Are you looking for the perfect anniversary gift but not sure where to start?
Understanding the traditional and modern gifts associated with each year of marriage can help you find the ideal present for your loved one.
Let's explore some anniversary gift ideas by year to make your celebration even more special.
| 1st Anniversary | Paper |
| 2nd Anniversary | Cotton |
| 3rd Anniversary | Leather |
| 4th Anniversary | Fruit or Flowers |
| 5th Anniversary | Wood |
| 6th Anniversary | Candy or Iron |
| 7th Anniversary | Wool or Copper |
| 8th Anniversary | Pottery or Bronze |
| 9th Anniversary | Willow or Pottery |
| 10th Anniversary | Tin or Aluminum |
| 11th Anniversary | Steel |
| 12th Anniverary | Silk or Linen |
| 13th Anniversary | Lace |
| 14th Anniversary | Gold Jewelry |
| 15th Anniversary | Crystal |
| 16th Anniversary | Wax or Silverware |
| 17th Anniversary | Furniture |
| 18th Anniversary | Porcelain |
| 19th Anniversary | Bronze |
| 20th Anniversary | China |
| 21st Anniversary | Fire (theme) |
| 22nd Anniversary | Water (theme) |
| 23rd Anniversary | Air (theme) |
| 24th Anniversary | Stone (theme) |
| 25th Anniversary | Silver |
| 26th Anniversary | Art |
| 27th Anniversary | Music |
| 28th Anniversary | Linens |
| 29th Anniversary | Tools |
| 30th Anniversary | Pearls |
| 31st Anniversary | Travel |
| 32nd Anniversary | Bronze |
| 33rd Anniversary | Iron |
| 34th Anniversary | Food |
| 35th Anniversary | Coral |
| 36th Anniversary | Antiques |
| 37th Anniversary | Books |
| 38th Anniversary | Luck (theme) |
| 39th Anniversary | Laughter (theme) |
| 40th Anniversary | Ruby |
| 41st Anniversary | Office or Desk Decor |
| 42nd Anniversary | Clocks or Watches |
| 43rd Anniversary | Entertainment (theme) |
| 44rd Anniversary | Electronics (theme) |
| 45th Anniversary | Sapphire |
| 46th Anniversary | Games |
| 47th Anniversary | Garden or Plants |
| 48th Anniversary | Home Improvement (theme) |
| 49th Anniversary | Copper |
| 50th Anniversary | Gold |
| 51st Anniversary | Photos or Cameras |
| 52nd Anniversary | Bath or Spa (theme) |
| 53rd Anniversary | Plastic |
| 54th Anniversary | Glass |
| 55th Anniversary | Emerald |
| 56th Anniversary | Day (theme) |
| 57th Anniversary | Night (theme) |
| 58th Anniversary | Faith and Hope (theme) |
| 59th Anniversary | Charity (theme) |
| 60th Anniversary | Diamond |
Anniversary Gifts by Year: Timeless Traditional & Modern Ideas
Whether you are newlyweds or you have been married for 50 years, it is important to celebrate all those special milestones along the way.
A great way to share and commemorate big moments is through presents. However, they do not have to be very big and very expensive to be good!
Personalized keepsakes with special meaning are timeless options that work miraculously for couples. Namely, the right gift, no matter how big or small, can mark your anniversary in an exceptional way and allow you to create marvelous memories.
However, finding the right presents is not always easy, especially when you want them to be special and meaningful. So, we have come up with great suggestions for anniversary gifts by year to help you find the one that will commemorate your moments!
Ideas for Traditional and Modern Anniversary Gifts by Year
Anniversaries are meaningful milestones of every relationship, and they deserve to be commemorated properly.
Some people regard these occasions quite traditionally, so they want to give classic presents with special meaning and significance. Namely, there are traditional anniversary gifts for each year, and many couples rely on them for inspiration.
However, there are also people who want a more modern approach rather than the classic one. Therefore, nowadays, you can also give gifts with a modern twist and a traditional touch.
If you are looking for ideas for anniversary gifts by year, we are here to help you with several amazing suggestions.
1st Anniversary: Paper
The traditional gift for the 1st anniversary is paper - a symbol of strength and the start of a new life together. For a modern twist, people gift each other clocks to represent eternal love. Gold is the standard color, and orange blossoms or pansies are the customary flowers.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
Consider gifting your loved one a personalized book with your unique memories inside. There are plenty of online companies that create personalized books, so you can let your creativity flow with ideas.
2nd Anniversary: Cotton
For your second wedding anniversary, cotton and China are the traditional and modern gift choices. They symbolize the intertwining of your lives and the enduring yet delicate nature of your relationship. The color red and the lily of the valley represent the second year of marriage, so you can consider using these features in your present.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
If you want to include tradition into your gift, personalized cotton pillowcases or towels are a great idea. Just have your initials engraved on some fine cotton, and you will achieve a truly memorable present.
