Anniversary Gifts by Year to Celebrate Your Marriage

Whether you’ve just received a wedding anniversary party invitation in the mail or are looking for gift ideas for your significant other, choosing the right anniversary gift makes all the difference. Luckily there are a set of guidelines to follow that will lead you to the most meaningful present.

Each year has a different gift that is associated with it. The years of marriage can be celebrated with a traditional anniversary gift or with a more modern present that might fit your partner better. Whichever direction you go in, tailor and personalize your anniversary gift to reflect your loved one and remind them that you ‘still do’.

We’ve created a helpful list of anniversary gifts by year below for inspiration. Click on the year that applies to you and find what gift will be best suited for the occasion.

1st Wedding Anniversary Gift

Celebrate year one of marriage with a special gift that speaks to your newlywed status. The first wedding anniversary is traditionally celebrated by giving a gift that involves paper.

Traditional

Paper

Modern

Clocks

Gift Ideas: Personalized stationery, tickets to the recipient’s favorite show or sports game, a framed photo print, a cookbook, a travel scratch map or a custom wedding photo book.

2nd Wedding Anniversary Gift

The second wedding anniversary is all about comfort with the traditional anniversary gift being cotton. Consider gifting everything from bedding and nice towels to garments and bathrobes. You and your love will be ready for a relaxing evening snuggled up in your new cotton attire.

Traditional

Cotton

Modern

China

Gift Ideas: Cotton bathroom towels, cotton “his and hers” bathrobes, custom t-shirts, a cotton porch hammock or Egyptian cotton sheets.

3rd Wedding Anniversary Gift

Stronger than paper and cotton but still flexible, the traditional gift for the third wedding anniversary is leather. The modern gift for the third wedding anniversary is crystal or glass.

Traditional

Leather

Modern

Crystal or Glass

Gift Ideas: Leather accessories, leather journal, leather bag/briefcase, leather scented candle, custom glass plate or custom wine glasses.

4th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Fourth-year wedding anniversary gifts traditionally consist of flowers and fruit, the first representing a blossoming marriage and the latter representing the ripening of the relationship.

Traditional

Fruit or Flowers

Modern

Appliances

Gift Ideas: Fruit basket, flower bouquet, plants, a floral or fruit-patterned phone case or floral-printed linens.

5th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional anniversary gift for year five is wood, symbolizing the growing strength and wisdom of the marriage. You can stick to traditional wooden items or consider making a gallery wall with wood frames that feature some of your favorite photos.

Traditional

Wood

Modern

Silverware

Gift Ideas: Wooden sculpture, kitchenware, wood framed print, wooden beer caddy or wooden home decor.

6th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional anniversary gift for year six is candy and formerly iron. Candy is considered romantic and sweet while in older times, iron was considered a gift that brought married couples good luck.

Traditional

Candy

Modern

Wood

Gift Ideas: Gourmet candy or chocolates, candy dish, cast iron skillet or iron home decor items.

7th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional gifts for a seventh wedding anniversary are wool and copper, which both represent warmth and stability. Consider giving your love a beautiful wool sweater or some copper cooking utensils that will bring character to your kitchen.

Traditional

Wool or Copper

Modern

Desk Sets

Gift Ideas: Copper vases or mugs, copper kitchenware or cookware, Moscow mule mugs or bedding and clothing made of wool.

8th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Stronger than iron and copper, bronze is the traditional anniversary gift for eight years of marriage. Pottery is also considered a traditional eighth anniversary gift.

Traditional

Pottery or Bronze

Modern

Linen or Lace

Gift Ideas: Bronze home decor items, bronze figurines, a voucher for a pottery class, custom ceramic tile or pottery home decor items.

9th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional ninth wedding anniversary gift usually consists of pottery, representing the molding of a relationship into something more sturdy and formed.

Traditional

Pottery or Willow

Modern

Leather

Gift Ideas: Pottery home decor items, pottery figurines, willow baskets, hand painted coasters, a willow bag or willow furniture.

10th Wedding Anniversary Gift

While tin is the original anniversary gift for the 10-year mark, diamonds have become the more popular present for this anniversary because they symbolize love and commitment.

Traditional

Tin or Aluminum

Modern

Diamond Jewelry

Gift Ideas: Tin or aluminum ornaments or figurines, aluminum grilling utensils, diamond anniversary ring, bracelets, pendant or cufflinks.

11th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional gift for the 11th wedding anniversary is steel, symbolizing immense strength and durability. You can also gift some unique metallic jewelry to make a bold fashion statement.

Traditional

Steel

Modern

Fashion Jewelry

Gift Ideas: Stainless steel kitchenware, cookware items or stainless steel accessories.

