A bouquet of years, a flower of love
Seventeen years. This number resonates like a promise kept, a bond that has withstood the test of time, storms, laughter, and silences. Celebrating 17 years of marriage is to honor this invisible yet strong thread that connects two people. And to express this, one flower is fitting: the rose.
Why the rose, specifically? Because it embodies everything love becomes over the years: passionate yet serene, vibrant yet delicate, strong without ever being brutal. A flower with tender petals, but sharp thorns. A perfect symbol to represent the evolution of the couple, from the fire of the beginning to a gentle and constant warmth.
Rose wedding anniversaries aren't the most well-known, yet they deserve to be celebrated properly. Because at this stage of a couple's life, it's no longer just about passion. It's about a deep connection, strong roots, a bond woven through everyday life, and a love that has transformed, nurtured, and been elevated.
In this article, we'll delve into the heart of this floral symbolism: what is the meaning of a rose wedding anniversary? Where does this connection between the flower and the wedding anniversary come from? What are the most beautiful ways to celebrate these 17 years of love? And above all, what gifts should you give to mark this unique milestone in your life together? We'll also share some inspiring words to give, to write, to keep close to your heart.
So, close your eyes, breathe in the scent of memories… and let yourself be guided.
The meaning of rose wedding anniversaries
Why are 17 years of marriage called the rose wedding anniversary?
Each wedding anniversary has its own image, its own material, its own symbol. And for the 17th anniversary, the rose was chosen. Not by chance. The rose is the emblem of love in all its forms. It speaks of passion, trust, desire, and fidelity. A flower with a universal language, capable of expressing without words what the heart feels.
But beyond the flower, it's also the number 17 that intrigues. It evokes a new maturity. It's no longer the adolescence of a relationship, but not yet the old age of the couple. It's a vibrant in-between stage: the couple is solid, grounded, yet retains its lightness. They have weathered the initial trials, sometimes doubts, often challenges, and have emerged stronger. Seventeen is the promise of a stable love, without being rigid.
Some also see it as a nod to rosewood. A precious, rare material with a subtle fragrance. Used in marquetry or fine perfumery, it combines elegance and durability. A perfect metaphor for a love carefully built, patinated by time.
So when we talk about a rose wedding anniversary, we're not just talking about flowers or numbers. We're talking about a story. Yours.
The rose, a flower rich in meaning
We think of the rose as simple. It never is. It comes in a variety of colors, shades, and messages. Each hue, each variety, tells a different story. It's a floral alphabet in itself.
- The red rose ? Essential. It speaks of passion, sacred fire, ardent love. To offer a red rose is to open your heart without reservation.
- The white rose ? It whispers of purity, fidelity, and sincerity of feelings. It also evokes vows exchanged, the promise of true love.
- The pink rose ? Sweet, subtle, it reflects tenderness, complicity, those everyday gestures that are worth a thousand "I love yous." It's often the one chosen for a 17th birthday.
And then there are the stories… like that of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Legend has it that red roses sprang from the blood shed by Adonis, her wounded lover. In tears, Aphrodite transformed this blood into flowers, so that love, even when broken, would leave an eternal mark. A powerful, tragic, yet beautiful image: that of a love that transcends time and always finds a way to bloom.
Ultimately, the rose is much more than a plant. It is a messenger. A confidante. A fragrant memory.
The following will explore all the ways to celebrate the rose wedding anniversary, unforgettable gift ideas (with of course a special place for the name digraph and the crystalline digraph ), and words of love to give or write.
Ideas for celebrating a rose wedding anniversary
At 17 years of marriage, love has the beauty of a rose in full bloom: radiant, softened by time, brimming with memories and still-fresh enthusiasm. Why not make this day a bouquet of moments shared by the two of you? Here are a few tender and inspiring ideas to celebrate your rose wedding anniversary with poetry.
A romantic pink-themed dinner
Why not begin the celebration with a feast in shades of pink? In soft lighting, a carefully set table becomes a haven for your love. Scatter a few petals on a pastel tablecloth, light floral-scented candles, and let the magic unfold.
On the menu? Smoked salmon or gravlax with pink peppercorns, a beetroot and fresh goat cheese salad, a raspberry panna cotta… Each dish is a nod to sweetness and passion. A rosé champagne or homemade red berry lemonade will complete the picture.
Add a soothing playlist, a few songs that have always been with you, and above all, take the time. To look at each other. To toast each other. To say thank you.
