25th Anniversary Gifts
Silver is the traditional 25th anniversary gift, and the modern list narrows it to sterling silver. In 1899 Maud C. Cooke wrote that the silver wedding "is, perhaps, the most important of all the wedding anniversaries."
25th Anniversary Gifts at a glance
| Traditional gift | Silver |
|---|---|
| Modern gift | Sterling silver |
| Gemstone (GIA list) | Silver, or mother-of-pearl |
| Flower (Emily Post Institute) | Iris |
| Also called | Silver wedding, or silver anniversary (Cambridge Dictionary) |
| Married couples who had reached it, 2009 | 35.3% (Census Bureau) |
| Length of marriage | 9,131 or 9,132 days (6 or 7 February 29s) |
Why silver for the twenty-fifth anniversary?
Silver is a bright white precious metal, and sterling is its classic alloy, silver hardened with copper. That copper is the reason sterling tarnishes faster than the pure silver layer on a plated piece, the Canadian Conservation Institute notes.
Linking the 25th with silver, and the 50th with gold, has been documented in Germanic countries since the 1500s. Emily Post's 1922 Etiquette noted that "In Germany a silver wedding is a very important event," and added that "Silver is always serious." In 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes and First Lady Lucy Hayes celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the White House. They had married on December 30, 1852.
Sterling marks and slowing tarnish
- Under the FTC Jewelry Guides, "Sterling Silver," "Sterling" or "Ster." may only be used on metal that is at least 925 parts per thousand silver. "Coin silver" must be at least 900.
- The plain word "silver" should come with a fineness number in front, such as "925 silver." Federal law bars the word "sterling" on silver-plated items, so treat "sterling plate" as a warning sign.
- Tarnish is black silver sulfide. It forms when silver meets sulfur gases such as hydrogen sulfide, which come from rubber bands, wool felt and some foods, including eggs. Keep silver away from them.
- To slow tarnish, seal each piece in a polyethylene bag, ideally wrapped in anti-tarnish cloth.
25th anniversary gift ideas
- Silver jewelry, or a silver frame engraved with your wedding date
- A silver serving piece for family dinners
- A party, or a vow renewal, with the people from your wedding
- Sterling silver: a bracelet, cufflinks or a keepsake (modern)
When is your 25 year wedding anniversary?
More date tools: Anniversary Calculator, Birthday Calendar, What Day Was I Born.
Anniversary gifts for other years
25th Anniversary Gifts questions
What is the 25 year anniversary gift?
Silver for the traditional gift, sterling silver for the modern one. In 1888, Hill's Manual said a couple "true to their vows for a quarter of a century" were "rewarded with silver gifts."
How should sterling silver be stored?
In dry air. Tarnish speeds up as humidity rises, so the Canadian Conservation Institute advises keeping silver below 50% relative humidity.
Published October 9, 2026. Last updated October 29, 2026.