If you want a 25th, 40th, or 50th wedding anniversary card that looks like the couple, Ottermagic starts with a photo they already like. Upload it, run Style Swap or Face Swap, preview until you would put it on the table with the cake, then order a UK A5 card (148×210mm folded, 330gsm gloss, envelope included, Royal Mail around 3–5 working days) or an e-card when the party is too close for post. Silver is 25 years, ruby is 40, golden is 50. The years are different. The mechanism is the same. Start at Ottermagic.com.
These dates often gather people who have not seen each other in a while. The front of the card will be photographed. Choose a tone that still looks kind in a group chat.
The short map
| Anniversary | Traditional name | Tone that usually fits |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | Silver | Playful is allowed; they may still want Cartoon or Photobooth |
| 40th | Ruby | Warm, a bit proud; Sketch, Watercolour, Royal Portrait |
| 50th | Golden | Quieter keepsake energy; still room for a private joke if that is them |
These are customs, not laws. A couple who met at a gig may want Retro Halftone at 50. A private couple may want Sketch at 25. Preview beats tradition.
How it works: a photo of one person or both → Style Swap or Face Swap → preview → printed A5, e-card, or poster / canvas of the same artwork.
Pet Swap if the marriage has always included a dog on the Christmas card. Text Swap if a face on the front would feel like too much for a distant relative to send.
Good to know: preview before you pay. UK print is A5 148×210mm folded, 330gsm gloss, envelope included, blank inside or printed message, printed to order, recyclable stock, water-based inks. Typical post around 3–5 working days with Royal Mail. E-card: hi-res, watermark-free download. Posters and canvas: available; check Ottermagic.com for live sizes and fulfilment. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day). Prices are in pounds in the UK shop and dollars in the US shop.
For a couple or guests in the US, the US shop sends the same A5 by airmail to a US address in about 2–3 weeks. If the party is sooner than that, download the e-card and print locally.
Photos of a long marriage
A recent picture, both looking like themselves, in decent light, is the kindest front. An original wedding photo can be moving and can also freeze them at 22 while the room is full of grandchildren. Some couples love that. Ask someone who knows them.
For two people, use a design that expects two faces, or make two coordinating cards. Do not squash two heads into a one-person crop. The preview will look cramped and a bit sad.
Glasses, grey hair, and new beards are part of the likeness. Do not hunt for a 1998 photo because you think it is more flattering unless they still look like that.
If only one person is in the shot, that can still be the card from the other. Say so inside.
Style Swap for silver, ruby, and gold
Style Swap restyles the likeness into a named look.
Silver (25): Cartoon, Classic Cartoon, Photobooth, Clay 3D, and Chibi often fit people who still send each other memes. Watercolour and Sketch fit people who would hate a bobblehead.
Ruby (40): Royal Portrait, Sketch, Watercolour, and Retro Halftone tend to sit well on a mantel. Action Figure can work if they would laugh.
Golden (50): Sketch, Watercolour, and Royal Portrait are the usual first tries. Pixel Art and Retro Game are only right if that is their house.
Live styles: Brick, Chibi, Emoji, Anime, Watercolour, Caricature, Cartoon, Classic Cartoon, Action Figure, Clay 3D, Retro Halftone, Retro Game, Royal Portrait, Pixel Art, Bobblehead, Sticker Sheet, Tarot Card, Photobooth, Sketch, Lucky Leprechaun.
Caricature and Bobblehead can feel like a roast. Save them for couples who roast themselves.
Face Swap on a long anniversary
Face Swap puts them into a finished scene. A grand, slightly theatrical template can be a gift for playful couples: "this is us, still being extra." Lucky Leprechaun is a named Face Swap-led look and is a stretch for most golden weddings. Photobooth can echo an old holiday strip.
If you are a grandchild, Face Swap is easy to overdo. Generate one Face Swap and one quiet Style Swap. Send the one that does not make you nervous.
Words, gifts, and wall art
Inside, name the actual years and one true detail: the garden, the football, the way they still argue about the heating. "Happy 50th" on its own is thin.
Blank inside is useful when many relatives will sign at the lunch. A printed message is useful when the card is going through the post to a couple who will not have a party.
The A5 card is the thing you hand over. If the Style Swap is strong, a poster or canvas of the same artwork can be the present on the wall. Ottermagic offers those formats. Check the site for live details. Other shops sell photo canvases of unedited wedding pictures; that is a different object from a Watercolour likeness. You can still use Ottermagic for wall art. It is not exclusive to photo labs.
Timing: golden wedding lunches are often booked. Count working days. If you are late, the e-card printed at home is better than a speech with no card.
Ready when you are
Choose a photo they already like, try a style that matches how they actually live, and preview until it feels like a gift rather than a gag at their expense. Print UK A5 330gsm gloss with an envelope, download the e-card, or order a poster or canvas of the same design. Start at Ottermagic.com. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day).
FAQ
Is ruby 40 years and golden 50?
Yes, in the usual UK naming: silver 25, ruby 40, golden 50. If your family uses different names, follow them.
Can I use the original wedding photo?
You can. Check it still feels like them. A recent photo often lands more kindly in the room.
What if I only have a photo of one of them?
Make one card, and say inside that the other half is implied, or make two cards. Do not fake a missing face.
How do I get a card to the US for a golden wedding?
Order the printed A5 from the US shop and allow about 2–3 weeks for airmail to their US address. If the anniversary is closer than that, use the e-card and print or email the file.
Are posters suitable as an anniversary gift?
Yes, if they want wall art. Confirm sizes and fulfilment on Ottermagic.com. Pair it with a small A5 to open at the table if you like.
Can I leave the inside blank?
Yes. Blank or printed message.
