The Anniversary Gifts For Each Milestone Year

Celebrating each and every one of your wedding anniversaries is such a lovely thing to do, and a wonderful chance to look back on reminisce on all you’ve done in that time and the world you’ve created together. A fun and sentimental way to mark the occasion is through the giving of the traditional gifts for each year, whether you choose to give something classic or think a little more outside of the box.

If this is something you fancy doing, below we’ve listed all the traditional gifts for each anniversary year, their meaning and some ideas to get you started.

1st Anniversary - Paper

Meaning: The threads within paper symbolise the strength and connectivity of your blossoming relationship.

Ideas: Books, cookbooks, illustrations, handwritten notes. Take a look at our blog post with 20 ideas for presents here.

2nd Anniversary - Cotton

Meaning: The fibres within cotton represent two people becoming interwoven with one another.

Ideas: Bathrobes, throws, cushions, clothing, bedlinen, soft furnishings.

3rd Anniversary - Leather

Meaning: Leather symbolises the strength of your marriage by this point, durable and protective.

Ideas: Small leather goods, leather bound books, handbags, luggage, leather key rings.

4th Anniversary - Fruit or Flowers

Meaning: Fruit and flowers represent your relationship blossoming into maturity.

Ideas: Bouquet featuring flowers from your wedding day, fruit based sweet treat, new garden plant, fruit tree.

5th Anniversary - Wood

Meaning: Wood emphasises strength, durability and the importance of the roots you are putting down.

Ideas: Chopping boards, wooden furniture, photo frames.

6th Anniversary - Sweets

Meaning: Sweets reflects the youthful sweetness of when you first started dating.

Ideas: Their favourite sweet treats, cinema and popcorn, hot chocolate kit, toasted marshmallows.

7th Anniversary - Wool or Copper

Meaning: Both wool and copper signify warmth, with wool insulating heat and copper conducting it.

Ideas: Copper pots and cooking items, snuggly blankets, jumpers, wooly socks, slippers.

8th Anniversary - Bronze

Meaning: Bronze is a biblical symbol of strength, an alloy metal that represents the blending of two once independent lives.

Ideas: Bronze coloured times, candlesticks, bowls, door knockers.

9th Anniversary - Pottery

Meaning: Pottery is created by carefully folding clay into something of great and lasting beauty.

Ideas: Tea set, mug, vase, garden plant pot, serving dishes, pottery kit.

10th Anniversary - Tin or Aluminium

Meaning: Both tin and aluminium symbolise strength and resilience in your marriage.

Ideas: Tinned goods, olive oil, beer, canned goods.

11th Anniversary - Steel

Meaning: As the strongest metal in existence, steel represents strength and the ability to be tough in hard times.

Ideas: Kitchen appliances, outdoor furniture, cutlery, lunchboxes, serving dishes.

12th Anniversary - Silk or Linen

Meaning: Symbolises the security and comfort of your relationship after 12 years.

Ideas: Table linens, bed linens, silk pyjamas, silk faux flowers, silk eye mask.

13th Anniversary - Lace

Meaning: Lace is delicate and lovely, just like the balance of a strong and steady marriage.

Ideas: Lace underwear, pyjamas, lace inspired cake, table linens.

14th Anniversary - Ivory / Animal

Meaning: Ivory is symbolic of patience and stability and is an historic gift that was typically given on the 14th anniversary. In modern times this has changed to the gift of a pet or a real or faux animal bi-product.

Ideas: Pet, adopted animal, leather goods, shoes, faux fur blankets or clothing.

15th Anniversary - Crystal

Meaning: Crystal symbolises the clarity and sparkle in your relationship, still going 15 years strong. The way crystal refracts light represents all the facets of your relationship.

Ideas: Crystal tableware, glasses, vases, cocktail shaker.

16th Anniversary - Wax

Meaning: Tough and hard at first, wax much like your relationship is something that can be easily melted and malleable when the right spark is present.

Ideas: Candles, beekeeping experience, hot wax massage.

17th Anniversary - Furniture

Meaning: As the home you’ve worked hard to build together is one of your most cherished places, it’s important you celebrate it’s key part in your relationship.

Ideas: Iconic chair, beautiful lamp, squishy armchair, garden furniture.

18th Anniversary - Porcelain

Meaning: As porcelain results from clay being heated to really high temperatures, it represents your relationship going through fire and coming out even more beautiful.

Ideas: Pottery class, tableware, decorative item, dinner.

19th Anniversary - Bronze

Meaning: Bronze is a biblical symbol of strength, an alloy metal that represents the blending of two once independent lives.

Ideas: Bronze coloured items, candlesticks, bowls, door knockers, lamps, home accessories.

20th Anniversary - China

Meaning: China represents the beautiful, delicate and loving nature of your relationship.

Ideas: A home-cooked meal on new chinaware, plates, tea set, serving dishes, vase.

25th Anniversary - Silver

Meaning: Silver represents the brilliance and shine of your marriage.

Ideas: Jewellery, table silverware, watches, silver coloured items, ice bucket, cocktail shaker.

30th Anniversary - Pearl

Meaning: The pearl symbolises innocence and honesty, and the rarity of your relationship.

Ideas: Home accessories, pearl jewellery, pearl coloured items, iridescent items.

35th Anniversary - Coral

Meaning: Coral is believed to symbolise modesty, wisdom, happiness and immortality.

Ideas: Jewellery, coral coloured items, coral toned manicure or lipstick.

40th Anniversary - Ruby

Meaning: Rubies represent beauty, protection, wisdom and power.

Ideas: Jewellery, red roses, red floral bouquet, red pyjamas.

45th Anniversary - Sapphire

Meaning: Sapphires symbolise faithfulness, sincerity and wisdom.

Ideas: Jewellery, items in that colour, clothing in that colour.

50th Anniversary - Gold

Meaning: This originates back to medieval times when Germanic wives were spoiled with gifts of gilded wreaths by their husbands to celebrate this important milestone. Gold represents solidity and the golden nature of your relationship.

Ideas: Jewellery, gold toned home items like candlesticks, frames.