Celebrating an anniversary is a special milestone, marking another year of love, growth, and shared experiences. Choosing the perfect anniversary gift can be a delightful way to honor this occasion. For many couples, the tradition of giving specific materials associated with each year provides a meaningful and structured approach to gift-giving. Following the Traditional Wedding Gifts By Year is a charming custom that adds an extra layer of sentiment to your anniversary celebration.
Anniversary Gifts graphic
This tradition isn’t just about following a list; it’s about connecting to history and imbuing your gift with symbolic meaning. Each material, from paper for the first year to diamonds for the sixtieth, represents the strengthening and evolving nature of a marriage. Whether you’re a stickler for tradition or simply looking for thoughtful gift inspiration, understanding the traditional wedding gifts by year can guide you towards presents that are both meaningful and memorable.
Anniversary Gifts By Year: A Detailed List
The concept of traditional anniversary gifts dates back centuries, with roots in various cultures. The list has evolved over time, with modern updates incorporating more contemporary materials. Here’s a comprehensive guide to traditional anniversary gifts by year for the first 60 years:
1st Year: Paper
2nd Year: Cotton
3rd Year: Leather
4th Year: Fruit & Flowers or Linen & Silk
5th Year: Wood
6th Year: Iron or Candy
7th Year: Wool or Copper
8th Year: Bronze
9th Year: Pottery or Willow
10th Year: Tin or Aluminum
11th Year: Steel
12th Year: Silk or Linen
13th Year: Lace
14th Year: Ivory (Modern: Gold Jewelry)
15th Year: Crystal
20th Year: China
25th Year: Silver
30th Year: Pearl
35th Year: Coral or Jade
40th Year: Ruby
45th Year: Sapphire
50th Year: Gold
55th Year: Emerald
60th Year: Diamond
Let’s explore some creative and modern gift ideas for the first decade, aligning with these traditional themes:
Traditional Anniversary Gifts: Years 1-10 with Modern Twists
Year One: Paper Anniversary Gifts
Paper, symbolizing the blank page of a new chapter, is the traditional gift for the first anniversary. It represents the freshness and fragility of the early years of marriage, full of potential yet needing careful nurturing.
lyric vinyl record print in black frame
- Sentimental Paper Gifts: A framed print of song lyrics from your wedding first dance, beautifully foil-printed on luxurious paper, makes for a deeply personal and romantic paper anniversary gift.
pink and red floral stationery set
- Practical Paper Gifts: For a partner who appreciates organization and style, a custom notebook and elegant stationery set offers a sophisticated and useful paper anniversary present.
newlywed cookbook is a perfect year one anniversary gift
- Experiential Paper Gifts: Consider gifting experiences represented by paper, such as tickets to a concert, play, or sporting event. Alternatively, a beautifully bound cookbook for culinary adventures or a collection of classic literature in hardcover editions are thoughtful paper anniversary gifts.
paper necklace
- Unique Paper Gifts: Recycled paper jewelry offers an artistic and eco-conscious approach to the paper anniversary theme, providing a unique and wearable piece of art.
desktop calendar
- Personalized Paper Gifts: A desktop calendar featuring your wedding photos is a practical yet sentimental paper gift, allowing you to enjoy cherished memories throughout the year.
Year Two: Cotton Anniversary Gifts
Cotton, the gift for the second anniversary, symbolizes comfort, adaptability, and strength. As marriage enters its second year, couples are weaving their lives together, much like the interwoven threads of cotton.
love is art print is a perfect anniversary gift
- Creative Cotton Gifts: For a fun and unconventional cotton anniversary gift, the “Love Is Art Kit” provides a unique experience and results in a personalized piece of artwork created together.
custom cotton dog pillow
- Comforting Cotton Gifts: A custom cotton pillow featuring a pet’s image is a cozy and personal gift, especially for animal-loving couples, adding a touch of homey comfort.
Artistic Los Angeles map printed on a bandana
- Stylish Cotton Gifts: A soft cotton scarf or bandana, perhaps featuring a map of a significant location, combines practicality with personal style for a thoughtful cotton anniversary gift.
colorful hammock hanging on a porch
- Relaxing Cotton Gifts: A comfortable cotton hammock offers relaxation and togetherness, perfect for couples to unwind and enjoy each other’s company.
canvas weekender bag
- Adventurous Cotton Gifts: A durable canvas weekender bag, made of sturdy cotton, is an ideal gift for couples who love to travel and explore together, symbolizing future adventures.
Year Three: Leather Anniversary Gifts
Leather, the traditional third-anniversary gift, represents durability, resilience, and warmth. By the third year, a marriage is becoming more robust and enduring, like leather, which ages beautifully over time.
leather scented candle
- Sensory Leather Gifts: A leather-scented candle offers a subtle and sophisticated way to incorporate the leather theme, bringing a touch of luxury and warmth to the home.
Pile of colorful zip wallets emblazoned with monograms in gold are a perfect anniversary gift
- Practical Leather Gifts: A high-quality leather wallet or cardholder, especially one that can be personalized with initials, is a timeless and practical leather anniversary gift.
