Wedding anniversaries are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the enduring love between two people. The tradition of giving anniversary gifts by year has been around for centuries, and it’s a great way to honor the milestones in a couple’s life together. Each anniversary is associated with a different material or theme, and over time these traditional gifts have evolved to include modern alternatives and gemstones. From the first anniversary paper to the diamond of the sixtieth, each year’s gift represents the growth and deepening of a couple’s relationship. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of anniversary gift-giving, the meaning behind each year’s gift, and some creative ideas to help you choose the perfect present for your significant other.
| Anniversary | Traditional Gift | Modern Gift | Gemstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | Clock | Peridot |
| 2nd | Cotton | China | Garnet |
| 3rd | Leather | Crystal | Pearls |
| 4th | Fruit or Flowers | Appliances | Blue Topaz |
| 5th | Wood | Silverware | Sapphire |
| 6th | Candy or Iron | Wood | Amethyst |
| 7th | Wool or Copper | Desk Sets | Onyx |
| 8th | Pottery or Bronze | Linens or Lace | Tourmaline |
| 9th | Willow or Pottery | Leather | Lapis Lazuli |
| 10th | Tin or Aluminum | Diamond Jewelry | Diamond |
| 11th | Steel | Fashion Jewelry | Turquoise |
| 12th | Silk or Linen | Pearls or Colored Gems | Jade |
| 13th | Lace | Textiles or Furs | Citrine |
| 14th | Gold Jewelry | Gold Jewelry | Opal |
| 15th | Crystal | Watches | Ruby |
| 16th | Coffee or Tea | Silver Holloware | Peridot |
| 17th | Wine or Spirits | Furniture | Carnelian |
| 18th | Appliances | Porcelain | Cat’s Eye |
| 19th | Jade | Bronze | Aquamarine |
| 20th | China | Platinum | Emerald |
| 21st | Fire (theme) | Brass or Nickel | Iolite |
| 22nd | Water (theme) | Copper | Spinel |
| 23rd | Air (theme) | Silver Plate | Imperial Topaz |
| 24th | Stone (theme) | Musical Instruments | Tanzanite |
| 25th | Silver | Sterling Silver | Tsavorite or Green Garnet |
| 26th | Art | Original Pictures | Amethyst |
| 27th | Music | Sculpture | Aventurine |
| 28th | Linens | Orchids | Amethyst |
| 29th | Tools | New Furniture | Blue Spinel |
| 30th | Pearls | Diamond | Pearl |
| 31st | Travel | Timepieces | – |
| 32nd | Bronze | Conveyances (e.g. Cars) | Lapis Lazuli |
| 33rd | Iron | Amethyst | Amethyst |
| 34th | Food | Opal | Opal |
| 35th | Coral | Jade | Emerald |
| 36th | Antiques | Bone China | – |
| 37th | Books | Alabaster | – |
| 38th | Luck (theme) | Beryl or Tourmaline | – |
| 39th | Laughter (theme) | Lace | – |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby | Ruby |
| 41st | Office or Desk Decor | Land | – |
| 42nd | Clocks or Watches | Improved | – |
| 43rd | Entertainment (theme) | – | – |
| 44th | Electronics (theme) | – | – |
| 45th | Sapphire | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| 46th | Games | – | – |
| 47th | Garden or Plants | – | – |
| 48th | Home Improvement (theme) | Tourmaline | – |
| 49th | Copper | Copper | |
| 50th | Gold | Gold | Gold |
| 51st | Photos or Cameras | – | – |
| 52nd | Bath or Spa (theme) | – | – |
| 53rd | Plastic | – | – |
| 54th | Glass | Glass | – |
| 55th | Emerald | Emerald | Emerald |
| 56th | Day (theme) | – | – |
| 57th | Night (theme) | – | – |
| 58th | Faith and Hope (theme) | Tourmaline | – |
| 59th | Charity (theme) | – | – |
| 60th | Diamond | Diamond | Diamond |
1st Wedding Anniversary
The 1st wedding anniversary is a special occasion that symbolizes the start of a lifelong journey together. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Paper
- Modern Gift: Clock
- Gemstone: Peridot
2nd Wedding Anniversary
The 2nd wedding anniversary marks two years of marriage, and is a time to celebrate the strength of the bond between partners. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Cotton
- Modern Gift: China
- Gemstone: Garnet
3rd Wedding Anniversary
The 3rd wedding anniversary is a milestone in any marriage, and marks the beginning of a new phase of life together. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Leather
- Modern Gift: Crystal
- Gemstone: Pearls
4th Wedding Anniversary
