Are you coming up on your 40th wedding anniversary? What a special occasion!
As you begin shopping for this ruby anniversary, you may feel daunted by the sheer amount of options or feel boxed in by tradition. We at Clean Origin want such a special celebration of love and commitment to be one that you can enjoy.
Here, we go over every detail. We thought of everything, so you don’t have to! We hope you enjoy our list of common questions and gift suggestions for the 40th wedding anniversary.
40th Anniversary Symbolism
Crystal and Color
The 40th wedding anniversary is traditionally the Ruby Red anniversary. The color theme is often red, with traditional gifts conforming to the red family. Red, pink, or burgundy are common examples.
While ruby is a big part of the celebration, you don’t necessarily need rubies or even ruby red to meet the symbolism. Any red-toned stone or reddish-toned decorations will work just as well!
The point is to celebrate the rich inner flame of passion that runs through such a deeply committed partnership. Celebrate that inner flame however you would like!
Flowers
The flowers for a 40th wedding anniversary are nasturtiums and gladioli.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtium is a flower that represents patriotism, conquest, and victory. It’s the less popular of the two flowers when celebrating anniversaries today. Some love the flower enough to center it in their day, and some find that the idea of their wedding anniversary being a type of victory is a fun way to celebrate conquering any past hardships.
Nasturtium is a flower that recognizes how wonderful it is to face the world as a united team. They even grow together in thickly tangled patches to support each other. Nasturtiums are also lovely edible flowers. Therefore, when considering your 40th-anniversary meal, you can always plan to make them part of your conquest!
Gladioli
Gladioli are the more popular of the two flowers because of their gentle meaning. A gladiolus means generosity, sincerity, the strength of character, infatuation, splendid beauty, and admiration. What a lovely way to tell your partner you care!
Like diamonds, these flowers speak out proudly about the love within a marriage. Many people enjoy putting a ring or wrapping a bracelet around the thick stalks of these red, white, pink, and yellow flowers when they present a bouquet for an anniversary gift! The defined, assorted color flowers and bright green stalks make jewelry especially striking.
Red Roses
Red roses are also an excellent option for wedding anniversary gifts. If you need a striking way to give your partner a gift on your 40th anniversary, you can’t go wrong with flowers wrapped in jewels!
40th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Ideas
Yes, experiences are gifts, and they are worth it. There is no set way to celebrate such a big event, which leaves many people a bit stressed and lost. Do not panic! We at Clean Origin have your back. Remember to focus on what makes you and your partner, or the couple you are planning for, the happiest!
You could try highlighting the activities that you have maintained within your marriage. Alternatively, trying something new for this 40th anniversary could add a spark of romance and excitement.
If you’re still nervous, we have included a list of some great 40th wedding anniversary party ideas.
Candlelit Dinner
Picture it, begin the celebration with just the two of you in a romantic setting. Later, you can have a dessert party with your family and friends for a 40th-anniversary party! Or, do without the party if you know you or your spouse would enjoy an intimate 40th-anniversary experience.
Renew Your Vows
Relive a magical moment as you celebrate your 40th anniversary of marriage. Invite loved ones, dance, eat great food, and enjoy the celebratory atmosphere.
Red Wine Tasting
A ruby red wine will hold onto the ruby theme of your 40th wedding anniversary but still keeps things modern and fun. Pair it with a fantastic 40th-anniversary gift, a bottle of wine!
Hike and a Picnic
Hike out to a gorgeous lookout with some picnic items for your 40th anniversary. Is the act the gift? Beautiful. If you plan on a physical gift to compliment the experience, store it in a safe (and preferably hidden) compartment of your hiking gear or picnic basket.
Destination Vacation
Maybe family and friends can join you in Las Vegas, Austin, Vermont, Martha’s Vineyard, or wherever else you might want to go! The trip is a tremendous 40th-anniversary gift.
The Perfect Gift for a Ruby Anniversary
If you are still unsure of what to do, don’t worry! We have compiled a list of some of the best 40th-anniversary gifts that pair well together and stand-alone perfectly.
Remember that the perfect gift is personal when looking for an anniversary gift. Celebrating your years together is an integral part of the milestone!
Depending on who you are, 40th-anniversary gifts are different. Looking for a balance of traditional and modern can be a challenge when celebrating those 40 years together.
These are great symbols of appreciation. Give this on its own or in addition to an activity we mentioned above.
