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Anniversaries are a special day to celebrate love and reaffirm a special connection and commitment. While they have different significance for every couple, selecting and presenting an anniversary gift is not only a thoughtful gesture, it is a reflection of the effort and consideration put into understanding your partner’s desires and preferences.
If you’re here, you’ve most likely decided to look to the traditional anniversary themes to guide your gift giving. Maybe you’re wondering what the traditional gifts for each year are. What is the traditional gift for your anniversary and what does it mean? Or maybe you’re looking for inspiration for great gift ideas. Either way, we’ve put together this guide to help you discover the perfect gift for every major year of marriage.
The most important thing to remember about choosing the right gift is to give something from the heart. No one knows your spouse as well as you do, so our goal is to provide creative ideas to help you find the perfect traditional gift. You can browse the gifts we’ve selected for every year or click your anniversary year on the table below to jump to gift ideas specific to that year’s theme.
What Is the Traditional 1st Anniversary Gift?
Paper is the traditional gift for the first anniversary. The paper anniversary is probably the most well known anniversary theme and it chronicles the first of many for your marriage. Like paper, a young marriage is delicate and fragile but if you handle it with love and care it can last a lifetime.
Also representative of new beginnings, paper is a blank page to write the first chapters of your love story. Don’t forget to include a handwritten card with your first anniversary gift!
A popular way to celebrate the first anniversary with paper is to give books or wall art with a personal significance to your spouse. Or you can choose an item made from paper that your spouse can use throughout the year and be reminded of your love. Many popular options can be personalized for a truly unique and memorable anniversary gift.
Traditional Paper 1st Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 2nd Anniversary Gift?
The traditional gift for the second anniversary is cotton. Durability, flexibility and comfort are characteristics of cotton and excellent traits to have in a maturing marriage. Cotton also represents the weaving together of two lives into a solid union. Because it is a strong material used in many everyday items, a cotton gift can serve as a regular reminder of your love.
A popular way to celebrate the second anniversary with cotton is to give personalized apparel or home décor. Whether you’re looking for a gift for him, for her or for a couple of close friends or family, cotton is a flexible theme that gives you the opportunity to give a gift related to their specific needs or interests.
Cotton items can also play a supporting role in a larger gift or experience. For example, incorporate a plaid blanket into a romantic picnic date or pamper your spouse with a spa day featuring luxurious bathrobes or monogrammed towels.
Traditional Cotton 2nd Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 3rd Anniversary Gift?
Leather gifts are traditional for the third anniversary and symbolize the strength, flexibility and durability of your marriage after three years together. With many options ranging from practical to pretty, leather gives you the opportunity to give a gift specific to your loved one’s interests or needs.
A popular way to celebrate the third anniversary with leather is to give a gift that can be used on a daily basis. Leather is also one of the easiest materials to personalize which means you can give a gift that is as unique as the recipient.
Whether you’re looking for a gift for him, for her or for a couple of close friends or family, leather is a flexible theme that gives you the opportunity to give a gift that fulfils a specific need or is useful for a hobby or interest.
Traditional Leather 3rd Anniversary Gift Ideas
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What Is the Traditional 4th Anniversary Gift?
While flowers are a great anniversary gift every year, the traditional gift for the fourth anniversary is fruit & flowers. After four years of marriage your love has fully blossomed and ripened to maturity and those attributes are perfectly symbolized by this year’s theme.
While they may seem short-lived at first glance, gifts of fruits and flowers are an excellent way to mark the sweetness of this moment in your relationship. A luscious bouquet or fancy fruit dessert will put a romantic anniversary celebration over the top.
You can also preserve this moment with a long-lasting gift inspired by fruity or floral motifs. Wall art, decor, and kitchen accessories are popular gift ideas to bring this theme home.
Traditional Fruit & Flower 4th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 5th Anniversary Gift?
The fifth anniversary is the first major marriage milestone and the traditional gift is wood, representing stability, strength and longevity. After five years your marriage has stable roots, a strong core and has stood the test of time.
With many options ranging from practical to pretty, wood gives you the opportunity to give a gift specific to your loved one’s interests or needs. Gifts of wooden furniture, picture frames or other household decor are among the many ways to commemorate this anniversary.
Wood is the perfect choice for personalized gifts because it can be easily engraved with names and dates, or a message and design unique to your relationship. The best gifts are thoughtful or sentimental, and with the right care a wooden gift wood can be long-lasting and cherished for years to come.
Traditional Wood 5th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 6th Anniversary Gift?
The sixth anniversary gives you the option of candy or iron for the traditional gift. Whatever gift you choose, be sure to keep your spouse’s interests and preferences in mind, and always remember that the most important thing about choosing the right gift is to give something from the heart.