Brown, White, and Silver Leather ottomans in front of pink walls
- Home Decor Leather Gifts: Moroccan leather poufs add a touch of global style and comfortable seating to any home, serving as both decorative and functional leather gifts.
For the perfect leather anniversary gift: Black Leather lace up boots
- Fashionable Leather Gifts: Stylish leather boots are a classic and enduring gift, symbolizing strength and stepping forward together into the future.
brown leather homebrew journal with beer
- Hobby-Related Leather Gifts: For a partner with a hobby, a leather-bound journal, like a home-brew journal, adds a touch of sophistication and practicality to their passion.
Year Four: Fruit & Flowers or Linen & Silk Anniversary Gifts
The fourth anniversary offers a choice between fruit & flowers or linen & silk. Fruit and flowers symbolize the blossoming and nurturing of love, while linen and silk represent comfort and luxury.
hand holding a bouquet of farmgirl flowers as an anniversary gift
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Classic Floral Gifts: A beautiful bouquet of locally sourced flowers is always a cherished gift, embodying the beauty and growth of a relationship. Consider long-lasting options like fine art floral prints for a lasting floral tribute.
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Experiential Fruit Gifts: Explore wine-related gifts, as wine originates from fruit. A wine club membership or a curated selection of wines makes a delightful and experiential fruit-themed anniversary gift.
gold flower ring
- Jewelry Inspired by Flowers: A custom “secret garden” ring featuring flower motifs offers a lasting and elegant way to incorporate the floral theme into a piece of jewelry.
pomegranate necklace
- Symbolic Fruit Gifts: Pomegranates are known as the fruit of love. A pomegranate charm necklace is a unique and symbolic gift for a fourth anniversary, representing love and abundance.
blue marble orchid flower shaped earrings with rhinestone centers
- Fashionable Floral Gifts: Floral earrings, such as stunning orchid earrings, offer enduring beauty, unlike fresh flowers, providing a lasting reminder of your affection.
Year Five: Wood Anniversary Gifts
Wood, the fifth-anniversary gift, symbolizes strength, wisdom, and stability. Like a tree with deep roots, a marriage that has reached its fifth year is considered strong and grounded.
wooden wine goblets with white stem
- Unique Wooden Drinkware: Wooden wine glasses offer a rustic and unique take on drinkware, perfect for couples who appreciate natural materials and distinctive home goods.
Wood open top box hanging on wall with slot to hang bicycle
- Functional Wooden Art: A wooden bicycle rack that doubles as wall art combines functionality with aesthetic appeal, ideal for cyclist couples and modern homes.
cutout map wood print
- Personalized Wooden Decor: Custom map art printed on wood adds a sentimental touch to home décor, commemorating a special place in a lasting wooden format.
Wood and black bluetooth speaker in fluted shape of vintage music speaker
- Tech-Savvy Wooden Gifts: A Bluetooth gramophone with a wooden base blends vintage aesthetics with modern technology, perfect for music-loving couples.
Multicolor pattern wood geometric wall art
- Artistic Wooden Decor: Geometric wooden wall art serves as a striking and contemporary decorative piece, adding a touch of modern artistry to the home.
Year Six: Iron or Candy Anniversary Gifts
The sixth anniversary presents a choice between iron and candy. Iron symbolizes strength, endurance, and the ability to overcome challenges, while candy represents sweetness, joy, and the simple pleasures of life.
Blue accented cast iron skillet is a perfect anniversary gift
- Practical Iron Gifts: A colorful cast iron skillet is a durable and functional gift for home chefs, adding a touch of vibrancy to the kitchen and many shared meals to come.
iron and wood shelf
- Home Organization Iron Gifts: An iron bookshelf offers both style and utility, providing storage and display space while fitting the iron anniversary theme.
cast iron black wall hangings holding white pillar candles
- Romantic Iron Decor: Iron candle holders bring a rustic yet romantic ambiance to any space, perfect for creating cozy and intimate moments.
box of candy
- Sweet Candy Gifts: Artisanal candies or gourmet chocolates offer a delightful treat, representing the sweetness and indulgence in a marriage.
Round metal table top lantern with glass candle holder in the middle
- Symbolic Iron Gifts: A workman’s lantern, often made of iron or metal, symbolizes guidance and light through any storms, making it a meaningful and symbolic gift.
Year Seven: Wool or Copper Anniversary Gifts
Wool and copper are the traditional gifts for the seventh anniversary. Wool represents comfort, warmth, and security, while copper symbolizes beauty, prosperity, and good fortune.
monogrammed copper mugs make for great anniversary gifts
- Barware Copper Gifts: Copper Moscow Mule mugs are stylish and functional, perfect for couples who enjoy entertaining or crafting cocktails at home.
woman holding scarf knitting pattern with white yarn in basket
- Creative Wool Gifts: A DIY infinity scarf knitting kit offers a cozy and hands-on gift experience, resulting in a warm and personal wool item.
geometric copper mirror
- Decorative Copper Gifts: A copper wall mirror adds a touch of modern elegance to home decor, reflecting light and style while fitting the copper anniversary theme.
