Big Wedding Anniversaries!

Another venerable rhyme encapsulates the significant anniversary symbols thus:

The 15th is crystal, cut glass at its best
The 20th is china, cups, plates and the rest.
The 25th is silver - really swell
The 30th is pearl from an oyster shell.
The 35th is coral from under the sea
The 40th is ruby, as red as can be
The 45th is sapphire, precious and blue
The 50th is golden - congratulations to you!
The 55th is emerald, so green and so pure
The 60th is diamond - an achievement for sure!
The 65th is blue sapphire and 70th platinum,
The last two which are reached by some -
The 75th is diamond and gold,
The 80th oak
(or something suitable for the very old!)

Those reaching their oak anniversaries must be rare indeed, but most of us will be familiar with the most celebrated anniversaries - 25, 40, 50 and 60. Last year, the number of marriages in England reached their lowest total since records began, showing that more of us are sidestepping the certificate to live together, or forgoing marriage altogether. All the more respect to those couples who married in 1948 and will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary this year! Let's hear it for romance...

After the 20th anniversary celebrating with china, the next date of significance is the 25th wedding anniversary, with silver as its well-known symbol. Remember the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977? Silver, queen of metals, is the obvious choice for a celebratory piece of jewellery.

The 30th wedding anniversary is the mark of a truly successful and long lived marriage. To pay homage to this special occasion, traditional thinkers call it the pearl anniversary, while the moderns incline towards the diamond. Why not mingle the two with a gift of diamonds and pearls?

We're really talking longevity when we come to the 35th wedding anniversary - but here's an odd symbol for it. This date is linked with coral or jade - so best to think exotic thoughts when planning a gift!

The 40th is, of course, the ruby wedding anniversary, and only the fieriest of gemstones will do to celebrate this remarkable milestone. After this, it's only a decade until the 50th wedding anniversary- the regal golden wedding, which up until recent times has been the crowning matrimonial achievement. But as medicine advances and we all tend to live longer, who knows what anniversaries married couples will notch up - earning their diamonds, sapphires, platinum and oak along the way!

So it has got to be our biggest congralutions to you if you've managed to reach these matrimonial achievements. But if you are still in the first throes of romance and such major milestones seem long into the distant future, let Henry Kaye help you take those first faltering steps on the path of married life in style. Just take a look at our range of gorgeous wedding shoes, stunning wedding accessories and beautiful bridesmaid and flower girl dresses for inspiration. And for hints and tips on how to make sure that your wedding day goes with a swing, why not have a browse of our wedding information.

To see our full range of wedding shoes and boots, wedding accessories and bridesmaid dresses, click here.