Traditional Candy 6th Anniversary Gift Ideas
A gift of candy is the perfect opportunity to savor the sweetness in your marriage. The gesture of giving candy symbolizes romance, affection, and the pleasure of being in love. Indulge your spouse with a gift of gourmet candy, or fill a candy dish or jar with their favorite confection to celebrate the simple joys in life.
Traditional Iron 6th Anniversary Gift Ideas
Iron symbolizes the flexibility and strength of your marriage. Iron is a soft metal and is the most abundant element in the Earth’s inner core, but it is made more durable when combined with other components to form alloys. A gift made of iron represents the strength at the core of your relationship after six years.
Items made from wrought iron and cast iron are a great fit for a traditional sixth anniversary gift. Popular iron gift ideas include of a wide variety of cookware and decorative items for the home or garden.
What Is the Traditional 7th Anniversary Gift?
The seventh anniversary gives you the option of copper or wool for the traditional gift. Whatever gift you choose, be sure to keep your spouse’s interests and preferences in mind, and always remember that the most important thing about choosing the right gift is to give something from the heart.
Traditional Copper 7th Anniversary Gift Ideas
Known for its long-lasting warmth and beauty, copper symbolizes the strength and resilience of a relationship after seven years of marriage. Copper is one of the most highly conductive metals and it can acquire a beautiful patina over time, representing the ability to connect and communicate as a couple while continuing to grow and evolve together.
Traditional Wool 7th Anniversary Gift Ideas
Wool is an alternate choice for a traditional seventh anniversary gift that represents warmth, comfort, and durability. These qualities symbolize some of the best traits of a strong and loving relationship. A cozy wool gift will provide the comfort and protection found at the heart of a nurturing marriage.
What Is the Traditional 8th Anniversary Gift?
Bronze is the traditional eighth anniversary gift. As an alloy made from the fusion of copper and tin, bronze represents a loving union and the transformative power of blending two distinct elements to create something new and treasured. You and your spouse are two parts of a whole, and a gift made from bronze symbolizes your ongoing commitment and everlasting love while you continue to mature and grow together as a couple.
Known for its strength, durability and the distinct patina it can develop over time, bronze has long been used to create art and commemorate achievements. Popular gift ideas include sculptures, jewelry, elegant home decor and furnishings.
Pottery is considered an alternative traditional gift for the eighth year of marriage but it is also the traditional gift for the ninth anniversary. We recommend reserving this gift theme for your next anniversary.
Traditional Bronze 8th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 9th Anniversary Gift?
The traditional ninth anniversary gift is pottery. Pottery is a broad term that describes any item molded and shaped from clay then fired at high temperatures to become durable and resilient. Tough enough to be a used every day, but fragile enough to treat with care, pottery represents the dedication required to build and maintain a loving marriage. Ideas for pottery gifts range from home decor to functional drinkware and dinnerware.
Willow, a symbol of resilience and the ability to bend without breaking, is considered an alternative traditional gift for the ninth anniversary. Because willow is such a specific material, the gift options for this theme are mainly limited to household items such as woven willow baskets or wicker furniture.
Traditional Pottery 9th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 10th Anniversary Gift?
The tenth anniversary is traditionally celebrated with tin or aluminum which are both durable, yet flexible metals. Tin was historically used for preserving and protecting goods, symbolizing the perseverance of a relationship for better or worse. Aluminum, known for its malleability and resilience, represents the flexibility and adaptability needed to navigate the challenges and achievements encountered in a long-term relationship.
Today tin is most commonly used in commercial or industrial applications, but tin signs and commemorative jewelry are popular gift ideas for this anniversary. Aluminum is a more versatile option with a variety of gift ideas ranging from home goods to tools for many hobbies and interests like gardening and travel.
Traditional Tin or Aluminum 10th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 11th Anniversary Gift?
The traditional gift for the eleventh anniversary is steel. Known for its exceptional strength and durability, steel symbolizes resilience and the ability to withstand any challenge. It is a versatile material that can be adapted for many purposes from precision tools to fine jewelry, representing the ability to be flexible while maintaining core strength.
A gift made from steel is a perfect choice for a couple entering the second decade of marriage. Popular gift ideas include housewares, wall decor, jewelry, and tools for a variety of interests. Because steel is easy to engrave you can consider a personalized gift to make your eleventh anniversary even more memorable.
Traditional Steel 11th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 12th Anniversary Gift?
The twelfth anniversary gives you the option of silk or linen for the traditional gift. When selecting a gift, prioritize your spouse’s interests and preferences and always remember that the most important part of choosing the perfect gift is finding something heartfelt.
