Here Are All of the Milestone Anniversary Gifts by Year, Both Traditional and Modern
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Celebrating your wedding anniversary may be a big deal for you and your spouse, and it can feel a little stressful trying to come up with a gift that'll outdo last year's present. If you're feeling tapped out of ideas, you might find inspiration by referring to the traditional list of wedding anniversary gifts by year.
Originating in the late 19th century, etiquette guides began publishing lists of the recommended anniversary gifts by year. These traditional themes designate different materials, textiles, precious stones, and metals for spouses to gift each other for every year of marriage, with all of them representing different ways that love strengthens over time.
Of course, the rules have always been open to interpretation. As couples' tastes and needs have evolved, the original anniversary gift lists have changed slightly. We've included both the traditional theme and the modern twist here where applicable, along with a few of our favorite gifting sites to shop throughout.
Read on to check out each of the traditional and modern wedding anniversary gifts by year and what they symbolize.
1st Anniversary: Paper
Paper is the traditional gift for a couple's first wedding anniversary. Just like a blank page, this material symbolizes the newness of the marriage. If you're going the modern route, a clock or watch is the alternative first anniversary gift, representing timeless, eternal love.
Where to shop: Start your search on Uncommon Goods — it's full of creative, heartfelt gift ideas that'll surprise and delight them on your first anniversary.
2nd Anniversary: Cotton
Symbolizing the interwoven bond of a married couple, the traditional second anniversary gift is cotton. Modern lovers can gift each other china instead — this is because it's a fragile material that's long-lasting with the proper care.
3rd Anniversary: Leather
The traditional third anniversary gift is leather, symbolizing a resilient bond that only improves with time. The modern alternative is crystal or glass, which, though delicate, is beautiful and multi-faceted.
4th Anniversary: Flowers or Fruit
For traditionalists, the fourth anniversary gift is flowers or fruit, indicating a blossoming (or perhaps ripening) of your love for each other. The modern anniversary gift for this year is a home appliance like a new washing machine — while you both may benefit from it, this idea is intended to make your home run more smoothly.
Where to shop: Tropical Fruit Box offers a variety of in-season tropical produce sourced from family farms in Florida, California, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
5th Anniversary: Wood
The traditional fifth anniversary gift is wood. This material is a nod to the roots you've put down together. The more modern approach is silverware for making your shared meals even more special.
6th Anniversary: Candy or Iron
Was it a sweet year, or did it test your strength? The traditional sixth anniversary gift is either candy or iron, the former symbolizing the innocent early days of your relationship while the latter represents your everlasting bond. Interestingly, the modern alternative for Year Six is wood.
7th Anniversary: Copper or Wool
The seventh wedding anniversary gift is traditionally either copper or wool — both symbolize your warmth and affection, as copper is a conductor of heat while wool is cozy and insulating. The modern take for this year is a desk set, which stands for the support of each other's professional ambitions.
8th Anniversary: Bronze
The eighth wedding anniversary is traditionally commemorated with bronze (or perhaps something bronze-colored), symbolizing strength through the ages. The modern spin is gifting linens or lace, which evoke themes of refinement and grace.
9th Anniversary: Pottery
For your ninth wedding anniversary, pottery is the traditional gift to exchange. Just as a ball of clay is molded into a unique work of art when pressure is applied, your marriage has been shaped by the highs and lows of life. The modern take? Opt for leather for its time-tested resilience.
Where to shop: Check out Etsy for handmade pottery or leather goods. You may even be able to commission a custom piece!
10th Anniversary: Aluminum
To celebrate your first decade of wedded bliss, the traditional 10-year anniversary gift is aluminum for its resilience and practicality. If you prefer to take the modern route, gift your partner a special piece of diamond jewelry as an homage to your rock-solid relationship.
11th Anniversary: Steel
In your 11th year of marriage, the traditional gift is steel, in the form of stainless steel jewelry, cookware, or even a big-ticket item like a dishwasher. The material's toughness is an apt metaphor for the strength of your love at this point. The modern gifting approach is fashion jewelry or an accessory like a pair of sunglasses — perhaps something that's been on their wish list!
12th Anniversary: Silk
After 12 years together, you two might make married life look easy, but there's still a lot of work that goes into it — so, silk is an apt traditional anniversary gift. This material has a rich luster and cool texture, but the material is also insulating and strong. The modern alternative is gifting pearls, as this gem represents the love that has grown into something very precious as time goes on.
Where to shop: Lunya has something for everybody. Even better: Their 100% mulberry silk pajamas, jumpsuits, and boxers are machine-washable!
