Menu
Cart 0

Free Shipping on all orders

Anniversary Gifts by Year


Historically, the origins of celebrating wedding anniversaries date back to the Holy Roman Empire, when it was traditional for husbands to crown their wives with a silver wreath after twenty-five years of marriage, and a gold one after fifty. Later, mainly in the twentieth century, increases in commercialism led to the addition of more anniversaries being assigned traditional gifts. Today, there are both traditional and modern gift ideas to choose from for every wedding anniversary right up to one hundred years of marriage. 

Why Gifts Differ 

Anniversary Gifts By YearWhen it comes to anniversary gifts by year, there are many themes to choose from making it easy for husbands, wives, friends and family members to know what to give their spouse or a happy couple celebrating a marriage milestone.  Wedding anniversary gift themes today fit in well with the length of time that a couple has been married for. The value of the gifts tends to increase the longer a couple have been married, also, for example on the first anniversary the traditional theme is paper, whereas after twenty-five years of marriage, the happy couple would have traditionally enjoyed a silver gift.  

List of Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year and Theme, Flowers, Colors and Gemstones:

Year

Traditional

Theme

Modern

Theme

Gemstone Color Flower

1st Anniversary

Paper 

Clocks

Gold

Gold /

Yellow

Carnation

2nd Anniversary

 Cotton

China

Garnet and

Rose

Quartz

Red

Lily of

the Valley

3rd Anniversary

Leather 

Crystal /

Glass

Jade White Sunflower
4th Anniversary

 Fruit /

Flowers

Appliances

Blue

Topaz

Blue or

Green

Hydrangea

5th Anniversary

Wood Silverware Sapphire Turquoise Daisy
6th Anniversary

 

Candy /

Iron

Wood Amethyst Purple Calla

7th Anniversary

Wool /

Copper

Desksets Onyx Yellow Freesia

8th Anniversary

Pottery /

Bronze

Linen /

Lace

Tourmaline Bronze Lilac

9th Anniversary

Willow /

Potter

Leather Lapis Luzili Green

Bird of

paradise

10th Anniversary

Tin /

Aluminum

Diamond

Jewelry

Diamond 

or Green

Tourmaline

Silver Daffodil

11th Anniversary

Steel

Fashion

Jewelry

Turquoise Turquoise Tulip

12th Anniversary

Silk /

Linen

Pearls Jade

Oyster

White

Peony

13th Anniversary

Lace Textiles Citrine Ciitrine

Chrysanthemum

14th Anniversary

Gold

Jewelry

Gold

Jewelry

Opal Ivory Dahlia

15th Anniversary

Crystal Watches Ruby

Ruby

Red

Rose

16th Anniversary

Silver

Holloware

Coffee /

Tea

Peridot

Emerald

Green

17th Anniversary

Furniture Furniture Amethyst Yellow

18th Anniversary

Porcelain Porcelain Aquamarine Blue

19th Anniversary

Bronze Bronze

Golden

Beryl

Bronze Sweetpea

20th Anniversary

China Platinum Emerald

Emerald

Green

Aster

21st Anniversary

Brass Nickel Iolite Orange

22nd Anniversary

Copper Copper Spinal Green

23rd Anniversary

Silver Silver

Imperial

Topaz

Silver

24th Anniversary

Music

Instruments

Music

Instruments

Tanzanite Lavender

25th Anniversary

Silver

Sterling

Silver

Imperial

Jade

Silver Iris

26th Anniversary

-

Original

Pictures

Tanzanite Lavender

27th Anniversary

- Sculpture

28th Anniversary

- Linens Orchid

29th Anniversary

-

New

Furniture

30th Anniversary

 

Pearl Diamonds

Pearl

Jubilee

Green Lily

31st Anniversary

-

Time

Pieces

32nd Anniversary

- Conveyances

33rd Anniversary

- Amethyst
34th Anniversary

 

- Opal
35th Anniversary Coral Jade Emerald Coral

36th Anniversary

-

Bone

China

37th Anniversary

- Alabaster

38th Anniversary

-

Beryl

Tourmaline

39th Anniversary

- Lace

40th Anniversary

Ruby

Ruby

Garnet

Ruby

Ruby

Red

Gladiolis

45th Anniversary

Sapphire Sapphire Sapphire

Sapphire

Red

50th Anniversary

Gold Gold

Golden

Jubilee

Gold

Yellow

Rose

60th Anniversary

Diamond Diamond

Diamond

Jubilee

Diamond

White

Note: Note every Anniversary has a Theme, Gemstone, Color or Flower

Sources: anniversariesbyyear.com

First and Second Anniversaries 

Traditionally, first anniversary gifts are based on the paper theme, so if you like to do things traditionally, this is a great time to give your love the gift of photographs, printed art, or even sheet music. Modern themes include clocks, gold jewelry and plastic, for example a grandfather clock, golden ring or sundial. For your second wedding anniversary, the traditional theme is cotton – a great year to give bed linen, pajamas, home furnishing, rugs, or even a cute teddy bear. Or, for those who prefer the modern themes, opt for china tableware for your 2nd year of marriage.  

Third and Fourth Anniversaries 

As you celebrate your third year of marriage you are becoming more durable as a couple, so the material that your traditional gifts are made from becomes stronger. This year, leather is the traditional theme, so it’s a great opportunity to replace your husbands aging wallet or treat your wife to a leather travel bag. Modern gifts include crystal, such as decanters or crystal ornaments, pearls and glass. For your fourth anniversary, fresh flowers make a wonderful traditional gift whilst a coffee maker or silk pajamas fits in with the appliances and linen modern themes.  

Fifth Wedding Anniversary 

Anniversary gifts by year tend to have a stronger meaning about your marriage. Five years together should be celebrated with a strong and durable material to signify how strong you have become as a couple. Wood is the traditional theme for your fifth anniversary, and items such as wooden chess sets, ornaments, and even furniture can be great choices. Silverware is the modern theme, so if you want to surprise your wife with a stunning silver necklace, this is a great time to do so.  

As you make memories together and share your life with your spouse, choosing gifts for all your wedding anniversaries can be fun. After your 5th anniversary, you have plenty more to look forward to from your tenth, celebrated with tin and diamonds, to your twenty-fifth which is celebrated with silver.