Wedding Anniversary Gifts
Wedding anniversaries mean different things to different people and are celebrated in millions of different ways every day. But how do you know if this anniversary is a significant one? Can you get away with sharing a bottle of champagne at home this year, or should you be out shopping for a gift with gold, silver or platinum in it?
Traditionally wedding anniversary gifts were allocated as below.
Year |
Traditional Gift |
1 |
Paper |
2 |
Cotton |
3 |
Leather |
4 |
Fruit, flowers |
5 |
Wood |
6 |
Iron, candy |
7 |
Copper, wool |
8 |
Bronze, pottery |
9 |
Pottery, willow |
10 |
Tin, aluminium |
11 |
Steel |
12 |
Silk, linen |
13 |
Lace |
14 |
Ivory |
15 |
Crystal |
20 |
China |
25 |
Silver |
30 |
Pearl |
35 |
Coral |
40 |
Ruby |
45 |
Sapphire |
50 |
Gold |
55 |
Emerald |
60 |
Yellow diamond |
75 |
Diamonds, gold |
These gifts can be quite vague and seem a bit obscure on their own. However, being creative about these allocations can be much more fun. For example, paper on your first anniversary can be in the form of plane tickets or tickets to the theatre.
Recently there has emerged a new list with more modern examples which addresses all of the anniversaries, not just the ones every five years. Here is the modern gift list in comparison to the traditional one.
Year |
Traditional Gift |
Modern Gift |
1 |
Paper |
Clock |
2 |
Cotton |
China |
3 |
Leather |
Crystal, glass |
4 |
Fruit, flowers |
Appliances |
5 |
Wood |
Silverware |
6 |
Iron, candy |
Wood |
7 |
Copper, wool |
Desk set |
8 |
Bronze, pottery |
Linens, lace |
9 |
Pottery, willow |
Leather goods |
10 |
Tin, aluminium |
Diamond jewellery |
11 |
Steel |
Fashion jewellery |
12 |
Silk, linen |
Pearls |
13 |
Lace |
Textiles, fur |
14 |
Ivory |
Gold jewellery |
15 |
Crystal |
Watches |
20 |
China |
Platinum |
25 |
Silver |
Sterling silver |
30 |
Pearl |
Diamond |
35 |
Coral |
Emerald |
40 |
Ruby |
Ruby |
45 |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
50 |
Gold |
Gold |
55 |
Emerald |
Emerald |
60 |
Yellow diamond |
Diamond |
75 |
Diamonds, gold |
- |
There are many more practical gifts listed in the traditional list, such as new furniture on your 29th and groceries on your 44th. It is still up to you how you interpret many of the gifts however, for example, why not pick up some satin sheets on your 13th?
Traditionally, a couple spends their first wedding anniversary alone, remembering their wedding day a year ago and reflect