Paper, silver and gold: the flower for each wedding anniversary

Each wedding anniversary has a name (paper, silver, gold) and also a flower associated with it. The first tradition is popular in Argentina; the second comes from the English-speaking world and almost nobody here knows it, which makes it a good resource for a different kind of gift.

The names and the flowers

Years	Anniversary	Flower
1	Paper	Carnation
2	Cotton	Lily of the valley
3	Leather	Sunflower
4	Fruit and flowers	Hydrangea
5	Wood	Daisy
6	Sugar	Calla lily
7	Wool	Freesia
8	Bronze	Lilac
9	Pottery	Aster
10	Tin	Daffodil
11	Steel	Tulip
12	Silk	Peony
13	Lace	Chrysanthemum
14	Ivory	Dahlia
15	Crystal	Rose
20	China	Aster
25	Silver	Iris
30	Pearl	Lily
40	Ruby	Gladiolus
50	Gold	Yellow or violet rose
60	Diamond	Orchid

How to use it well

Nobody knows by heart that year twelve is silk and its flower is the peony. That's why you have to say it: a bouquet of peonies with a card explaining the tradition is a gift; the same bouquet without an explanation is just a bouquet. All the charm is in the words.

Combinations that work

• Paper anniversary (1): carnations with a handwritten letter. The paper and the flower together.
• Wood anniversary (5): a bonsai. It fits the material and lasts for years.
• Crystal anniversary (15): a glass vase with roses in it.
• Silver anniversary (25): an arrangement with irises and silvery greenery, such as eucalyptus or senecio.
• Gold anniversary (50): yellow roses, fifty of them if the budget allows.

A seasonal problem

Several of these flowers have a short window in Argentina: peonies are around for a few weeks in October and November, lily of the valley is practically impossible to find, and daffodils show up in August. If the anniversary falls outside the season, you can honor the color and the symbol with another flower and still explain it. The calendar is in seasonal flowers month by month.

Availability of each flower changes with the season. If you are looking for a specific flower, ask us before ordering and we will confirm whether we have it.