Celebrating your wedding anniversary is very special because it commemorates the day that you committed to your spouse that you will be together as long as you both shall live. Every year you celebrate the moment that you said “I Do”, and you always want to make sure that the day is perfect. Finding the perfect anniversary gift is always the trickiest part because you want it to stand out to show the appreciation and love you have for your partner. Fortunately, there are traditional anniversary gifts that allow you to at least narrow the selection of gifts for you to give.
We thought we would simplify things a bit for you and decided to put together a fun gift guide that lets you know what the traditional anniversary present is for each monumental year! By personalizing the gift, you can ensure that your present will be unique, heartfelt and memorable.
1st Anniversary: Paper Year
Traditionally, you give a paper gift for your first anniversary. Paper symbolizes a blank space that you and your spouse write your story together on. With your personal twist, give your love a Personalized Heart Shaped Aerial Map. Featured on Martha Stewart Weddings, this personalized, stylish masterpiece features a picture frame with a heart shaped puzzle inside. Show off that special place of love – whether it is the place you first met, place you wed, or the home you love! With your personalized map and message, this will mean so much to your spouse and will be something you can both admire in your home.
2nd Anniversary: Cotton Year
Reaching your second wedding anniversary is definitely something to celebrate. By the time you hit this milestone anniversary, you will hopefully have settled into married life together. Cotton is the traditional second wedding anniversary gift, which is ideal as it makes for a very practical gift! It symbolizes the strength your love has and the ability to adapt to change. Luckily the theme of cotton opens the doors for a huge variety of gift ideas, so to make it special we suggest a Personalized Pillow Case with both you and your spouse’s name on it. It’s a unique gift that will make your second year as a married couple even more special. We’re positive this pillow case set will fit perfectly in your and with the infinity sign and the words “True Love” you will feel the love every night when your head hits the pillow!
3rd Anniversary: Leather Year
By your third anniversary you will both probably know each other very well! This momentous year is all about the gift of leather. Leather represents durability. It shows that your love can handle anything! At first glance, leather may seem like a tricky gift idea but we have you covered. For your hubby we suggest a personalized leather flask or personalized leather watch case. For the wife we think a leather jewelry box or personalized leatherette journal makes for an elegant anniversary gift. There are a variety of options to choose from and we’re sure your spouse will keep their leather gift close to their hearts!
4th Anniversary: Flowers & Fruit Year
For your fourth wedding anniversary, the traditional gift is flowers and fruit to represent your blossoming, fertile, and fruitful relationship. Ordinarily couples were presented with baskets of fresh fruit or flowers for this marriage milestone. We recommend sending a fantastic gift from one of our family of brands such as an elegant rose arrangement from 1800-Flowers.com, or juicy box of royal verano pears from Harry & David. A hand-crafted floral arrangement is the ultimate expression of romance, while Harry & David’s famous pears will be sure to delight!
5th Anniversary: Wood Year
A wooden piece of wall art is the perfect fifth year anniversary gift! This traditional gift represents a strong and long-lasting love. In the past, gifts made of wood were presented to couples to showcase the strength of their marriage. Since wood is such a popular theme among gifts, it will be easy to find the perfect present for your loved one! Our Personalized Barn Wood Sign not only makes for a special gift, but with the added personal touch of both your names and the year you wed, this is an elegant accessory for your home that will serve as a reminder of how your love has grown over the last five years!
10th Anniversary: Tin/Aluminum Year
Ten years married is a wonderful milestone to celebrate! Tin represents preservation and longevity. It shows your ability to go the distance. Tradition states this anniversary calls for tin or aluminum gifts. We think you should put a modern spin on this tradition and commemorate your 10th wedding anniversary with a tin of delicious Cheryl’s Cookies! Our sister brand Cheryl’s allows you to create your own gift by choosing your favorite cookies and baked goods. We know this will not only be delicious, but the thought behind it will put a smile on your loved ones face!
25th Anniversary: Silver Year
The 25th wedding anniversary is a significant milestone for any couple. Silver symbolizes your love still shining in splendor over the past 25 years. This tradition goes back to ancient Rome when a wife was crowned with a silver wreath by her husband on their anniversary day. Our Engraved Champagne Flutes are not only beautiful but serve as the perfect 25th wedding anniversary gift! If you want to add an extra touch we suggest pairing this gift with an Engraved Champagne Bottle. These two unique gifts will make for an evening of love, romance and memories!
50th Anniversary: Gold Year
The theme for 50 is gold and it’s only appropriate that this precious metal represents 50 sweet years together! Gold represents prosperity, strength, and wisdom. Any 50th wedding anniversary deserves a celebration, and as easy as it is to stick with gold jewelry we recommend you get a bit more creative. Give the one you love a gift that will remind them how wonderful these past 50 years have been and show them just how much they mean to you! A beautiful gold framed picture from your wedding day will be sure to stand out among all the gifts. If your spouse prefers accessories we think a beautiful monogrammed bracelet or engraved set of cufflinks will also make fantastic wedding anniversary gifts.
A wedding anniversary is a momentous occasion for you and your significant other. It serves as a reminder of that special day where you stood in front of your friends and family and made vows to honor and love one another until the end. If you follow our guide for traditional wedding anniversary gifts we’re sure you will rekindle the spark between each other and continue to show your partner just how loved they are!