The 4th wedding anniversary is a time to reflect on the love and commitment that has grown stronger over the years. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Fruit or Flowers
- Modern Gift: Appliances
- Gemstone: Blue Topaz
5th Wedding Anniversary
The 5th wedding anniversary marks a significant milestone in any marriage, and is a time to celebrate the strength of the bond between partners. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Wood
- Modern Gift: Silverware
- Gemstone: Sapphire
6th Wedding Anniversary
The 6th wedding anniversary is a time to celebrate the love and commitment that has grown stronger over the years. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Candy or Iron
- Modern Gift: Wood
- Gemstone: Amethyst
7th Wedding Anniversary
The 7th wedding anniversary is a time to celebrate the bond between partners and look forward to a bright future together. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Wool or Copper
- Modern Gift: Desk Sets
- Gemstone: Onyx
8th Wedding Anniversary
The 8th wedding anniversary is traditionally associated with pottery or bronze, representing durability and beauty.
- Traditional Gift: Pottery or Bronze
- Modern Gift: Linen or Lace
- Gemstone: Tourmaline or Tanzanite
9th Wedding Anniversary
The 9th wedding anniversary is represented by the strength and flexibility of willow and the endurance of pottery.
- Traditional Gift: Willow or Pottery
- Modern Gift: Leather
- Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli or Amethyst
10th Wedding Anniversary
The 10th wedding anniversary is a major milestone, traditionally symbolized by tin or aluminum, representing the flexibility and durability needed to sustain a loving union.
- Traditional Gift: Tin or Aluminum
- Modern Gift: Diamond Jewelry
- Gemstone: Diamond
11th Wedding Anniversary
The 11th wedding anniversary is a special occasion that deserves to be celebrated with a thoughtful gift. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts for this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Steel
- Modern Gift: Fashion Jewelry
- Gemstone: Turquoise
12th Wedding Anniversary
After twelve years of marriage, it’s time to celebrate your love with a special gift. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts for this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Silk or Linen
- Modern Gift: Pearls
- Gemstone: Jade
13th Wedding Anniversary
The 13th wedding anniversary is a milestone worth celebrating. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts for this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Lace
- Modern Gift: Textiles or Furs
- Gemstone: Citrine
14th Wedding Anniversary
The 14th wedding anniversary is a time to celebrate the love and commitment that you share. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts for this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Ivory
- Modern Gift: Gold Jewelry
- Gemstone: Opal
15th Wedding Anniversary
After fifteen years of marriage, it’s time to celebrate your love and commitment. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts for this anniversary:
- Traditional Gift: Crystal
- Modern Gift: Watches
- Gemstone: Ruby
20th Wedding Anniversary
The 20th wedding anniversary is a milestone that deserves to be celebrated. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this special occasion:
- Traditional Gift: China
- Modern Gift: Platinum
- Gemstone: Emerald
30th Wedding Anniversary
Celebrate three decades of love and commitment with these traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts:
- Traditional Gift: Pearl
- Modern Gift: Diamond
- Gemstone: Pearl
40th Wedding Anniversary
After 40 years of marriage, it’s time to celebrate with these traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts:
- Traditional Gift: Ruby
- Modern Gift: Ruby
- Gemstone: Ruby
50th Wedding Anniversary
The 50th wedding anniversary is also known as the golden anniversary. Here are the traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts associated with this milestone:
- Traditional Gift: Gold
- Modern Gift: Gold
- Gemstone: Gold
60th Wedding Anniversary
After six decades of love and commitment, the 60th wedding anniversary is truly a remarkable milestone. Celebrate with these traditional, modern, and gemstone gifts:
- Traditional Gift: Diamond
- Modern Gift: Diamond
- Gemstone: Diamond