3rd Anniversary: Leather
At this stage of your marriage, you have been through a lot together, and it has made your bond stronger. That is why leather is the traditional third-anniversary gift, symbolizing durability and protection. The modern choice of crystal or glass represents the fragility of love, requiring care but capable of lasting a lifetime. The third year emphasizes the color white, symbolizing the purity of your love.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
A personalized leather travel gift set can be a really cool and fancy present, especially if you throw in some awesome tickets for your next adventure!
4th Anniversary: Fruit/ Flowers
After being together for four years, your relationship is growing and maturing, just like the traditional gift of fruit or flowers. You could get sentimental by recreating your wedding day bouquet or by planting a garden together. Another modern idea is to get each other appliances to make life easier and free up time to enjoy each other's company.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
Fresh flowers are always a great choice for any occasion. If you want to make an anniversary extra special, consider pairing them with a classic crystal vase. 5th Anniversary: Wood
Reaching five years as a married couple is a big thing! When it comes to celebrating this marriage milestone, it is traditional to exchange gifts made of wood, symbolizing the strength and resilience of your union. If you are leaning more towards modern anniversary gifts, you can opt for silverware - a contemporary take on the fifth-anniversary present. It represents the shared meals and bonds you have built over the past five years.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
Consider a wooden clock, a lovely music box, or a carved statue as anniversary gift ideas. These are presents that will commemorate your special moment and last a lifetime.
6th Anniversary: Candy/ Iron
Celebrating six years together and still going strong! The traditional anniversary gifts for this year are candy and iron, symbolizing sweetness and strength. This is the year when calories do not count on your anniversary, so you can go crazy with the amount of candy!
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
We think it is a great idea to have your wedding cake baker make a small version of your wedding cake for just the two of you to enjoy and celebrate your six-year anniversary.
7th Anniversary: Wool/ Copper
By the seventh anniversary, you have probably learned to go with the flow. Traditional gifts are either copper or wool, which might seem different, but they both bring warmth, just like your relationship. As for modern anniversary gift options, a desk set is a practical choice, showing support for each other's ambitions.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
A personalized writing set is a great idea for the 7th anniversary. But if you want to stay true to tradition, you can go for some wool items with initials on them.
8th Anniversary: Bronze
When celebrating eight years together, the traditional gift is bronze, symbolizing strength, while modern options include softer choices like linens and lace. Bronze represents blending two lives, while linens and lace symbolize refinement, reflecting how your love has grown over the years.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
Bronze jewelry is always a good choice. If you want to make it authentic and personal, include some engravings that will mark the moment.
9th Anniversary: Pottery
On your ninth anniversary, the traditional gift is pottery, which is made of clay and symbolizes lasting beauty. But if you want a more modern choice, you can go with leather, a strong and flexible material that gets better with time.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
Find an item made of clay that represents your love or some moment of your married life. This is a great way to make your anniversary special.
10th Anniversary: Tin/ Aluminum
You have made it to 10 years of marriage, which is awesome! Traditionally, the 10th-anniversary gift is tin or aluminum, representing the strength of your marriage. However, these days, diamonds are a popular modern gift choice, symbolizing the durability of your relationship.
Silver and blue are the colors associated with the big 10, and the daffodil is the traditional flower, symbolizing happiness. There are great aluminum items you can give for this significant milestone if diamonds are not your thing.
Suggestions for Personalized and Unique Gifts:
Consider following the custom of exchanging a piece of aluminum decoration or serving ware. If you want to go with the modern approach, you might want to upgrade the engagement ring.
Tips for Choosing The Perfect Anniversary Gift
Picking a gift for an anniversary is not always easy. Some years, you may quickly find the perfect present without looking for days. Others, you might spend weeks without any luck. So, here are some things that can help you choose great personalized anniversary gifts.
Base Your Gift on a Traditional or a Modern Theme
You may not be keen on traditions, but when it comes to anniversary gifts, they might add special significance to your present. Nowadays, there are traditional and modern alternatives for each year of marriage, so you can easily find a gift that suits your preferences. When you establish a theme, you automatically give your present meaning, hence commemorating the moment uniquely. That is how this gift will stand out from all other gifts you give your spouse.
Add a Personal Touch to Your Gift
Whether you go for traditional or modern anniversary gifts, never forget to add a personal touch to your present. Showing you have taken the time to add a personal touch to a gift demonstrates that you have really put thought into it. This kind of attention is sure to make your spouse feel special and valued. Giving gifts is about more than just giving things.
When looking for the perfect present for your big milestones, traditional anniversary gifts by year can inspire you. You can always add a modern twist and a personal touch to make your present unique, but some traditions have the power to make it quite significant. Hopefully, our ideas will help you find exactly what you are looking for!
Explore our full collection of personalized anniversary gifts on Wallarx.com and find the perfect way to celebrate your special day.
