Tin Weddings

This comes from Ladies' Home Journal ©1893

THE TIN WEDDING
COMES with the tenth anniversary. If a dinner be given, the table may be made beautiful with pink roses and syringa placed in a bright new tin dish, in the centre. Four dishes, holding the pink and white bonbons, cakes, etc., may be set in the midst of tin rings (used for baking cakes in circular shape), the edges of the plates resting on those of the tins. These rings filled with roses and syringa will make pretty wreaths around each prominent dish. If a more elaborate decoration be desired any tinsmith can make a flowerholder in the form of the initial of the groom's name and that of the bride's maiden name—one to be placed at each end of the table.
The little round stands of twisted tin wire, made for the teapot, turned upside down and lined with pink laced papers, make dainty receptacles for salted almonds or small bonbons. If, as is now fashionable, small "individual " dishes are supplied for the almonds new heart-shaped "patty pans " will answer the purpose.
Cards of heavy Bristol-board, very lightly covered with mucilage, may be entirely enveloped in tin foil, and so smoothly that the artifice will not be suspected. The guests' names may be scratched upon the surface. A small tin funnel at each lady's place will make a pretty bouquet-holder.

Another post: In this one you'll find some suggested gifts for the 10th anniversary as well.
A Tin Wedding Day (5°» S. vi. 307) is the tenth anniversary of the happy day. "Cards" are sent out, made of tin, on which is printed a suitable inscription, and, by the way, for the benefit of all printers, I will say this should be done with a rubber stereotype, because type-metal will indent the tin. The inscription gives the year of the marriage and the current year, and, leaving out of view the material, is much like any "at home" card. Each guest is expected to bring a present which must be partly or wholly of tin, and may be a tin drinking cup worth twopence, or a costly piece of lace in an old tin mustard box. Dealers in tin ware prepare articles, assimilated in shape to wearing apparel, laundry utensils, or furniture, utterly useless, of course, and only intended to cause merriment. Fancy a broad brimmed hat or a flat iron made of tin, or a writing desk made of the same material. At a tin wedding I recently attended, a guest brought a tin pail, filled with lemonade, and a silver ladle to serve the beverage. Another brought a fog horn, such as the fishing schooners use on the high seas, in thick weather, to give warning of their presence, and avoid collision with other vessels. Its note is an exceedingly low c, so low that, after one solo on it, the hearer would be glad to see it so low in the sea that none would ever see it again. The tin wedding is an excellent occasion for the renewal of the kitchen tins, while it affords much merriment by the ludicrous offerings which are sometimes made. Like many other good things, it may be "run into the ground," or, as Dr. Johnson would say, become so vulgar and trite as to deserve the reprehension of all. John E. Norcross. Brooklyn, U.S.
Source: Notes & Queries ©1876

Below is a poem written by Alice Holmes ©1868
A Tin Wedding.
We hail your Tin wedding with eager delight,
And join the glad circle that greets you to-night;
And call back the moments we saw you with pride,
At Hymen's fair altar, made bridegroom and bride.

The pure cup of pleasure, unmingled with tears,
Hath flown for you sweetly these ten sunny years.
And strewn with bright roses your pathwhy hath been,
While joy crowned your labors again and again.

And smiling with plenty your garners are stored,
And bright is the future your prospects afford,
When buds ye are training in beauty shall bloom,
And love's sweetest halo the light of your home.

And while your new nuptials we now must begin,
We bring you in friendship some presents of Tin ;
And when their bright lustre by time is defaced,
With silver untarnished we'll have them replaced ;

And keep your Third wedding with high merry glee,
And hope that the Fourth one all golden may be.
And when for another the time rolls around,
With diamonds most brilliant, oh! may ye be crowned ;

And bright wreaths of honor around you be twined,
And friendship unfading your hearts ever bind.
With fast fleeting years may your pleasures increase,
And life's ripened harvest be gathered in peace.