12th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional gift for the 12th wedding anniversary is silk. The material represents luxury and comfort and is symbolic of the couple's easy and smooth ability to weather the storms that come.

Traditional

Silk or Linen

Modern

Pearls

Gift Ideas: Silk or linen bedding, linen tablecloths, linen napkins or silk garments.

13th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional gift for the 13th wedding anniversary is lace, symbolizing how delicate and beautiful marriage can be. You can also gift faux fur for a more modern approach.

Traditional

Lace

Modern

Textiles or Fur

Gift Ideas: Lace clothing, lace accessories, curtains, floral arrangement with lace, lace tablecloths or a faux fur jacket or vest.

14th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional gift for the 14th wedding anniversary is ivory, symbolizing loyalty and purity. However, this gift is no longer recommended or encouraged in efforts to protect elephants. If you do gift the couple with ivory, opt for imitation ivory or the modern gift option of gold jewelry.

Traditional

Ivory

Modern

Gold Jewelry

Gift Ideas: Elephant figurine, decor gift with imitation ivory, gold jewelry or a gold figurine.

15th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Symbolizing a clear love, the traditional 15th wedding anniversary gift is crystal. Gifts for this anniversary are often given as either crystal or glass.

Traditional

Crystal

Modern

Watches

Gift Ideas: Crystal bowl, jewelry, figurines, decanters or crystal wine glasses.

16th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Symbolizing purity and strength, the 16th wedding anniversary gift is typically silverware. There is no traditional gift for this anniversary but silverware has become the ideal option over the years.

Modern

Silverware

Gift Ideas: Silverware, silver tea sets, silver serving dishes, silver champagne glasses or silver jewelry.

17th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Furniture is usually given as a 17th wedding anniversary gift. Before purchasing an item, it is completely acceptable to ask the married couple what their home decor or furniture needs are. After 17 years of marriage, they'll appreciate gifts that they don't already have.

Modern

Furniture

Gift Ideas: Unique chair(s), a new mattress, a new dining table set or an antique table.

18th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional gift for the 18th wedding anniversary is garnet. However, the modern gift of porcelain has become the more popular 18th anniversary gift over the years.

Traditional

Garnet

Modern

Porcelain

Gift Ideas: Ceramic bowl, porcelain figurines, vases, plates or garnet jewelry.

19th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 19th wedding anniversary has never had a traditional gift but over the years, bronze has become the go-to choice. Bronze is related to strength and symbolizes good health and wellness.

Modern

Bronze

Gift Ideas: Bronze figurine, chess set, sculpture or sundial.

20th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 20th wedding anniversary is a time to celebrate all that you've built together. With two decades officially under your belt, the traditional wedding anniversary gift is China which symbolizes love's fragile yet lasting nature. The modern gift is platinum which symbolizes the strength of your marriage.

Traditional

China

Modern

Platinum

Gift Ideas: China tea set, custom china plates, vases, a trip to China or platinum rings.

21st Wedding Anniversary Gift

There aren't any traditional gifts for the 21st wedding anniversary but the suggested modern gift is brass or nickel. Brass can be found in many musical instruments, so consider gifting tickets to a jazz performance.

Modern

Brass or Nickel

Gift Ideas: Brass instrument ornament, figurine, candlesticks or tickets to a jazz concert.

22nd Wedding Anniversary Gift

The traditional and modern gift for the 22nd wedding anniversary is copper, which represents durability, good fortune and beauty. Congratulate the happy couple with a set of copper mugs for Moscow mules.

Traditional

Copper

Modern

Copper

Gift Ideas: Copper vases, mugs, kitchenware, custom engraved flask or cookware.

23rd Wedding Anniversary Gift

The gift for the 23rd anniversary is a silver plate, symbolizing the need for continued family time and shared moments. There is no traditional gift for this anniversary.

Modern

Silver Plate

Gift Ideas: Silver plates, silverware, clocks, platters or silver jewelry.

24th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Although your 25th anniversary may be near, there are plenty of ways to make your 24th anniversary gift just as special. There's no traditional gift for this year but the suggested modern gift is a musical instrument. If the recipient doesn't play an instrument, consider giving them an antique instrument or tickets to their favorite show.

Modern

Musical Instruments

Gift Ideas: Musical instrument, tickets to a concert, musical jewelry box or figurine.

25th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 25th wedding anniversary is the momentous halfway mark to your 50th anniversary. Silver serves as both the traditional and the modern gift for this milestone anniversary.

Traditional

Silver

Modern

Silver

Gift Ideas: Silver jewelry, silverware, silver accessories, silver plates or a picture frame.