A romantic getaway
Sometimes, all it takes is a short getaway to find yourself in a world of your own. And what could be more symbolic than a weekend in the heart of a rose garden? In Provence, in a floral park or a secret garden, stroll hand in hand along the flower-lined paths, breathe deeply, and let the beauty envelop you.
You can also opt for a stay in a treehouse, an English-style cottage, or even a romantic castle. The idea isn't luxury, but intimacy. A cozy haven. A change of scenery that reconnects you with yourself.
And to prolong this sweet interlude, treat yourselves to a relaxing moment in a spa for two, with a rose massage. A bubble of well-being, a fragrant break, a setting for your memories.
A renewal of vows
Seventeen is a wonderful opportunity to say "yes" again. Differently. With today's words, the wrinkles of the heart, the promises that have grown.
Organize a small ceremony, just the two of you… or with a few close friends and family. Choose a place that has meaning: a garden you love, a beach at sunset, or even the venue where you got married. No need for elaborate staging. The most important thing is the emotion.
Prepare new vows – sincere, sometimes clumsy, but true. Have them engraved on a precious object, or slip them into a letter. And why not immortalize this moment with a soft and natural photo shoot, filled with knowing glances and bursts of laughter?
Activities to do together
Celebrating your rose wedding anniversary isn't necessarily about doing something grand. It's mainly about creating something beautiful, together.
You can participate in a floral workshop, learn to create your own bouquet, or compose a unique arrangement for each other. Better yet: plant a rosebush in your garden or on your balcony, as a promise to nurture your love story a little more each day.
Another idea? Treat yourself to a photo shoot in a rose garden. Dress in light colors, stroll among the flowers, and let the photographer capture what you don't always say, but what your eyes reveal.
Finally, for those with a soft spot for nostalgia, why not organize a memory night? Bring out the photos, videos, and little treasures collected over the years. Relive the milestones, the trips, the births, and the simple joys of everyday life. Laugh. Be moved. Rekindle the flame of the past to illuminate your present even more brightly.
And if you'd like to offer a powerful, poetic, and timeless symbol, consider a personalized digraph or a crystalline digraph: a unique artwork that merges your two names in a single optical illusion. At once a sculpture, a message, and a keepsake, it perfectly embodies 17 years of shared love. A gift to admire, to pass on, to cherish.
The best gift ideas for a rose wedding anniversary
Every anniversary brings its own emotion… and every emotion, its own gift. For a rose wedding anniversary, we look for a present that speaks of love without shouting it, that tells the story of 17 years of shared love in a whisper, a reflection, a sparkle. Here is a selection of treasures to mark this milestone, to be given with a flick of the wrist or with a big heart.
Symbolic gifts centered around the rose
It's impossible to celebrate a rose wedding anniversary without thinking of… roses, of course. But beyond the classic bouquet, you can play with symbols.
Giving 17 roses is quite a statement. Each one represents a year. Each one a memory. Red for enduring passion, white for the trials faced with sincerity, pink for the tenderness that has grown by your side. Let the colors speak for themselves; they know what you feel.
For a love frozen in time, the eternal rose under a glass dome always makes its mark. Like a protected, preserved love, ready to last for seasons to come. It evokes fairy tales, promises, the miracle of a feeling that never fades.
Another delightful idea: a book of poetry , where the words resonate like a beating heart. Or a beautiful illustrated book dedicated to roses and their secret language. To be leafed through together, snuggled up, on a summer or winter evening.
Jewelry and precious objects
Jewelry speaks for us when words fail us. For 17 years of marriage, choose a piece that evokes the rose in its shape, color, or rarity.
A bracelet, necklace, or ring with a delicately crafted floral motif becomes a subtle nod to this anniversary. For a more striking sparkle, a pink diamond —or stones with rosy hues—offers a soft light, a jewel of sentiment.
The lab-grown diamond , ethical and precious, is a modern and meaningful option: it signifies that your love is rare and deliberate, yet it doesn't detract from the beauty of the world. A gesture of commitment that transcends the couple.
And for tech lovers, a pink smartwatch can become a beautiful bridge between the present and the future. It marks the rhythm of your days like a discreet reminder of the time you've shared… and the time you still have to create together.
Rose-based perfumes and skincare
Memories have a scent. And the rose, in its olfactory form, is a caress for the soul. To offer a rose perfume is to offer an invisible trace, a signature, a trail that says "I love you" with every passing moment.
Choose a delicate fragrance that blends floral notes with others: woody, spicy, musky… There’s a perfect match for everyone. It’s a promise to wear on your skin.
