Wedding anniversaries are milestones that deserve to be celebrated. From the humble beginnings of silver wreaths in Roman times for 25th anniversaries and gold for the 50th, as Wikipedia notes, the tradition of marking these years has evolved significantly. Today, thanks to a touch of commercial influence in the 20th century, we have designated gifts for many more anniversaries, creating a delightful guide for gift-giving.
Following these anniversary gift themes can be a fun and helpful way to navigate the sometimes-tricky world of gift selection. Especially when life gets busy, and brainstorming the perfect present feels like another chore on the list. Stuck for birthday or Christmas gift ideas? Anniversary themes can be a welcome source of inspiration!
Perhaps you’re here specifically seeking inspiration for a fourth anniversary, traditionally associated with fruit and flowers. But whether you’re marking year four or any other special year, exploring the broader spectrum of Wedding Anniversary Gifts can spark some fantastic ideas. For inspiration for other years, you can check out these suggestions for previous anniversaries like the first (paper), second (cotton), and third (leather).
This year, as we celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary, the fruit and flower theme initially felt a bit…limiting. While beautiful, literal fruit and flowers can feel fleeting for a gift intended to symbolize lasting love. This theme challenged me to get creative and think beyond the obvious. While some ideas might be a playful interpretation of the theme, I’m excited to share a range of unique and thoughtful wedding anniversary gifts that are sure to delight.
Having just navigated the search for the perfect fourth-anniversary gift for my husband, I wanted to share a curated list of ideas that have captured our attention. Below, you’ll find a mix of items we’ve personally gifted or own (marked with an asterisk *), alongside other fantastic options we considered, all perfect for celebrating your wedding anniversary.
Traditional Fourth Anniversary Gift Ideas: Fruit and Flowers Represented in Gifts
Delicious Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Edible Treats
While fleeting in nature, edible gifts can be incredibly special, especially when they perfectly align with an anniversary theme or cater to your partner’s tastes. These delicious options are perfect for creating memorable moments.
Enjoy these treats during a romantic dinner at home, whether you cook a fancy meal together or opt for takeout, or pack them for a delightful anniversary picnic.
Gourmet Fruit Baskets & Dried Fruit Trays
Fruit baskets often get a bad rap, but a thoughtfully curated selection of fresh, seasonal fruits can be a truly delightful gift. Elevate it by pairing it with a bottle of wine for a cozy date night at home, or make it the centerpiece of a romantic picnic basket. Explore more dried fruit gift basket options here and here.
For a fun twist, consider edible “floral” arrangements made of fruit or even jerky for a more savory approach. Chocolate covered berries or dehydrated fruit crisps offer other delicious and theme-appropriate alternatives.
Premium Fruit Preserves Set
Fruit preserves might seem simple, but a set of high-quality, gourmet preserves can be a wonderful gift for a couple who enjoys cooking or entertaining at home. These flavorful additions can elevate charcuterie boards, sandwiches, or even be used as glazes and toppings for culinary creations. It’s a sophisticated surprise for the home chef in your life.
Floral & Fruit Flavored Macarons
Macarons, especially those from Ladurée, are known for their delicate fruity and floral flavors. Order online through retailers like HolyBelly or support local by visiting a nearby macaron shop. If you’re in Seattle, Lady Yum macarons are a local favorite!
Fruit and Floral Macarons: Gourmet Edible Anniversary Gift Idea
Blooming Tea Set
For the tea enthusiast, a blooming tea set is a truly enchanting gift. The visual spectacle of the tea unfurling in hot water adds a touch of magic to the experience. Pair it with a beautiful teapot and cup set for a more luxurious gift, or upgrade their existing tea setup with a floral tea kettle.
Gourmet Olive Oil Set
Elevate everyday meals with a set of premium olive oils from brands like Brightland. Perfect for drizzling over salads, dipping bread, or finishing dishes, these oils are a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates good food and flavors.