Traditional Silk 12th Anniversary Gift Ideas
Due to its smooth texture and appealing luster, silk is often associated with sophistication, luxury, and opulence. With a long history of use in home furnishings and high-quality garments, silk symbolizes elegance and refined taste.
If you’re looking for a sensual and intimate gift you can consider a gift of lingerie or bedding. While everyday items like clothing and linens made of silk can serve as a regular reminder of your love.
Traditional Linen 12th Anniversary Gift Ideas
Breathable, lightweight, and comfortable to wear, linen represents comfort and relaxation. Made from flax, a naturally durable fiber, linen symbolizes resilience and endurance and it often often used for items that are meant to last.
Linen has an understated elegance with a crisp and clean appearance, making it a popular choice for home textiles and classic garments. It is also common to find items made with cotton/linen blends which may be a better fit for your loved one.
What Is the Traditional 13th Anniversary Gift?
The traditional thirteenth anniversary gift is lace. The intricate patterns and details of lace are often associated with elegance, grace, and sophistication. While seemingly delicate, lace is stronger than it looks and represents the dedication and work you’ve put into creating a beautiful life with your spouse.
While it is undeniably considered a romantic and feminine material, you can consider a tie or handkerchief with lace patterns and detailing if you’re shopping for your husband. You can also choose bedding or lingerie for an intimate anniversary gift. Otherwise, home furnishings, clothing, and accessories are popular gift ideas that incorporate lace.
Traditional Lace 13th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 14th Anniversary Gift?
Ivory is the traditional gift for the fourteenth year of marriage. Due to the historical rarity of the material, ivory has long been prized as a symbol of luxury, wealth and opulence. While it carries these symbolic meanings, the ivory trade has resulted in the decline of elephant populations it is now highly discouraged and illegal in most cases.
We recommend that—in lieu of giving genuine ivory—you choose a gift that is ivory in color or elephant themed. In addition to elephant wall art and decor, popular gift ideas include off-white household goods like linens and kitchen essentials.
Traditional Ivory 14th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What Is the Traditional 15th Anniversary Gift?
The fifteenth anniversary is a major marriage milestone that is traditionally celebrated with crystal. Representing the clarity required to achieve a long-lasting relationship, crystal is a delicate but also a decidedly decadent gift.
Traditional Crystal 15th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What is the Traditional 20th Anniversary Gift?
The traditional twentieth anniversary gift is china. Strong and delicate at the same time, china symbolizes the combination of grace and durability necessary for a long-lasting marriage. Add new pieces that compliment your wedding china, or, if it is starting to wear out after twenty years of use, you can take this opportunity to replace it. Either way, your gift will be cherished for the next twenty years.
Traditional China 20th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What is the Traditional 25th Anniversary Gift?
The twenty-fifth anniversary is known as the “Silver Jubilee” because the traditional, modern, and gemstone gift themes are all silver. Silver is a precious metal prized for its distinct luster and valued for its resilient, yet malleable, physical properties. Because silver has a highly reflective surface when polished and can be easily shaped while maintaining a density that gives it a substantial feel, silver is a popular material for high-end items.
Ideas for gifts crafted of silver include jewelry and accessories, home decor and elegant tableware. When looking for a silver anniversary gift be sure to note whether or not the item is stamped with the number “925” to indicate that it is made from sterling silver, a metal alloy that consists of 95% pure silver mixed with other metals for greater strength and durability.
Traditional Silver 25th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What is the Traditional 30th Anniversary Gift?
Pearl gifts are traditional for the thirtieth anniversary. The only gemstone that is not technically a stone, pearls are composed of layers of nacre often formed around a grain of sand over the course of months or years. Due to this natural process, every pearl is unique and the layers of concentric circles that form a pearl over time symbolize wisdom gained through experience and the ability to overcome seeming hardships to grow stronger and more beautiful.
Traditional Pearl 30th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What is the Traditional 40th Anniversary Gift?
Ruby is the traditional, modern, and gemstone gift theme for the fortieth anniversary, known as the “ruby jubilee.” The deep red color of rubies have long been associated with passion, making them an extremely romantic gift that symbolizes enduring love. Also associated with courage, strength and vitality, rubies are believed to have protective properties that promote the security and well-being of the recipient.
Traditional Ruby 40th Anniversary Gift Ideas
What is the Traditional 50th Anniversary Gift?
Gold is the traditional, modern, and gemstone gift theme for the fiftieth anniversary, known as the “golden jubilee.” As one of the most precious metals prized for its rarity and tarnish resistant qualities, gold has enduring value and timeless beauty long. Often associated with prosperity, luxury, and prestige, an anniversary gift of gold represents the everlasting love and resilient bond at the core of your marriage and celebrates the amazing accomplishment of fifty years of wedded bliss.
Traditional Gold 50th Anniversary Gift Ideas
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