A Friend's Wedding Anniversary: Gifts and Wording

Most friends' anniversaries don't need a gift. A card, or even a message, is the whole job - and sending one at all puts you ahead of almost everyone else they know.

The exceptions are the big ones: a first anniversary for a couple whose wedding you were at, and the milestone years, where a card is the minimum and a small gift is welcome.

Below: when to send what, funny and heartfelt wording, and gifts for the couple you're genuinely close to.

Anniversary cards, printed in the UK

Funny, rude and warm designs, blank inside so the joke is yours. Printed in the UK and posted first class.

I Still Fancy You Peach Emoji Anniversary Card I Still Fancy You Peach Emoji Anniversary Card £3.87 There's Someone For All Of Us (Funny Wedding Card) There's Someone For All Of Us (Funny Wedding Card) £3.87 I Still Fancy You Eggplant Emoji Anniversary Card I Still Fancy You Eggplant Emoji Anniversary Card £3.87 365 Days Still Not Bored Anniversary Card 365 Days Still Not Bored Anniversary Card £3.87 Personalised Polaroid-style wedding card featuring an illustrated wedding cake and the text Just Married with custom names. Just Married Cake Polaroid Wedding Day Card (Personalised Names) £3.87 Personalised Wedding Card Featuring Pigeons Personalised Wedding Card Featuring Pigeons £3.87

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When to send what

  • Ordinary year - a message, or a card if you're the sort of friend who sends them.
  • First anniversary, and you were at the wedding - a card, definitely.
  • Milestone years (10, 25, 40, 50) - a card and something small.
  • A party or a meal - a card and a bottle, or a print if you know their house.
  • Long distance - a card posted, which lands better than a message.

Funny wording for friends

  • Another year and neither of you has run off. Impressive. Happy anniversary.
  • Congratulations on a year of shared Wi-Fi and unresolved bin disputes.
  • Happy anniversary. You two deserve each other, in the nicest way.
  • Ten years. At this point you're basically one person with two phones.
  • Still married? Extraordinary scenes. Happy anniversary.
  • Happy anniversary to the couple who made everyone else's wedding look badly organised. Shop this card

Warm wording for friends

  • Happy anniversary to two of my favourite people.
  • Congratulations on another year. Watching you two is a genuine pleasure.
  • Happy anniversary. Best wedding I've ever been to, and I include my own.
  • A year on and it still looks like the right call. Happy anniversary, both.
  • Wishing you both a lovely day. You've earned it.

Gifts for a close couple

  • A print for the wall of the house you've been to enough times to judge.
  • A candle, which no couple has ever had too many of.
  • A bottle and a card - simple, and always right.
  • Babysitting, if they have small children. It is the single most valuable gift on this list.
  • Dinner at yours, cooked, with no expectation of reciprocation.

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Prints for the wall

A5, A4 and A3 art prints, drawn in house and printed in the UK. They post flat and frame easily.

All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) £8.00 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics Print 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics Print £6.00 Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 99 Problems, Prompting Ain't One A6 Postcard 99 Problems, Prompting Ain't One A6 Postcard £3.00 Play That Funky Music Print A6 Postcard Play That Funky Music Print A6 Postcard £3.00

How to write it so it lands

  • A card beats a message, and costs less than a coffee.
  • One joke plus one sincere line is the formula.
  • Babysitting is the best gift you can give parents of small children.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you send a card for a friend's wedding anniversary?

It's optional for an ordinary year and expected for the first anniversary if you were at the wedding, or for milestone years. A posted card always lands better than a message.

Do you buy a gift for a friend's anniversary?

Usually no. A card covers it. Save gifts for milestones, or for couples you're close enough to buy for confidently - a candle, a print or a bottle.

What do you write in a friend's anniversary card?

A joke about the two of them, then one warm line. The mix is what makes it sound like you rather than a shop.

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