26th Wedding Anniversary Gift

There's no traditional gift for the 26th wedding anniversary but the modern gift is an original picture, which gives you plenty of freedom to plan out your gift idea. A personalized photo gift or a framed print that showcases a special moment in your marriage is the perfect option.

Modern

Original Pictures

Gift Ideas: Gallery wall, custom canvas print, framed photo print or a photo book.

27th Wedding Anniversary Gift

There's no traditional gift for the 27th wedding anniversary but the modern gift is a sculpture. You can search for a beautiful sculpture to add to the home or head to a historical destination with plenty of sculptures in real life.

Modern

Sculpture

Gift Ideas: Sculptures, a vacation to a historical city or a trip to the museum.

28th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Although there's no traditional gift for the 28th wedding anniversary orchids have become a beautiful gift option for this anniversary. Orchids are delicate and exotic, symbolizing grace, beauty and love.

Modern

Orchids

Gift Ideas: Orchids, jewelry with an orchid shape or symbol or a trip to an exotic destination.

29th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Their 30th anniversary is right around the corner, but you can still find unique gift ideas for the couple's 29th wedding anniversary. While there is no traditional gift for year 29, you can go by the suggested modern gift of furniture. This is a broad category so don't be afraid to ask the couple if they have any specific furniture needs.

Modern

Furniture

Gift Ideas: Unique chair(s), a new mattress, a new dining table set or an antique table.

30th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 30th wedding anniversary is a very momentous occasion for the honorees, their children and their grandchildren. You'll want to give the couple a gift that is timeless since they've likely accumulated plenty of items over the last 30 years. The traditional gift for a 30th wedding anniversary is pearl, symbolizing the beauty within, wisdom, generosity and loyalty.

Traditional

Pearl

Modern

Diamond

Gift Ideas: Pearl necklace, pearl bracelet or pearl cufflinks.

35th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Coral is the traditional gift option for 35th wedding anniversaries due to its beauty and the lengthy time it takes to form. Its beautiful colors and variations make it the perfect gift for celebrating year 35. The couple will be reminded of the dedication and commitment they've shown each other over the years every time they see your gift.

Traditional

Coral

Modern

Jade

Gift Ideas: Coral jewelry, coral figurines or jade jewelry.

40th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 40th wedding anniversary is another major milestone in a marriage that deserves a one of a kind gift. For the 40th anniversary, the traditional and modern gifts are both rubies. Rubies are the second hardest gemstone after diamonds, referred to as the stone of love, vitality and energy.

Traditional

Ruby

Modern

Ruby

Gift Ideas: Ruby jewelry, cufflinks, brooch, red wine, ruby-colored garments or ruby-colored acrylic print.

45th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Making it to year 45 is just as special as year 50. For your 45th wedding anniversary gift, the traditional and modern gifts are both sapphires. Sapphire is a unique gemstone that represents faithfulness, sincerity, wisdom and virtue.

Traditional

Sapphire

Modern

Sapphire

Gift Ideas: Sapphire jewelry, sapphire tie clip or a sapphire bowl or vase.

50th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 50th wedding anniversary is known as the golden anniversary, honoring the rare feat of making it to half a century of marriage. The traditional and modern gift for the 50th wedding anniversary gift is gold, representing optimism, wealth and strength.

Traditional

Gold

Modern

Gold

Gift Ideas: Gold jewelry, gold-framed photo or figurine.

55th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Making it to the 55th wedding anniversary is an extraordinary achievement in married life. For this anniversary, the traditional and modern gifts are both emeralds, representing love, faith and hope.

Traditional

Emerald

Modern

Emerald

Gift Ideas: Emerald jewelry, plants, green figurines, green garments or green ornaments.

60th Wedding Anniversary Gift

The 60th wedding anniversary is truly a special and rare one. The modern and traditional 60th wedding anniversary gifts are both yellow diamonds. Known as one of the rarest diamonds, the yellow diamond represents love, commitment, inner strength, joy and happiness.

Traditional

Yellow Diamond

Modern

Yellow Diamond

Gift Ideas: Jewelry or a plaque.

Combining these anniversary gifts by year with your own creative spin will make for an unforgettable present. Consider personalizing your gifts with meaningful anniversary quotes for him or heartfelt anniversary quotes for her. If you’re looking for ideas for your parents, our list of anniversary quotes for parents can either elevate your personalized gift or add a sentimental touch to your anniversary card or anniversary invitation.

Finding the right anniversary gift may seem confusing but with a bit of guidance, you can choose something truly special for your loved one, family member or friend. When it comes to anniversaries, each year is special so don’t be afraid to celebrate the years that aren’t as popular in tradition. If you’re planning an anniversary party, you can reference our simple guide on how to plan an anniversary party for all of your anniversary needs.