Every year, couples all over the world face the same dilemma. "What do I get my spouse for our anniversary?" Choosing the right anniversary gift can mean the difference between a romantic evening and a cold night spent on the couch, so it's best to shop with your heart and purchase something appropriate to the occasion.
For ideas, one can check with the wedding anniversary chart, which offers traditional suggestions for gifts for each year of marriage. These charts have also been updated to include more modern suggestions. Some suggestions for traditional wedding anniversary gifts, as well as more modern ideas are listed below.
First Anniversary
Traditional: Paper.
Suggestions: Books, magazine subscriptions, framed poems, puzzles, board games, artwork, photographs
Modern: Clocks.
Suggestions: Watches, mantle clocks, grandfather clocks, alarm clocks
Second Anniversary
Traditional: Cotton
Suggestions: Clothes, pajamas, tote bags, tapestries, pillows, rugs, blankets, quilts
Modern: China
Suggestions: Plates, teacups, knick-knacks, jewelry
Third Anniversary:
Traditional: Leather
Suggestions: Jackets, belts, pocket books, wallets, shoes, slippers, briefcases, furniture, gloves, desk sets
Modern: Crystal or glass.
Suggestions: Wine or champagne glasses, vases, knick-knacks, bowls, plates, serving trays.
Fourth Anniversary
Traditional: Linen or Silk, fruit or flowers,
Suggestions: Bedding, table linens, lingerie, clothes, flowers, fruit trees, house plants
Modern: Appliances
Suggestions: Blender, toaster oven, microwave oven, food processor, dishwasher, bath spa
Fifth Anniversary
Traditional: Wood
Suggestions: Furniture, musical instruments, jewelry or trinket boxes, picture frames, hair accessories, woodcarvings, trees
Modern: Silverware
Suggestions: Forks, knives, spoons, cutlery, serving spoons and forks
Sixth Anniversary
Traditional: Iron
Suggestions: Candleholders, furniture, clocks, pots and pans
Modern: Wood objects
Suggestions: Jewelry or trinket boxes, knick-knacks, candle holders
Seventh Anniversary
Traditional: Wool or Copper
Suggestions: Clothing, hats, mittens, scarves, socks, pots & pans
Modern: Desk Sets
Suggestions: Pen & Pencil sets, bookends, globes, picture frames
Eight Anniversary
Traditional: Bronze
Suggestions: Statues, sculptures, knick-knacks
Modern: Linens, Lace
Suggestion: Bed linens, table linens, clothes, lingerie
Ninth Anniversary
Traditional: Pottery, China
Suggestions: Dishes, bowls, vases, flower pots, knick-knacks
Modern: Leather goods
Suggestions: Coats, furniture, wallets, briefcases, pocket books, shoes, belts, hair accessories, watches
Tenth Anniversary
Traditional: Tin, Aluminum
Suggestions: Pots and pans, clocks, watches, candle holders, vases, tableware
Modern: Diamonds
Suggestions: Jewelry, hair accessories, tie clips, money clips, cuff links
Eleventh Anniversary
Traditional: Steel
Suggestions: Cutlery, pots and pans, clocks
Modern: Fashion jewelry
Suggestions: Fashion jewelry, hair accessories, cuff links, tie clips
Twelfth Anniversary
Traditional: Silk
Suggestions: Scarves, lingerie, underwear, bed linens, dress shirts
Modern: Pearls, colored jewelry
Suggestions: jewelry, tie clips, cufflinks
Thirteenth Anniversary
Traditional: Lace
Suggestions: Clothes, lingerie, tablecloths, doilies
Modern: Textiles, furs
Suggestions: Clothes, bed linens, coats, table linens, clothes, rugs
Fourteenth Anniversary
Traditional: Ivory
Suggestions: Candlesticks, jewelry, knick-knacks, sculptures
Modern: Gold jewelry
Suggestions: Gold jewelry, watches, tie clips, money clips, cuff links
Fifteenth Anniversary
Traditional: Crystal
Suggestions: Glasses, vases, bowls, knick-knacks, candlesticks
Modern: Watches
Suggestions: Pocket watches, wrist watches, necklace watches
Sixteenth Anniversary
Modern: Silver hollowware
Suggestions: Tableware, pitchers, bowls
Seventeenth Anniversary
Modern: Furniture
Suggestions: Tables, chairs, desks, couches,
Eighteenth Anniversary
Modern: Porcelain
Suggestions: Dishes, knick-knacks, teacups, candleholders, serving bowls, salt and pepper shakers
Nineteenth Anniversary
Modern: Bronze
Suggestions: Sculptures, statues, candle holders
Twentieth Anniversary
Traditional: China
Suggestions: Plates, serving bowls, tea pots, tea cups
Modern: Platinum
Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links
Twenty Fifth Anniversary
Traditional: Silver
Suggestions: Jewelry, Serving plates, silverware, tea services, cuff links, tie clips
Modern: Sterling Silver
Suggestions: Jewelry, Serving plates, silverware, cuff links, tie clips
Thirtieth Anniversary
Traditional: Pearl
Suggestions: Jewelry, knick-knacks, jewelry boxes
Modern: Diamond
Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, money clips
Thirty-fifth Anniversary
Traditional: Coral or Jade
Suggestions: Jewelry, sculptures, knick-knacks, tie clips, money clips, cuff links
Modern: Jade
Suggestions: Jewelry, sculptures, knick-knacks, tie clips, cuff links, money clips
Fortieth Anniversary
Traditional: Rubies
Suggestions: Jewelry, cuff links, tie clips
Modern: Rubies
Suggestions: See traditional
Forty-fifth Anniversary
Traditional: Sapphire
Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, money clips, cuff links
Modern: Sapphire
Suggestions: See traditional
Fiftieth Anniversary
Traditional: Gold
Suggestions: Jewelry, pen & pencil sets, cuff links, tie clips, money clips, hair accessories, knick knacks, letter openers, watches
Modern: Gold
Suggestions: See traditional
Fifty-fifth Anniversary
Traditional: Emerald
Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, money clips
Modern: Emerald
Suggestions: See Traditional
Sixtieth Anniversary
Traditional: Diamonds
Suggestions: Jewelry, watches, hair accessories, tie clips, money clips, cuff links
Modern: Diamonds
Suggestions: See traditional
