “Together since …” with the year of the wedding.
- From the children — a family frame: the parents in the middle, the children around them, and the number of years together on the background.
- A touch of silver — silver jewellery or rings, with the couple’s figures beside them as a keepsake of the party.
50th wedding anniversary — golden jubilee
The golden anniversary (złote gody) is a celebration for the whole family. Couples marking 50 years of marriage can receive the Medal for Long Marital Life (Medal za Długoletnie Pożycie Małżeńskie) from the President of Poland — the application is usually filed at the municipal office or the registry office. The gift is most often prepared together by the children and grandchildren.
A family frame with figures works best: the couple in the middle, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around them, and “50 years together”, names and the wedding year on the background. The largest frame, 40×50 cm, fits up to 50 figures, and for bigger orders we can make a custom-size frame of up to 1 metre. If you are not sure where to start, take the grandma and grandpa figures as a base and adjust the hairstyles, glasses and clothes to the couple.
Old photos will do too — we look at the hairstyle, hair colour, glasses and favourite outfit, not at sharpness. If something is not visible, we will ask before we design.
What to write on an anniversary gift
Short messages are the easiest to read. A longer dedication fits better on the frame background than on the stand — there is room for it there.
- On the stand — names, “Together since 2001”, “25 years together”.
- On the frame background — names and the wedding date, a short dedication or a photo of the place where the couple got married.
- From the children and grandchildren — “Thank you for 50 years”, the family name and the wedding year.
When to order an anniversary gift
Agreeing on the design takes the most time, so it is worth sending the photos early — especially when the whole family is going into the frame. We show you the design preview before production, and revisions are free and unlimited. After approval we usually ship the next working day, and delivery in Poland takes 1–3 working days: InPost Paczkomat, a DPD pickup point or courier. When the date is close, there is a paid “Ekspresowa wysyłka” (express shipping) option in the cart. We can also send the gift straight to the couple, in gift packaging.
We build the figures from genuine LEGO® elements and add our own UV printing: face, clothes, text. A figure is about 4 cm tall and arrives assembled. In a frame we ship the figures separately so they do not scratch the glass in transit — the stands are already glued to the background, and you just press each figure on like a brick.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first wedding anniversary called?
Most often the paper anniversary (papierowe gody). Some lists use other names, but paper is the most popular theme of the first anniversary.
Which anniversary is silver and which is golden?
The silver anniversary is the 25th, and the golden one is the 50th. In between come, among others, the pearl (30), ruby (40) and sapphire (45) anniversaries.
What to give parents for their wedding anniversary?
For a milestone anniversary, children often give a family frame: the parents in the middle, children and grandchildren around them, and the number of years together on the background. It is a gift “from everyone” that is easy to order together with your siblings.
Can the figures wear wedding outfits?
Yes. If you send a wedding photo, we will match a similar outfit. You can also go for how the couple looks today — hairstyles and favourite clothes. You see the design preview before production and can ask for any change.
Can the gift be a surprise?
Yes. Photos from social media are enough. Only the person ordering sees the design, and we can send the gift straight to the recipients in gift packaging.
You will find more ideas with message examples on the page gift for a couple.
