23rd Anniversary Gift Ideas: Silver Plate Gifts for Him and Her

What is the 23rd anniversary gift?

There is no traditional 23rd anniversary gift on the classic list. The modern 23rd anniversary gift is silver plate, a fitting warm-up for your 25th, the silver anniversary. Silver-plated pieces have a thin layer of real silver over another metal, so they look elegant while staying affordable.

Silver plate or sterling silver?

Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver and is usually stamped "925" or "sterling". Silver plate is made by bonding a thin layer of silver onto a base metal such as copper or brass, and is often marked "EP" for electroplate or "EPNS" for electroplated nickel silver. Plate costs far less and looks just as bright when new, but the silver layer can wear thin over many years of polishing. For a 23rd anniversary, plate is the traditional choice, and many couples save sterling for the 25th.

Silver plate 23rd anniversary gifts for her

1. A silver-plated photo frame with a picture from your wedding day.
2. A silver-plated jewelry box lined with velvet.
3. A silver-plated hand mirror engraved with her initials.
4. A silver-plated bud vase with twenty-three roses on the table beside it.
5. A silver-plated charm bracelet with a charm for each milestone.
6. A silver-plated tea set for afternoon tea together.
7. A silver-plated keepsake box for your love letters.

Silver plate 23rd anniversary gifts for him

8. A silver-plated flask engraved with your wedding date.
9. Silver-plated cufflinks or a tie bar.
10. A silver-plated beer tankard or whiskey tumblers.
11. A silver-plated pocket watch.
12. A silver-plated pen and a leather-bound journal.
13. A silver-plated valet tray for his keys and watch.
14. A silver-plated golf divot tool or ball marker for the golfer.

Silver plate gifts for your home

15. A silver-plated serving tray for breakfast in bed.
16. Silver-plated candlesticks for anniversary dinners.
17. A silver-plated cake stand for celebrations to come.
18. A silver-plated ice bucket and two champagne glasses.
19. A set of silver-plated cutlery from the year you married, found at an antique shop.
20. A silver-plated picture frame collage with one photo from each decade.

Experience gifts for a 23rd anniversary

21. A silver-screen evening: a classic movie from the year you married at an old theater.
22. A moonlit dinner, a nod to the silvery moon.
23. A weekend away somewhere with a silver lake, river or coastline.
24. A photo shoot to celebrate twenty-three years.
25. A personalized song that tells your story so far.

How to tell silver plate from sterling

Turn the piece over and look for small stamps called hallmarks. "Sterling", "925" or a lion mark on British pieces mean solid silver, while "EP", "EPNS", "silver plate" or a maker's name with "plate" mean silver-plated. Worn spots where a coppery or yellow metal shows through are another sign of plate. If you are buying vintage, a reputable dealer will always tell you which you are getting.

Where to find vintage silver plate

Antique shops, estate sales and flea markets are full of beautiful silver-plated trays, teapots and candlesticks, often for much less than new pieces. Look for makers whose marks you can research, check for dents and worn plating and choose pieces you will actually use. A tray or teapot made around the year you married adds a story to the gift.

How to care for silver plate

Silver plate needs gentler care than sterling because the silver layer is thin. Wash it by hand in warm, soapy water, dry it right away and polish it only occasionally with a mild silver polish and a soft cloth. Avoid dishwashers, abrasive pads and long contact with salt, eggs or rubber, which can speed up tarnishing. Stored in anti-tarnish bags, silver plate can stay bright for decades.

Looking ahead to your silver anniversary

The 23rd year is a good time to start planning your 25th. Some couples save for a big trip, others plan a vow renewal or a party with the people who were at their wedding. A silver-plated gift this year can be a small promise of the celebration to come. For ideas, see our 25th anniversary gift guide.

23rd anniversary gifts on any budget

For a small budget, a silver-plated frame, a handwritten letter in a silver-plated box or a moonlit picnic all feel personal. In the middle range, a tea set, cufflinks or a serving tray make a lasting impression. For a bigger splurge, plan a weekend away and give a silver-plated keepsake to remember it.

23rd anniversary date ideas

• Watch a classic film from the year you married.
• Have dinner by candlelight with silver-plated candlesticks.
• Take a moonlit walk on a beach or by a lake.
• Visit an antique market and choose a silver-plated piece together.
• Write down twenty-three favorite memories and read them aloud.

23 small ways to say "I love you"

• Leave a note on the bathroom mirror.
• Make their coffee exactly the way they like it.
• Plan a surprise picnic.
• Put your wedding song on while you cook.
• Book the date you keep talking about.
• Take over a chore they dislike for a month.
• Frame a photo from your honeymoon.
• Write down your favorite memory from each decade together.

Pick a few and spread them across the anniversary week, saving the main gift for the day itself.

23rd anniversary ideas with kids or long distance

With grown children, ask them to share a favorite family memory at dinner or help plan a surprise for your partner. If you are apart, send a silver-plated keepsake and a letter, schedule a video dinner and share a personalized song by link.

23rd anniversary gifts for parents or friends

For parents or friends, a silver-plated frame with their wedding photo, a serving tray for family gatherings, dinner reservations or a personalized song about their life together are easy to share, and the family can chip in together.

What to write in a 23rd anniversary card

Mention a memory from this year, a quality you still admire after all this time and a wish for the road to your silver anniversary. "Twenty-three years down, and I cannot wait for the next twenty-three" is a warm, simple start.

A song as a 23rd anniversary gift

A personalized song captures twenty-three years with your names in the chorus: how you met, the family you have built and the moments that matter most. See our anniversary songs for inspiration and the anniversary gifts by year chart for every year.

How to create a 23rd anniversary song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, country, pop and more.
2. Add both of your names.
3. Share three moments from your twenty-three years together.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Celebrate twenty-three years with a song about you: create a song and hear four previews for free.