Anniversary Gifts
Here’s that same old list you’ve seen all your life—I picked this one up from Wikipedia. My first choice tends toward the Traditional, but it’s handy to have another option, which the Contemporary version offers. Please keep in mind that these recommendations refer to the “basic” gift, not the “whole” gift—If you’re worth your salt, you’ll darn sure include the flowers, balloons, card, dinner, week-end getaway or whatever other creative ideas you can muster.
At the end of this list, you’ll find some suggestions as to what Paper, Cotton, Leather, etc. translates to in terms of an actual gift.
|
Year |
Traditional |
Contemporary |
|
1st |
Paper |
Clocks |
|
2nd |
Cotton |
China |
|
3rd |
Leather |
Crystal, Glass |
|
4th |
Linen, Silk |
Appliances |
|
5th |
Wood |
Silverware |
|
6th |
Iron |
Wood |
|
7th |
Wool, Copper |
Desk Sets |
|
8th |
Bronze |
Linens, Lace |
|
9th |
Pottery |
Leather |
|
10th |
Tin, Aluminum |
Diamond |
|
11th |
Steel |
Fashion Jewelry |
|
12th |
Silk |
Pearls, Colored Gems |
|
13th |
Lace |
textiles, Furs |
|
14th |
Ivory |
Gold Jewelry |
|
15th |
Crystal |
Watches |
|
16th |
Silver Holloware |
|
|
17th |
Furniture |
|
|
18th |
Porcelain |
|
|
19th |
Bronze |
|
|
20th |
China |
Platinum |
|
25th |
Silver |
Sterling Silver |
|
30th |
Pearl |
Diamond |
|
35th |
Coral, Jade |
Jade |
|
40th |
Ruby |
Ruby |
|
45th |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
|
50th |
Gold |
Gold |
|
55th |
Emerald |
Emerald |
|
60th |
Diamond |
Diamond |
|
65th |
Star Sapphire |
Star Sapphire |
|
70th |
Platinum |
|
|
75th |
Diamond |
Diamond |
|
80th |
Oak |
Diamond, Pearl |
|
90th |
Granite |
Diamond, Emerald |
I don’t consider these suggested gift choices to be carved in stone--Silver for the twenty-fifth and gold for the fiftieth, sure. The others can be a nice tradition to follow or a source of inspiration if you’re otherwise stumped. These suggestions have been around for hundreds of years, now updated by some busybody with nothing else to do, I guess! I mean, I do appreciate the additional options, but appliances, desk sets—Oh, how romantic!!
1st Anniversary- Paper ideas could include a portrait, a poem or a love letter. I guess the Contemporary, clocks, could be wrist watches for you both, or maybe an expensive Howard Miller clock or a classic Grandfather clock.
2nd Anniversary– What’s cotton—A new bedspread? I like the idea of going with china. My recollection of that time of life is that you’re basically broke and trying to build a future as a family, complete with whatever fancy trappings you can afford. If you choose your design together and start out with a couple of place settings, you’ll be able to give really nice gifts for many years to come as you collect the whole set.
3rd Anniversary– I’d scrap the leather gifts and go with crystal—Fits in well with the china from last year and there’s lots of different choices, all readily available.
4th Anniversary– Appliances? Get real! Linen and silk sound to me like ideal gifts to accompany the china and crystal.
5th Anniversary– Silverware, hands down—See years two, three and four above.
6th Anniversary– Iron or wood? I’m stumped on this one—Maybe you can help me out here!
7th Anniversary– I’d have to go with wool or copper here as I sure can’t see a desk set as much of an anniversary present. Maybe I don’t get it, but isn’t a wedding anniversary supposed to be somewhat romantic? On the other hand, a wool blanket or copper pots and pans doesn’t sound too romantic, either!
8th Anniversary– What would be bronze? Guess I’d go with linens and lace—That could be dinner or bed linens, table cloth, napkins and so forth.
9th Anniversary– Reckon I’d go with pottery here—Not for any reason I can explain, it just seems more suitable to me than leather.
10th Anniversary– Now we’re cookin’! I think diamonds make an outstanding anniversary present, especially for a milestone like your tenth. I guess if she doesn’t care for diamonds you could buy something of tin or aluminum—How about a case of Michelob in cans?!!
11th Anniversary– Hmmm—Steel or fashion jewelry? If it was for you or me, it would have to be a new car, right?!! But, we sensitive guys know how much ladies like jewelry, so that would have to be my choice—She’d certainly prefer that to a new car, wouldn’t she?
12th Anniversary– Silk, pearls, colored gems—I’d go with any of these things.
13th Anniversary– Lace, textiles, furs—Lots of possibilities here, although I’m sure I don’t need to caution you about furs in this day and age—I wouldn’t even go with a fake one.
14th Anniversary– Ivory or gold jewelry—I don’t know if ivory is politically correct anymore so you should probably stick with gold jewelry and not take a chance on pissing somebody off.
15th Anniversary- How about a matching pair of Rolex watches to memorialize all the great time you’ve spent together?!!