Anniversary Gifts and Wording for Grandparents
Grandparents' anniversaries are usually the big ones - gold at fifty, diamond at sixty - and the gift problem is the same as always: they have a house full of things and no interest in more.
What they do want is people in the room and something to look at afterwards. Everything below is built around one of those two.
There's also the card from the King, which UK couples can request for a 60th, 65th, 70th and every year after that through gov.uk. Apply a few weeks ahead.
Anniversary cards, printed in the UK
Blank inside so every grandchild can sign it. Drawn and printed by us in the UK, posted first class.
Gifts that suit grandparents
- A framed print of the year they married, or the place they married in.
- A photo book of the family as it stands now - most grandparents have the old photos and none of the recent ones.
- A card from the King for a 60th, 65th or 70th, requested through gov.uk in advance.
- A party at home rather than a venue, which is easier on everyone and better attended.
- Flowers in a vase, already arranged, so nobody has to find one.
- A card signed by every grandchild, including the ones too small to write.
By budget
- Under £10 - a card with all the grandchildren's names in it.
- Under £25 - an A4 print of the wedding year, or a candle and a card.
- Under £50 - a framed print, or a photo book printed online.
- Over £100 - a family lunch, shared between the adults.
Messages from grandchildren
- Happy anniversary to the two people who make Sundays worth turning up for.
- Fifty years. Thank you for the biscuits, the stories and the example.
- Happy anniversary, Nan and Grandad. Love from all of us, in order of height.
- Congratulations on another year. Still the best double act in the family.
- Happy anniversary. I hope we're all still this good at it one day.
Messages for a golden or diamond anniversary
- Fifty years of marriage. Congratulations, and thank you for everything that came out of it - us included.
- Sixty years. An absolute masterclass. Happy diamond anniversary.
- Gold this year, and rightly so. Congratulations to you both.
- Sixty years together and still finishing each other's sentences. Happy anniversary.
- Half a century of marriage. We're all here because of it. Happy golden anniversary.
If one of them has died
- Mark the date rather than avoiding it - the anniversary happens whether anyone mentions it or not.
- Write to the one who's left: 'Thinking of you today, and of Grandad.'
- Name him or her. People worry about upsetting someone by saying the name; the silence is usually worse.
- A card and a phone call on the day beats a bigger gesture a week later.
- A framed photograph of the wedding day is often welcome, but ask a parent first.
How to write it so it lands
- Apply for the King's card early for a 60th or above.
- Recent family photos beat another ornament.
- Get every grandchild's name in the card, however messy.
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We make cards, pin badges, prints and party bits in house. These are from other shops we rate, and buying through the link costs you nothing extra.
Anniversary book
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Frequently asked questions
What do you buy grandparents for a golden wedding anniversary?
Something to look at and something to attend: a framed print or photo book of the fifty years, and a family lunch. Objects tend to go in a cupboard; photographs and people don't.
Can you get a card from the King for a wedding anniversary?
Yes, for a 60th, 65th, 70th and every anniversary after that. UK couples or their families apply through gov.uk, ideally a few weeks in advance.
What do grandchildren write in an anniversary card?
Keep it short and specific: the number of years, one thing you associate with them, and your name. Young children can draw instead - that's the bit that gets kept.