40th Anniversary: Messages, Traditional Gift (Ruby) and Ideas

October 7, 2026

You're in the right place for 40th wedding anniversary messages and gifts. There are 11 ready-to-copy lines on this page, grouped into ruby anniversary gift ideas, th anniversary messages for your husband or wife and th anniversary messages for parents, grandparents or friends, plus more below - pick one, change a detail so it sounds like you, and you're done.

Quick answer: the traditional 40th wedding anniversary gift in the UK is ruby. It's a milestone, so it's often marked with a party or a family meal.

Below you'll find ruby gift ideas, messages for your husband or wife, and wording for a card to parents, grandparents or friends celebrating 40 years together.

Ruby anniversary gift ideas

Something made from ruby, personalised with your names and wedding date
A ruby-themed keepsake or print marking 40 years
A meal or party with family and friends

40th anniversary messages for your husband or wife

Happy 40th anniversary. 40 years and I'd still say yes.
Thank you for 40 years of laughter, patience and love. Here's to the next chapter.
Happy anniversary to my favourite person. Ruby is traditional, but you're the real gift.

40th anniversary messages for parents, grandparents or friends

Happy 40th anniversary! 40 years together is something to celebrate.
40 years of love and you still make it look easy. Congratulations.
Congratulations on your ruby anniversary. You're an inspiration.

Funny 40th anniversary messages

Happy 40th anniversary. 40 years and neither of you has hidden the other's body. Love wins.
Happy anniversary! Same sofa, same telly, same argument about the thermostat. Perfect.

How to write it so it lands

Personalise the gift with your wedding date.
A handwritten card matters more than the gift.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 40th wedding anniversary?

Ruby.

What do you write in a 40th anniversary card?

Congratulate them on 40 years, add a memory or what you admire about them, and wish them many more.

What is a good 40th anniversary gift?

Something ruby or ruby-themed, ideally personalised with your names and date.

What is a good example of 40th wedding anniversary messages and gifts?

"Something made from ruby, personalised with your names and wedding date" is one of 11 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

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