Origin with the Silver Wedding Gift

Although you will find standard and modern lists of gifts to give on a wedding anniversary, among the list of anniversaries these lists have in common will be the 25th wedding anniversary, known throughout the western world as the Silver Wedding Anniversary.



But how did the custom of giving a silver wholesale jewelry as a commemoration of 25-years of marriage begin and where did it start?



Most researchers say that the custom started at some unknown time in Middle Europe. Within the Germanic region it was the custom for the husband to give his wife a wreath of silver as well celebrate the anniversary. It's unlikely that it would have been real silver, so perhaps it gained the name from white flowers inside the wreath or even ribbons adorning it.



Wreaths have been used as ornamental headdresses since Roman times; manufactured from flowers, laurels and thread they were worn on special occasions and especially at weddings. So it's quite possible that the presentation of a silver wreath goes back two,000 years.



The use of evergreen, including laurels, in a wreath is a symbol for the strength of life and survival as these plants can endure harsh winters. So it could be that the wreath was symbolic with the marriage surviving the ups and downs of 25-years together.



In Germany the gift of Chrysanthemums is also associated with Silver Weddings, but as these flowers didn't arrive in Europe until the 17th century, and as the original blooms had a golden colour, mediaeval Germans wouldn't have been using them to decorate headdresses. Certainly 120 years ago the concept in the German silberhochzeit was unknown in England and it didn't become so until the late Victorian metal ring. In North America, German immigrants could have introduced it earlier.



So given it's history what silver gifts can you give for any silver wedding and, other than the husband presenting his wife with a gift, who else can give a present?



Husbands can discover all manner of silver gifts to give their wife, including silver jewellery for example silver bracelets. Wives can reciprocate with silver cufflinks monogrammed with engraved initials and perhaps a short message of affection.



If friends and family give presents, gifts including silver candle holders, wine coasters, napkin rings and silver salt and pepper mills will be appreciated by couples who like to have an elegant dining table and enjoy entertaining at home.



All of these gifts will likely be hallmarked if they may be sterling silver and may be engraved with the names from the couple and perhaps the date with the anniversary to remember the happy day.