Looking for an anniversary gift for your spouse or that special couple in your life? This list of traditional and modern gifts for Wedding Anniversaries includes alternatives in parentheses, but keep in mind that these are just suggestions – the best idea is always to give a gift that’s not just meaningful, but useful as well, so if you know they are in need of furniture in their second year of marriage, don’t feel compelled to wait until their 17th anniversary to get them that lovely table from Pier 1.
And for a couple who already has everything – why not consider the gift of a trip? Instead of buying an item that could get lost or broken, give them a memory that will last a lifetime – a trip of their dreams!
Anniversary | Modern | Traditional |
---|---|---|
1st | Clocks | Paper |
2nd | China | Cotton |
3rd | Crystal, Glass | Leather |
4th | Appliances | Linen (Silk) |
5th | Silverware / revisit Honeymoon location | Wood |
6th | Wood objects | Iron |
7th | Desk sets | Wool (Copper) |
8th | Linens, Lace | Bronze |
9th | Leather goods | Pottery (China) |
10th | Diamond / revisit Honeymoon location | Tin, Aluminum |
11th | Fashion jewelry | Steel |
12th | Pearls, Colored gems | Silk |
13th | Textiles, Furs | Lace |
14th | Gold jewelry | Ivory |
15th | Watches / revisit Honeymoon location | Crystal |
16th | Silver holloware | |
17th | Furniture | |
18th | Porcelain | |
19th | Bronze | |
20th | Platinum / revisit Honeymoon location | China |
21st | Brass, Nickel | |
22nd | Copper | |
23rd | Silver plate | |
24th | Musical instruments | |
25th | Sterling silver / renewal of vows | Silver |
26th | Original pictures | |
27th | Sculpture | |
28th | Orchids | |
29th | New furniture | |
30th | Diamond / revisit Honeymoon location | Pearl |
31st | Timepieces | |
32nd | Conveyances (e.g., automobiles) | |
33rd | Amethyst | |
34th | Opal | |
35th | Jade / revisit Honeymoon location | Coral (Jade) |
36th | Bone china | |
37th | Alabaster | |
38th | Beryl, Tourmaline | |
39th | Lace | |
40th | Ruby / revisit Honeymoon location | Ruby |
41st | Land | |
42nd | Improved real estate | |
43rd | Travel | |
44th | Groceries | |
45th | Sapphire / revisit Honeymoon location | Sapphire |
46th | Original poetry tribute | |
47th | Books | |
48th | Optical goods (e.g., telescope, microscope) | |
49th | Luxuries, any kind | |
50th | Gold / renewal of vows | Gold |
55th | Emerald | Emerald |
60th | Diamond | Diamond |
75th | Diamond, Gold | Diamonds, Gold |
80th | Diamond, Pearl | |
85th | Diamond, Sapphire | |
90th | Diamond, Emerald | |
95th | Diamond, Ruby | |
100th | 10-carat Diamond |
This list was compiled by the librarians at the Chicago Public Library’s Information Center.
Sources:
Anderson, Charles. “The Exchange,” RQ 25 (1985): 175.
The World Almanac and Books of Facts. Mahwah, New Jersey: World Almanac Books, 1997.
World Book Encyclopedia, 1997 ed., s.v. “wedding anniversary.”