Anniversary gift for your stylish partner, a wool fedora
- Fashionable Wool Gifts: A wool fedora is a stylish and classic accessory, offering warmth and sophistication, especially for a fashion-conscious partner.
for an extra cozy anniversary gift consider this chunky grey knit blanket
- Comforting Wool Gifts: A chunky Merino wool blanket provides ultimate comfort and warmth, perfect for cozy nights in and representing the comforting aspect of wool.
Year Eight: Bronze Anniversary Gifts
Bronze, the eighth-anniversary gift, symbolizes durability and strength, even greater than copper or iron. Bronze is created by combining copper and tin, representing the blending of two lives into a stronger union.
For a more traditional anniversary gift try a custom embossed bronze fishing lure in shape of a heart
- Personalized Bronze Gifts: A custom embossed bronze fishing lure adds a personal touch to a traditional gift, especially for partners who enjoy fishing, creating a memorable keepsake.
Custom embossed bronze belt buckle is a custom anniversary gift
- Fashionable Bronze Accessories: Customized bronze belt buckles offer a stylish and personalized accessory, blending tradition with personal style.
this bronze steam punk pocket watch is a one-of-a-kind anniversary gift
- Timeless Bronze Gifts: A custom engraved bronze pocket watch is a unique and timeless gift, offering a vintage charm and personalized sentiment.
bronze fire pit
- Outdoor Bronze Gifts: A bronze fire pit provides warmth and ambiance for outdoor gatherings, creating a focal point for backyard enjoyment and shared moments.
bronze the thinker statue reproduction
- Experiential Bronze Gifts: Tickets to visit a cultural landmark, such as the Musée Rodin in Paris to see “The Thinker” statue, offer a memorable experience and align with the artistic nature of bronze sculptures.
Year Nine: Pottery or Willow Anniversary Gifts
Pottery and willow are associated with the ninth anniversary. Pottery represents elegance and the shaping of something beautiful from simple beginnings, while willow signifies flexibility, strength, and bending without breaking.
this white ceramic paper bag flower vase is the ideal anniversary gift for your art-loving partner
- Artistic Pottery Gifts: A ceramic paper bag vase combines a playful design with artistic pottery, making it a unique and conversation-starting home décor item.
Multicolor ceramic beer steins make the ideal anniversary gift for the craft beer fan in your life
- Pottery for Drink Enthusiasts: Ceramic beer steins offer a traditional and functional pottery gift, especially appreciated by those who enjoy craft beers and historical aesthetics.
white and blue patterned ceramic drink coasters
- Practical Pottery Gifts: Ceramic coasters add a touch of artistry to everyday use, protecting surfaces while complementing cocktail-themed or home bar gifts.
rainbow striped serving platters
- Fun Pottery for Entertaining: Retro serving dishes in vibrant ceramic patterns bring a playful and stylish element to dining and entertaining, making food presentation more fun.
Hands pouring copper watering pot into small hanging plant
- Green-Thumb Pottery Gifts: A ceramic wall pocket planter is a decorative and functional gift for plant lovers, adding greenery and style to indoor or outdoor spaces.
Year Ten: Tin or Aluminum Anniversary Gifts
Tin and aluminum represent the tenth anniversary, symbolizing durability, preservation, and longevity. These metals are resistant to rust and corrosion, mirroring a marriage that has stood the test of time.
chai tea kit in a tin
- Gourmet Tin Gifts: A chai tea kit packaged in a tin offers a cozy and flavorful gift experience, perfect for tea enthusiasts and presented in a thematic tin container.
Silver citrus press a classic anniversary gift
- Practical Aluminum Gifts: A countertop citrus press made of aluminum is a functional and stylish kitchen tool, enhancing weekend brunches and healthy living.
Silver metal barbeque tool set in a silver case
- Outdoor Aluminum Gifts: A BBQ briefcase set made of aluminum is a portable and practical gift for grilling enthusiasts, perfect for outdoor cooking and tailgating.
Silver countertop pasta maker is the perfect anniversary gift for the home chef
- Culinary Aluminum Gifts: An aluminum pasta maker is a fantastic gift for home chefs, allowing for fresh pasta creation and romantic date nights at home.
the sarcastic anniversary gift: a custom engraved flask with words
- Humorous Tin/Aluminum Gifts: A custom engraved flask, often made of stainless steel (similar to tin/aluminum in appearance and durability), can be personalized with a fun or sentimental message, offering a witty and thematic gift.
Celebrating Beyond a Decade: Traditional Gifts for Milestone Anniversaries
As anniversaries progress beyond the tenth year, the traditional gifts become even more precious and symbolic, representing the enduring strength and value of a long-lasting marriage. From steel at 11 years to diamonds at 60, each material marks a significant milestone in a couple’s journey together. Embracing the tradition of wedding gifts by year offers a beautiful framework for expressing love and appreciation as your marriage story unfolds.
Choosing traditional wedding gifts by year is more than just following a guideline; it’s about embracing a meaningful tradition and selecting gifts that resonate with the symbolism of each anniversary milestone. Whether you opt for classic interpretations or modern adaptations, these gifts provide a thoughtful way to celebrate your enduring love story.