Skincare creams or essential oils with rosewood complement this sensory experience. A massage for two, a wellness routine, a way to take care of each other, again and again.
Designer items and personalized souvenirs
For a gift that also enhances everyday life, designer objects with pink accents are always welcome. A delicate and luminous pink crystal sculpture catches the eye and warms the space. A fragment of art that speaks volumes without words. A talisman or chakra bracelet in Murano glass, with its soft hues, can also symbolize balance, the flow of energy, and the beauty of the invisible bond between two people. More practical, but just as elegant: a card holder or a pink leather bag, to carry a little piece of your story with you wherever you go. Finally, why not create a personalized guest book together? An invitation to write, reread, and relive. To record your most cherished memories, your sweet words, and your wishes for the years to come. A treasured keepsake, to be leafed through hand in hand.
And then there's the object that surpasses all others. The one that surprises, intrigues, and moves: the digraph . More than a simple gift, it's a work of illusion and light, where two first names merge to form a single name. Depending on the angle of view, one emerges, the other awaits its moment… and the magic unfolds. A love story, a shared complicity, a secret is revealed. Available in its original version, sculpted with the warmth of laser-engraved wood, or in its most precious setting, the Crystal digraph , dazzling, transparent, and luminous like a gleam of eternity.
Placed on a piece of furniture, it captures the day's reflections and changes with the evening light. It becomes a discreet witness to your union, a symbol of your rose wedding anniversary: love, fusion, beauty, and surprise. Each digraph is carefully crafted in our workshop in France and personalized to your wishes: your two first names, of course, but also an engraving, a date, a few tender words… A bespoke, handcrafted, and lasting gift that perfectly embodies the poetry of a life together.
Texts and messages for a rose wedding anniversary
For his/her spouse
Seventeen years of love… and still so much to say. Sometimes, a few words are enough to rekindle a flame, to make the heart dance like it did on the first day. Here are a few ideas for messages to give to your loved one:
“For 17 years, you have been my refuge, my morning smile, my evening silence. Like a rose, our love has weathered the seasons. It has its thorns, its fragrance, its unique beauty. Thank you for making my life bloom.”*
Or again:
“A name on the left, a name on the right… and in the center, our story. Every glance I give you reminds me why I chose you. And why I will choose you again. Every moment.”
Write your own wishes, sincere, even imperfect. A date, a place, a promise rekindled… Your words carry more weight than you imagine.
To congratulate a couple
Are you and your friends celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary? Here are a few sweet words to include in a card or message:
“Seventeen years of marriage is like a rose that hasn't withered, but has learned to bloom despite the seasons. May your love continue to shine, with the tenderness of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow.”
Or :
“Congratulations on this beautiful journey. May every petal of your life together be filled with joy, respect, and light.”
Celebrating a couple is reminding them that they inspire, that they give faith in lasting love.
Why celebrate 17 years of marriage?
We often celebrate milestones: 10, 20, 30 years… But 17 years is precisely that precious moment between milestones. That point of equilibrium where the couple is no longer a young duo, but not yet an old tandem. It's the beating heart of the story.
Celebrating your rose wedding anniversary is about taking a break. Looking back, hand in hand, on the journey so far. Revisiting the landscapes traversed, the challenges overcome, the smiles shared.
It is also about nurturing the present: cultivating love like one cares for a rosebush. With patience, light, and attention.
And then there's the symbolism: the flower, its color, its texture. Everything speaks of love. Of fragile yet strong beauty. Of roots and renewal. Offering a moment, a word, an object on that day is saying: "I haven't forgotten."
FAQ – Everything you need to know about rose weddings
Because the rose embodies passion, tenderness, fidelity, and enduring beauty. Just like a couple who have nurtured their love for 17 years. It also symbolizes vulnerabilities overcome with elegance and strength.
It's a gesture full of meaning: each rose represents a year of love. The color amplifies the message: red for passion, white for sincerity, pink for tenderness. A beautiful way to say, "I remember every moment."
A pink diamond jewel, a rose perfume, an eternal rose, a romantic getaway, a spiritual talisman, a book of poetry… or even a personalized digraph , where your two first names come together in the same work of art.
Whether it's a romantic dinner in pastel shades, a weekend surrounded by roses, an intimate vow renewal, or activities for two: a floral workshop, a photo shoot, planting roses… The important thing is to reconnect.
A message of sincere love, inspired by the symbolism of the rose and the journey they've shared. Speak from the heart. Highlight the shared memories, the challenges overcome, the love that continues to blossom day after day.