Jewelry
Ruby Red Theme
As you celebrate your union and partner, some of the symbols and traditions, such as the color red, may be a helpful guide. Since the 40th anniversaries are the Ruby Anniversary, consider some pink or red jewelry.
You don’t have to be literal and choose a ruby. You can always opt for a rose gold setting to play on the color scheme, or consider a pink diamond!
Some examples of these gifts would be our Starburst Diamond Pendant in rose gold or one of our pink diamonds.
Rare and fancy colored, pink diamonds make a unique, showstopper gift and tip their hat to tradition. This way, you can get something more luxurious and worthy of everyday wear than ruby jewelry while still honoring the 40th-anniversary traditional symbols.
40th Anniversary Floral Theme
Now, if you’re looking for a 40th-anniversary gift for parents or in-laws, you have much more freedom. You can stick with the ruby symbolism, but you can also lean into the traditional flower of the anniversary, the gladiolus, and find a more garden-themed piece of jewelry. A great example is our Floral Halo Diamond Pendant.
Diamond Bracelet
You can also remove traditional symbols altogether and get a gorgeous tennis bracelet, like our 1/2 CT. TW. Saturni Station Bracelet.
A soft, delicate piece that is perfect for everyday wear, this bracelet will become a daily reminder of how far you and your partner have come together. A gorgeous, modern 40th-anniversary gift is the ever-versatile diamond bracelet.
Sustainable, like your partnership, the Saturni Station Bracelet sparkles as brightly as the passionate inner flame you’re celebrating.
Anniversary Band
Anniversary bands are an excellent gift for milestone anniversaries! They are traditionally worn on the right-handed ring finger, so they don’t detract from the wedding ring or band.
Many people love them because you can get various bands over the year. This way, each band commemorates a particular day, and each matches a different occasion. Some people like mixing and matching gold and silver; some even opt for wood!
These classic gifts are very romantic and can conform to anyone’s style. The versatility of an anniversary band is its main pull. This gift can be worn instead of a wedding ring and stacked with other bands and rings. Interestingly, you can even design it to hug the original engagement ring.
Matching Ring
If you want to match your existing ring with a Clean Origin piece, look through our bridal sets. The ring that looks most like your own in our bridal set category has a gorgeous band paired that compliments your ring.
Eternity bands are also a great option and are often an elegant, modern name for an anniversary band. These diamond-studded bands are a fantastic way to express how precious the last 40 years together have been.
Updated Wedding Bands
After 40 years, you may want to try a new style or have options when you get ready in the morning. This gift idea can also be a great way to renew your commitment to each other and can accompany a vow renewal ceremony as part of your celebration. Whether you want to add matching wedding bands, a new men’s wedding band, or you just like shopping for lab diamonds, it is all appropriate and encouraged on such a big occasion!
Engraved Bottle of Champagne
This is a great gift to share with your partner. Alternatively, it is a great gift to the happy couple because you can choose a bottle of champagne they have loved for forty years.
Or better yet, find champagne that was bottled on their anniversary date. You can also simply pick a beautiful-looking bottle and engrave a heartfelt message. It really takes the idea of gifting wine to a whole new level!
Wood Watch Box
After a few years of gifting watches, cufflinks, and earrings, it may be time to invest in some protection. Soft velvet jewelry cases or ochre wood boxes are great ways to protect the gifts of anniversaries past.
Caring for each other is how 40th anniversaries are reached, so don’t stop at buying gifts, protect them too. White gold watches and diamond earrings need to be lovingly cared for too!
Key Takeaways for Anniversary Gifting
In the case you are a child of the couple, it is best to remember that you should try not to do combined gifts for your parents’ 40th anniversary.
They each did work as part of a team to reach this milestone, and each deserves special recognition.
The same can apply to other family members and friends planning to gift the happy couple with something to remind them of how enthused you are to witness their partnership.
Getting gift ideas can be challenging and requires research and inspiration. Keep the ruby anniversary theme in mind while you try to acquire your gift idea.
Mix and match from the gift options we have listed, or use them as inspiration as you shop. If you’re still not quite sure, check out our Pinterest! We have plenty of inspiration for your upcoming celebration there, including a board specifically designed for the 40th wedding anniversaries. And if you’re looking for gifts for another 40th celebration, like a birthday, check out our suggestions here.
