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 

When 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.