DIY Limoncello Kit
If Italy holds a special place in your hearts, perhaps as a honeymoon destination, a DIY Limoncello kit offers a fun and interactive anniversary activity. Making your own limoncello together is a unique way to recreate those Italian memories.
Beer Subscription Box
For the beer lover, a beer of the month subscription is a gift that keeps on giving. And yes, hops, a key beer ingredient, are technically flowers! If your partner has a preferred local brewery or specific tastes, a gift card to their favorite spot is another great option.
The Drunken Botanist Book
The Drunken Botanist book is perfect for the aspiring home mixologist. It explores the fascinating botanical origins of various spirits and cocktails. Pair it with a bottle of their favorite liquor for a thoughtful and engaging gift. For another great cocktail book, consider this at-home cocktail book*, a personal favorite.
Custom Painted Wine or Liquor Bottle
Gift a bottle of their favorite wine or spirits with a personalized touch. Since wine is made from grapes (and we’ll extend the fruit theme to liquor for flexibility!), it fits the fourth-anniversary theme beautifully. A hand-painted bottle becomes a keepsake long after the drink is enjoyed. Consider this handpainted wine bottle style or this painted liquor bottle style.
For a DIY touch, this “pineapple” champagne bottle is a cute and festive way to make a champagne bottle extra special, especially if you honeymooned in a tropical location!
Home Décor Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Botanical & Floral Touches
Infuse your home with the beauty of nature with these home décor anniversary gifts, incorporating botanical and floral elements.
Botanical Prints
Botanical prints add a touch of elegance and natural beauty to any space. Choose prints with special meaning: perhaps fruits or herbs that were flavors in your wedding cake, citrus prints recalling your first date over margaritas, geraniums (the traditional fourth-anniversary flower symbolizing togetherness and happiness), or flowers representing your birth months. Meaningful choices make this gift extra special. Consider this print, this one, and this one for inspiration.
Scented Candles: Fruit & Floral Aromas
Scented candles evoke memories and create ambiance. Select a fruit or floral scent linked to a special moment in your relationship. A lavender candle might remind you of a trip to Provence, or limited edition candles could bring back memories of an Amalfi Coast honeymoon. Elevate the gift with candle care tools, stylish matches, and a decorative photophore. High-quality candle brands like Diptyque and Hotel Lobby Candles are excellent choices.
Wedding Flower Preservation
Preserving wedding flowers is a beautiful way to cherish a significant part of your special day forever. Whether your partner is a flower enthusiast or simply sentimental, wedding bouquet preservation is a unique and lasting gift. Explore options like framed wedding florals with invitation, bridal flower keepsakes, and preserved bouquet trays.
Floral or Fruity Scented Body Care
Body care products in floral or fruity scents offer a pampering and fragrant gift. Choose hand lotions, soaps, perfumes, or colognes in their favorite scents. However, ensure you know their preferred fragrances before purchasing, as scent preferences are personal.
Flowering or Fruit-Bearing Plant
For the partner with a green thumb, a flowering shrub or fruit tree is a symbolic and growing gift. Whether for indoor enjoyment or to enhance a garden, consider a meyer lemon shrub, key lime shrub, olive tree, or a lavender grow kit.
Decorative Fruit Bowl
A decorative fruit bowl is both functional and stylish, encouraging healthy snacking while adding an elegant touch to your kitchen or dining area. Consider a marble footed bowl, crystal bowl, or acacia wood bowl.
Botanical Print and Fruit Bowl: Home Decor Anniversary Gift Ideas
Decorative Fruit
Decorative fruit can be a chic and unexpected décor element when styled thoughtfully. While it can veer into dated territory, carefully chosen pieces can add a touch of whimsy and sophistication. Consider decorative fruit sets, a pear sculpture, a pear figurine, or an apple figurine.
Elegant Vase
If your spouse loves flowers, a beautiful vase is a timeless and practical gift. Make it even more special by committing to keeping it filled with fresh blooms regularly. This could involve grocery store bouquets, florist orders, or a flower delivery subscription.
