The word “gift” is all but synonymous with a lot of life’s most important milestones. Anniversaries make up some of the most intimate and emotional days couples spend together, and the gift you give to your partner should be a reflection of that.
Traditionally, each year has a different symbol that you can customize to match your loved one’s personality and interests.
If you have an anniversary coming up and you aren’t sure what to give your sweetheart, you can’t go wrong with these classic themes. Take away the guesswork by using this list as a guide for anniversary gifts by year.
1. Paper
The first anniversary is one of the most monumental, but also the most malleable. Like a blank slate, paper is a broad topic that could mean anything from a sentimental card to money; it’s all about how your personalize it.
For HIM:
For HER:
2. Cotton
As you enter the second year in your relationship, you’ve likely crossed into the “comfort zone” with your significant other. What’s more comfortable than cotton?
For HIM:
For HER:
3. Leather
Strong, weathered, and unyielding, leather is an appropriate symbol for your third year together. Perfect for both male and female gifts, leather is a fine material that can withstand the test of time.
For HIM:
For HER:
4. Fruit or Flowers
Depending on the theme you choose, your fourth anniversary gift can either draw attention to the soulful products of your relationship or the process of growth.
For HIM:
For HER:
5. Wood
Wood is malleable but resilient, and the material itself is the product of growth and nourishment.
For HIM:
For HER:
6. Candy or Iron
Representative of both sweetness and strength, you could choose from a wide variety of gifts for your sixth anniversary.
For HIM:
For HER:
7. Wool or Copper
Both of these substances are timeless, useful, and full of beneficial properties. They can be used as protection from the elements, or as a buildable layer of comfort and reinforcement.
For HIM:
For HER:
8. Pottery or Bronze
Both of these materials are forged as a mixture of other ingredients, which perfectly represents the character that each person brings to a relationship.
For HIM:
For HER:
9. Willow
Similar to a long-standing partnership, these trees are known for their flexible appearance and comforting nature.
For HIM:
For HER:
10. Tin or Aluminium or Diamond Jewelry
These shiny and malleable metals represent ingenuity and practicality. Modern 10-year anniversary gift is diamond jewelry. Weave that into your tenth anniversary with these gift options:
For HIM:
For HER:
11. Steel
Try to find a more powerful material. Specifically formulated to optimize strength and resilience, you can’t go wrong with these steel gifts:
For HIM:
For HER:
12. Silk or Linen
Like twelve years of love and commitment, both of these materials are incredibly versatile, practical, and can be molded into any price range and style.
For HIM:
For HER:
13. Lace
Dainty and intricate, lace represents the intertwining of two lives through marriage. The same idea applies to laces, which is a more open-ended way to apply this traditional theme to men.
For HIM:
For HER:
14. Gold Jewelry
This one goes without saying. You can never have too much gold in your jewelry box, and it’s a substance that’s sure to show your loved one how much they’re worth to you.
For HIM:
For HER:
Pearl represents the 30th year anniversary
15. Crystal
Beautiful on its own or as part of a set, a crystal piece is as timeless as it is classy.
For HIM:
For HER:
20. China
For centuries, porcelain has been a popular choice for fine collectables because of its beauty and delicate fragility. This mirrors the tender but temperate state of relationship after twenty years together.
For HIM:
For HER:
25. Silver
Silver has a history as one of the most precious and valuable materials in the world. What could be more a more fitting symbol for a quarter-century of marriage?
For HIM:
For HER:
30. Pearls
Classic, timeless, and (traditionally) organically made, pearls stand for the growth and resilience that a marriage accumulates over time.
For HIM:
For HER:
35. Coral
Authentic coral is a living organism that grows slowly in temperate water. Like a marriage that is nurtured by love and warmth, this material (or artificial versions of it) can be worn, displayed, or kept as a keepsake.
For HIM:
For HER:
40. Ruby
This precious stone represents the eternal flame of love and passion that grows in a marriage of forty years.
For HIM:
For HER:
45. Sapphire
Traditionally, sapphires are deep, blue stones with a long history of being attributed to royalty. However, you can show your loved one how highly you value your long history together with a variety of colors and styles.
For HIM:
- Melted Bombay sapphire bottle platter
- Modern mother-of-pearl and sapphire cufflinks
- Bezel stainless steel watch
For HER:
50. Gold
After spending half a century together, truly show your loved one what they’re worth with this precious and coveted metal.
For HIM:
For HER:
55. Emerald
Historically, emeralds have been used as a symbol of true, long-lasting love. What’s more appropriate for a fifty-fifth anniversary gift?
For HIM:
For HER:
60. Diamond
The ultimate culmination of a life built through years of marriage is aptly represented by the ultimate gem.
For HIM:
For HER:
No matter if you’re celebrating one year together or sixty, show your spouse how much they impact your life by giving them a gift that they will cherish as much as their love for you. Classic, modern, or alternative, there’s sure to be something in this list that will put a smile on their face.
