Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts: Anniversary Gifts by Year
Most people know that a 25th wedding anniversary is silver and a 50th wedding anniversary is gold, but what about all the anniversaries in between?
If you're celebrating a wedding anniversary, knowing the traditional anniversary gift for that particular year can be a great starting point when you're looking for something thoughtful and meaningful for your partner.
Where Did Wedding Anniversary Traditions Come From?
The tradition of celebrating wedding anniversaries dates back centuries.
The Romans are often credited with one of the earliest anniversary traditions. Roman husbands would crown their wives with a silver wreath on their 25th wedding anniversary and a gold wreath on their 50th.
Over time, different materials became associated with different years of marriage.
Diamond was traditionally associated with the 75th wedding anniversary. However, after Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, the diamond became associated with the 60th wedding anniversary as well.
Today, traditional wedding anniversary gifts provide inspiration for couples looking to celebrate the number of years they have spent together.
Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year
Here are some of the traditional anniversary gifts associated with the early milestones through to the major anniversaries:
| Anniversary | Traditional Gift |
|---|---|
| 1st | Paper |
| 2nd | Cotton |
| 3rd | Leather |
| 4th | Fruit or flowers |
| 5th | Wood |
| 6th | Sugar or iron |
| 7th | Wool or copper |
| 8th | Salt or bronze |
| 9th | Pottery or willow |
| 10th | Tin or aluminium |
| 11th | Steel |
| 12th | Silk or linen |
| 13th | Lace |
| 14th | Gold jewellery |
| 15th | Crystal |
| 20th | China |
| 25th | Silver |
| 30th | Pearl |
| 40th | Ruby |
| 50th | Gold |
| 60th | Diamond |
The traditional lists can vary slightly depending on the source and country, but these are some of the most commonly recognised anniversary associations.
1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts
The traditional gift for a 1st wedding anniversary is paper.
Although paper might not sound like the most exciting anniversary present, there are plenty of creative ways to incorporate the tradition into a meaningful gift.
You could choose a personalised photo album and fill it with photographs from your first year of marriage, tickets and memories from special days together, or photographs from your wedding.
You could also choose something incorporating the modern gemstone associated with the first anniversary, such as mother of pearl. Our mother of pearl cufflinks could make thoughtful personalised anniversary gifts.
5th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
The traditional gift for a 5th wedding anniversary is wood.
Wood gives you lots of possibilities when choosing an anniversary present. A personalised wooden gift can be both practical and sentimental, making it something your partner can use for years to come.
For someone who enjoys cooking, why not consider a personalised wooden chopping board?
If your partner loves entertaining or is a cheese lover, a personalised cheese board could be a thoughtful way to celebrate five years of marriage.
25th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
The 25th wedding anniversary is traditionally known as the silver anniversary.
After 25 years together, this is a particularly important milestone and many couples choose a silver gift or something incorporating silver as part of their anniversary celebrations.
You could also choose a personalised keepsake that reflects the couple's relationship and the memories they have created together over the years.
50th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
Reaching your 50th wedding anniversary is a remarkable achievement.
The 50th anniversary is traditionally known as the golden wedding anniversary, with gold representing the strength and value of a marriage that has lasted half a century.
A personalised gift can be a wonderful way to mark such an important occasion, particularly when it includes the couple's names, wedding date or a special message.
Don't Forget the Gemstones and Flowers
Traditional anniversary gifts aren't limited to materials.
Many anniversary years also have associated gemstones, colours and flowers. These can give you another way to personalise your gift if the traditional material doesn't inspire you.
For example, if you know that flowers would make your partner smile, consider choosing their favourite flowers along with a beautiful personalised glass vase.
The flowers may eventually fade, but the personalised vase can be used again and again, giving you a lasting reminder of your anniversary.
Choosing a Meaningful Wedding Anniversary Gift
You don't have to follow the traditional anniversary gift list exactly.
The traditions are there to provide inspiration, but the best anniversary gifts are often those that have some personal meaning for the couple.
A personalised gift can make an anniversary present feel even more special by adding a name, date or personal message.
Whether you're celebrating your 1st, 5th, 10th, 25th or 50th wedding anniversary, choosing a gift that reminds your partner of the years you've spent together can make the occasion even more memorable.
At CalEli Gifts, you'll find a range of personalised anniversary gifts designed to help you celebrate the special people and milestones in your life.