Long-Lasting Floral Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Forever Blooms
For those who adore flowers but wish they lasted longer, these long-lasting floral options are ideal wedding anniversary gifts.
Real Flowers That Last A Year (or More!)
Venus et Fleur and La Fleur offer real flowers treated to last for a year or even longer. These stunning arrangements maintain their beauty and fragrance for an extended period. A hatbox of roses gifted years ago and a hydrangea arrangement from last year are still going strong, proving their longevity and quality.
Preserved Flower Arrangements
Preserved flower arrangements are a low-maintenance alternative to fresh flowers. Brands like UrbanStems and Idlewild offer beautiful dried bouquets perfect for those who love the look of real flowers but prefer something that requires minimal care.
Consider bouquet preservation services to transform your own wedding bouquet into a lasting keepsake. The artistry of companies like Blossom and Rhyme creates incredibly high-quality preserved floral pieces. Preserved bouquet shadowboxes are another option, displaying gently dried and arranged flowers in a shadowbox frame.
Delicate Forever Flowers: Crystal & Porcelain Blooms
For truly everlasting floral beauty, consider delicate flowers crafted from fine materials.
Waterford glass roses, Swarovski crystal roses, Swarovski crystal cherry blossoms, Swarovski crystal magnolias, porcelain dahlias, and porcelain gardenias offer exquisite, forever-lasting floral gifts.
Birth month glass flower bouquets (or wedding month flowers!) add a personalized touch to these delicate floral gifts.
Venus et Fleur Long Lasting Roses: Luxury Floral Anniversary Gift
Wearable Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Floral & Fruit Accents
Incorporate the fruit and flower theme into wearable gifts, adding a touch of botanical charm to your partner’s style.
Floral Clothing Pieces
If you’re celebrating your anniversary with a trip, gifting a special clothing item related to the destination or a shared memory is a thoughtful idea. A floral button-down shirt (Hawaiian style or other floral patterns) for him and a pareo for her are perfect for a tropical getaway or simply adding a touch of floral flair to their wardrobe.
Floral & Fruit Accessories
A floral or fruit printed scarf or tie makes a stylish and theme-appropriate anniversary gift. From budget-friendly options to luxurious silk scarves from Hermès (via theRealReal), there’s a scarf for every style and budget. For designer lovers who aren’t scarf people, Alice+Hops headbands made from upcycled designer scarves are a unique alternative.
Jewelry with Floral or Fruit Themes
For jewelry enthusiasts, consider pieces incorporating the fourth-anniversary gemstone, blue topaz. Blue topaz earrings, a solitaire pendant necklace, and a multi-gem bracelet are beautiful options. If gemstones aren’t their style, a flower month bracelet, a watch with 3D floral details, or theme-related cufflinks are also lovely choices.
Floral Scarf: Wearable Floral Anniversary Gift Idea
Experience Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Create Lasting Memories
Experiences often create deeper connections and lasting memories, making them wonderful wedding anniversary gifts.
Plan a romantic picnic featuring fruits and gourmet treats (referencing the “Edible Gifts” section for inspiration).
Explore a local botanical garden or enjoy a seasonal u-pick experience at a fruit farm or orchard.
Go wine tasting, perhaps joining a wine club to continue the experience throughout the year. Walla Walla in Washington state is known for its excellent wine scene.
Attend a floral arranging class or a cooking/baking class focusing on fruit-based recipes. Consider a series of classes for an ongoing shared activity.
Schedule a couples spa day, as spas often incorporate floral and herbal fragrances for relaxation and rejuvenation. Elevate it further with a stay at a luxurious resort.
Couple Enjoying U-Pick Fruit Experience: Anniversary Activity Idea
I hope this diverse list of wedding anniversary gift ideas inspires you to find the perfect present for your loved one. Wishing you the best in your gift search and a very happy anniversary!
Warmly,
Natalie