13th Anniversary: Lace
The 13th wedding anniversary gift is traditionally lace, which you can interpret to be as sweet or spicy as you wish. The modern alternative, relatedly, is textiles. So, clothing, towels, sheets, or throw blankets are all fair game here!
14th Anniversary: Ivory
In your 14th year of marriage, the traditional gift to give is ivory, although this has been reinterpreted into something ivory-colored or even made of marble. The modern take on this year is to give gold jewelry.
15th Anniversary: Crystal
Representing the multi-faceted nature of your married life, the traditional 15th wedding anniversary gift is crystal. If you prefer a more modern idea, gift them a watch as a reminder of the memorable times you've experienced together (and those still to come, too!).
16th Anniversary: Wax
For your 16th wedding anniversary, the traditional gift is wax, whether you wish to interpret that in the form of a scented candle or a favorite book of poems (so you can wax poetic to each other). The modern spin on this is silver holloware, which are tablescape items like serving trays, teapots, and gravy boats.
17th Anniversary: Furniture
Once you've reached your 17th wedding anniversary, the two of you will be on board with this gift idea, which applies to both traditional and modern sensibilities: furniture. Consider upgrading your sectional sofa, buying an outdoor dining set, or splurging on an adjustable bed frame for sweeter dreams.
Where to shop: Start browsing the impressive selection on Wayfair and time your purchase to one of their frequent sales events to get a big-ticket item at a deep discount.
18th Anniversary: Porcelain
The gift to give for your 18th anniversary is porcelain, which ceramicists know is a more challenging clay to mold than earthenware. This type of clay also has a higher firing temperature, which is a metaphor that could easily apply to your near-two-decade relationship: It can certainly take the heat!
19th Anniversary: Bronze
For Year 19, you have entered the Bronze Age of your relationship! Though this is a thematic repeat, you can still pull out all the stops by gifting bronze-colored accessories, home accents, or perhaps a decadent dessert dusted with edible bronze glitter.
20th Anniversary: China
You've made it to two decades together! Since it may be time to replace the original dinnerware from your wedding registry, the traditional 20th anniversary gift is china. If you want something a little more modern, opt for platinum — and consider this an excellent opportunity to upgrade your wedding bands to something that betters suits your tastes now.
25th Anniversary: Silver
Although every year is special in its own way, from this point on, only the milestone years get special gift designation. The 25th wedding anniversary gift is silver — this feels very fitting, considering that you're halfway to your 50th "golden" anniversary.
30th Anniversary: Pearl
After three whole decades together, you and your spouse have reached your pearl anniversary. Just as pearls take time to grow into something beautiful, the two of you have matured as individuals, experienced unforgettable moments, and supported each other through good times and bad. If you prefer going the vegan-friendly route, a gift with a pearlescent gleam would be a lovely stand-in.
35th Anniversary: Coral
For the occasion of your 35th wedding anniversary, it's time to give yourselves a well-deserved vacation! The traditional gift for this year is coral, and we can't think of a better interpretation for this theme than to book the tropical getaway that you've been dreaming about for years.
Where to shop: Looking to save on travel so you can go all-out once you've reached your vacation destination? Check out Going to get free flight alerts between 40-90% off of regular prices.
40th Anniversary: Ruby
Your anniversaries from here on are about to get very sparkly. Ruby is the apt gift for your 40th year together. This fiery-colored gemstone symbolizes passion and protection, and for marriages that reach this milestone, you know that you need both to make a successful long-term partnership work.
45th Anniversary: Sapphire
The wedding anniversary gift for your 45th year together is sapphire. This precious gemstone comes in red, yellow, and blue, and the latter is the most well-known version of the three. It traditionally represents wisdom and prosperity.
50th Anniversary: Gold
Cheers to your golden year! Gold is the traditional gift for a 50th wedding anniversary. This celebration-worthy occasion deserves an equally luxurious present to your spouse, whether in the form of a piece of jewelry, cuff links, or a gorgeous gilded antique.
55th Anniversary: Emerald
The 55th wedding anniversary is traditionally celebrated with emeralds. This gorgeous green gem is associated with renewal — along with exchanging gifts, this would also be a great time in your life together to renew your wedding vows.
60th Anniversary: Diamond
A 60th wedding anniversary is an occasion like none other — you've spent practically a lifetime together, and your love has undoubtedly touched the lives of many. The traditional gifts to exchange this year are diamonds, but we think the real gift is being with friends, loved ones, children and grandchildren if you have them, and of course, each other.
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