Silver Wedding Anniversary Flowers: What to Send for 25 Years

The traditional flower for a silver wedding anniversary is the iris. Twenty-five years is silver, so a silver anniversary bouquet is usually white with silvery-green foliage: white irises, white roses, hydrangeas and eucalyptus. Below is what to send, how many roses, what to write on the card and how to time the delivery. Written by our florists at the studio in Southwark (SE1), with same-day delivery across London.

A 25th wedding anniversary is the first of the big ones. The flowers come from two directions: from a husband or wife who wants something more than the usual bouquet, and from children, parents and friends who are invited to the party. The ideas below are what our customers order for a silver wedding and what we suggest when someone asks us on WhatsApp. For the flowers of every other year, see our guide to anniversary flowers by year.

What is the traditional flower for a 25th wedding anniversary?

The iris. In the language of flowers it stands for faith, hope and wisdom, which is a fair summary of twenty-five years of marriage. Irises come in blue, purple and white; for a silver wedding the white ones are the closest match, and a bouquet made only of irises looks clean and modern. Our White iris serenity is exactly that: thirty white stems and nothing else. More options are in the irises collection.

What colour flowers are best for a silver anniversary?

There is no silver flower, so florists create the effect with white petals and grey-green leaves. Three combinations work almost every time:

• White and green. White roses with eucalyptus, whose dusty leaves are the nearest thing to silver that grows. See 12 white roses with eucalyptus or the rest of our white roses.
• Soft and full. White hydrangeas give volume and a slightly cool tone, for example the White hydrangea bouquet with eucalyptus.
• White with a touch of blue. Blue irises among white roses and tulips nod to tradition without making the bouquet formal; see Spring on the Thames.

The whole range in these tones is in our white flowers collection.

How many roses should I send for a 25th anniversary?

Twenty-five: one rose for every year of marriage. It is a generous bouquet without being enormous, and the number explains itself on the card. White roses fit the silver theme; red roses are the choice when the bouquet is from one spouse to the other and the message is romance rather than the date. If you want exactly 25 stems, write the number in the order comment or message us on WhatsApp before ordering. For a grand gesture there is the bouquet of 50 white garden roses: two for every year. Our guide to how many roses to give explains what each number means.

What flowers should I give my wife or husband for our silver wedding?

Start with what they actually like, then add the silver. If she has always loved peonies or he prefers something simple and green, a bouquet of their favourite flower in white will mean more than a textbook arrangement of irises. A second idea our customers use: ask us to repeat the wedding bouquet. Send a photo from the wedding album on WhatsApp and we will tell you which flowers are in season and how close we can get.

What flowers should children or friends send for a silver wedding?

Something the couple can enjoy together and that does not need arranging on a busy day. A bouquet already in a vase or a flower box can go straight onto the table. Bouquets in a vase are delivered within London only, because a parcel courier would break the glass. If several people are sending flowers, one larger bouquet from everyone usually looks better than three small ones, and the card can list all the names.

What else can I add to silver wedding flowers?

Silver balloons are the obvious match. A helium number 2 and number 5 next to the bouquet make the photographs, and for a party there is the Silver celebration balloon set. Helium balloons are delivered within London only; all sets are in our balloons collection. For a couple who would rather have a hamper than flowers, see our gift hampers.

What should I write on a silver anniversary card?

Keep it short and personal. A few lines our customers use:

• "Twenty-five years, and I would choose you again tomorrow. Happy silver anniversary."
• "One rose for every year. Here is to the next twenty-five."
• "To Mum and Dad: happy silver wedding, with love from all of us."
• "Twenty-five years of marriage looks good on you both. Congratulations."

Can I send silver anniversary flowers to a restaurant or party?

Yes. Give the venue name and the full address, the name the table is booked under and a phone number of someone who will be there. Choose a future date and a delivery window at checkout: 9 am to 1 pm, 1 pm to 6 pm or 6 pm to 11 pm. For an evening dinner the afternoon window is the safest, so the flowers are there before the guests. If the bouquet has to arrive at an exact time, write to us on WhatsApp before ordering and we will tell you what is possible.

Can I get silver anniversary flowers delivered the same day in London?

Yes. We deliver across London seven days a week, and same-day orders are accepted until 10 pm, weekends included. A same-day order has no fixed window, so if timing matters, order the day before and pick a window. More ideas for every year are in our anniversary flowers collection.

Can I send silver wedding flowers outside London?

Yes, hand-tied bouquets and flower boxes are delivered to mainland England, Wales and Scotland in 2 to 3 working days, so order a few days ahead of the anniversary. Bouquets in a vase, flower baskets and helium balloons are delivered within London only. If you are not sure what the couple would like, a Floritta gift card lets them choose their own bouquet and delivery date.

How long will silver anniversary flowers last?

White roses and hydrangeas usually last about a week in a vase with fresh water and a trimmed stem every couple of days. Irises are quicker: each flower opens for a few days, so they are at their best in the first four or five. Every bouquet comes with care instructions, and our freshness guarantee covers at least three days from delivery: if the flowers wilt sooner, send us a photo within those three days and we will replace them. More tips are in our guide to how long flowers last. And when the 50th comes round, we have a guide to golden wedding anniversary flowers too.