Wedding anniversary invitations are appropriate items to send out, whether it's your first or your 101st anniversary. Of course, in this day and age, it's hard to find hopping and bumping centenarians! A wedding anniversary is a time to commemorate, reflect upon, celebrate, and give thanks for your commitment, love, and adoration for your spouse or significant other. A wedding anniversary is the anniversary of the date on which the wedding transpired. Married persons have traditionally been the recipients of gifts on their wedding anniversaries, especially in certain years, and this practice is common especially in Western countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Each country, moreover, gives gifts and follows procedures appropriate to certain anniversary years. Each is a slight permutation on the same theme. Couples needn't be married to mail out invitations to friends and relatives. Many couples who have been living together for a certain number of years are recognized as being legally married by the state. This is called common law marriage. Sometimes, the bonds couples share aren't officially recognized by the state with a marriage certificate, but the anniversary can still be celebrated just as well, and the invitations are still appropriate. However, they might need to be homemade because there aren't very many simple anniversary-only invitations. Most invitations are prefaced with the word wedding.

As mentioned previously, each country follows traditions specific to the region for anniversaries on certain, distinct years. In the United Kingdom, the 7th anniversary is referred to as the Copper Anniversary. The 10th anniversary goes by the moniker, Aluminum Anniversary. The Silver (25th) Anniversary is very special, and the Gold (50th) even more so. The rare Platinum (75th) Anniversary is ultra-special, and extremely unique Diamond (100th) Anniversary is a sight to see. In fact, in Britain, along with all the other Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the King for the 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries. In Canada, a couple can receive a greeting from the Governor General; in Australia, a couple can also receive congratulations from the governor-general. And, finally, in the United States, one can receive a greeting from the President on the 50th anniversary. The general theory is that long-term married couples have been law-abiding, tax-paying, healthy citizens that deserve a nod of respect and thanks. Invitations, though, are not sent to those prime ministers, governors, and presidents. The couple needs to apply through a bureaucratic process.

Wedding anniversary invitations are necessary for the 1st, 7th, 10th, 25th, and 50th wedding anniversaries in most Western countries. They're especially sent out to people that were present at the wedding originally. It's a special way of alerting the folks that were present at the wedding that the couple is doing fine and happy in their new lifestyle. Traditional gifts given out after wedding anniversary invitations have been mailed out includes a list of the following: clocks, china, crystal, appliances, silverware, copper, linens, textiles, fur, ivory, gold, lace, fashion jewelry, silk, pearls, furniture, musical instruments, brass, bronze, copper, or shiny precious stones. The gift ideas are numerous, but the same traditions are usually followed.