Did You Know There’s a Flower to Represent Your Wedding Anniversary? Here’s What It Symbolizes
Whether it’s your first, fifth, or 60th wedding anniversary (congratulations!), you’d best believe that there’s a special flower to mark each milestone…
Flowers have a special way of saying what words sometimes cannot. They mark celebrations, soothe sorrows, and capture emotions in color, scent, and form. But did you know that each wedding anniversary has its own traditional flower?
Yes, just as there is a birth month perennial or houseplant that speaks volumes about you as an individual, so, too, is there a bloom for your marriage. From the delicate carnation for a first anniversary, to the enduring peony for a diamond anniversary, these blooms carry symbolic meaning and offer a thoughtful, timeless way to celebrate your love.
This isn’t a new trend; in fact, the tradition of assigning flowers to anniversaries dates back centuries. While some of the earliest references appear in Victorian-era gift guides, the custom has persisted because flowers speak a universal language of love, devotion, and shared history.
They’re also practical, as unlike gemstones or traditional gifts, flowers bloom, fade, and return each year… just like a happily growing marriage.
Wedding Anniversary Flowers
Whether you’re marking your first year together or celebrating decades of shared life, these romantic flowers full of hidden meaning provide a wonderfully personal touch.
Without any further ado, then, here’s a guide to the most recognized anniversary blooms in the United States...
Years 1-9
The first nine years of marriage are full of growth and beauty, along with a few storms to weather. It makes sense, then, that there’s a rich garden of blooms to mark each fledgling step along the way.
Carnations symbolize young love, fascination, and admiration, so they are perfect for couples who want a traditional bloom for celebrating a first milestone together.
Lily-of-the-Valley has long represented sweetness, humility, and a return to happiness, making it ideal for a blossoming partnership.
Bright and optimistic, sunflowers reflect loyalty, adoration, and the joy of those early years spent with your beloved.
A symbol of comfort, protection, and gentleness, geraniums suit a couple growing steady roots together.
Innocence and loyal love are captured in the cheerful daisy, perfect for a half-decade celebration.
Elegant and dramatic, calla lilies signify beauty and refined devotion. And this one in particular is a symbol of grace, boasting enduring white flowers that last.
Known for trust, friendship, and thoughtfulness, planting freesias (especially sunshine-coded ones like these) is perfect for strengthening bonds.
Evoking first love and youthful joy, lilacs add fragrance and memory to the anniversary table... whether literal or otherwise.
The poppy symbolizes imagination and eternal rest, a reminder of shared dreams and peaceful moments.
The Decade Milestones
By the time couples reach the decade milestones, anniversaries tend to take on new meaning. It's less about novelty, more about endurance – which means inviting those moments that encourage reflection, celebration, and a deeper appreciation of longevity.
You'd best believe, then, that the wedding anniversary flowers well and truly reflect this shift...
Representing joy, renewal, and rebirth, daffodils celebrate a decade of marriage with cheer and hope.
Symbolizing patience, elegance, and dainty beauty, asters mark two decades of enduring love.
Graceful and sophisticated, lilies are one of the most elegant flowers around, and perfect for honoring a mature, thriving partnership.
With bold, upright spikes, gladiolus represents strength of character, integrity, and admiration. Perfect for 40 years together, then!
A golden anniversary calls for a golden rose: friendship, joy, and enduring love. They’re also the universal symbol of joy, warmth, and affection, so it’s a win all round!
Peonies have long been associated with prosperity, honour, and a love that deepens with time, making them a fitting symbol for a long-lasting marriage. With their lush, full blooms and impressive longevity (many peony plants can thrive for decades), they reflect a partnership built on patience, care, and shared history.
If you're lucky enough to make that 60th wedding anniversary, rest assured that peonies, beloved for their beauty and reliability, also serve to remind us that some of the most spectacular things in life take time to establish. And, once they do, they return year after year with remarkable consistency.
Assigning flowers to anniversaries isn’t just a quaint tradition; flowers are living, breathing markers of love. And, whether it’s your first anniversary or your diamond jubilee, the right bloom can express your feelings in a way that words sometimes cannot.
This year, celebrate your milestone with a flower that tells your story, honors your journey, and blooms for many seasons to come. You won't regret it.
