Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Yesterday was my husband and my wedding anniversary. We had perfectly pleasant September weather, exactly like the weather on our actual wedding day. I am still in love with our day (most importantly, my husband ;)), and the way everything magically flowed~ I often times say that I felt like I was floating! I hope that every one's special day provides them with a flurry of wonderful thoughts, while leaving them completely satisfied with every last moment. It is just ONE day, but a day that truly can last a lifetime, and I believe when done right, you'll never need or want to do it again!

A funny thing that I never expected from my husband to do on our anniversaries is to want to follow the "traditional" wedding anniversary gift buying guide.  I have to tell him every year that I really don't need anything leather? or whatever that year's gift is, but for some reason he keeps bringing it up. I tried here to find out who came up with these silly list of gifts, but the origin seems to be unknown. 


Below is a a complete list of all of the gifts by their year. I thought this list was cool because it has both traditional and modern suggestions. I never knew that after the 20th it goes by 5's....I guess maybe couples that old forget how to count? 

First Anniversary

Traditional: Paper.

Suggestions: Books, magazine subscriptions, framed poems, puzzles, board games, artwork, photographs

Modern: Clocks.

Suggestions: Watches, mantle clocks, grandfather clocks, alarm clocks

Second Anniversary

Traditional: Cotton

Suggestions: Clothes, pajamas, tote bags, tapestries, pillows, rugs, blankets

Modern: China

Suggestions: Plates, teacups, knick-knacks, jewelry

Third Anniversary

Traditional: Leather

Suggestions: Jackets, belts, pocket books, wallets, shoes, slippers, briefcases, furniture, gloves, desk sets

Modern: Crystal or glass.

Suggestions: Wine or champagne glasses, vases, knick-knacks, bowls, plates, serving trays.

Fourth Anniversary

Traditional: Linen or Silk, fruit or flowers,

Suggestions: Bedding, table linens, lingerie, clothes, flowers, fruit trees, house plants

Modern: Appliances

Suggestions: Blender, toaster oven, microwave oven, food processor, dishwasher, bath spa

Fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Wood

Suggestions: Furniture, musical instruments, jewelry or trinket boxes, picture frames, woodcarvings, trees

Modern: Silverware

Suggestions: Forks, knives, spoons, cutlery, serving spoons and forks

Sixth Anniversary

Traditional: Iron

Suggestions: Candleholders, furniture, clocks, pots and pans

Modern: Wood objects

Suggestions: Jewelry or trinket boxes, knick-knacks, candle holders

Seventh Anniversary

Traditional: Wool or Copper

Suggestions: Clothing, hats, mittens, scarves, socks, pots & pans

Modern: Desk Sets

Suggestions: Pen & Pencil sets, bookends, globes, picture frames

Eight Anniversary

Traditional: Bronze

Suggestions: Statues, sculptures, knick-knacks

Modern: Linens, Lace

Suggestion: Bed linens, table linens, clothes, lingerie

Ninth Anniversary

Traditional: Pottery, China

Suggestions: Dishes, bowls, vases, flower pots, knick-knacks

Modern: Leather goods

Suggestions: Coats, furniture, wallets, briefcases, pocket books, shoes, belts, hair accessories, watches

Tenth Anniversary

Traditional: Tin, Aluminum

Suggestions: Pots and pans, clocks, watches, candle holders, vases, tableware

Modern: Diamonds

Suggestions: Jewelry, hair accessories, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Eleventh Anniversary

Traditional: Steel

Suggestions: Cutlery, pots and pans, clocks

Modern: Jewelry

Suggestions:  hair accessories, cuff links, tie clips

Twelfth Anniversary

Traditional: Silk

Suggestions: Scarves, lingerie, underwear, bed linens

Modern: Pearls, colored jewelry

Suggestions: jewelry, tie clips, cufflinks

Thirteenth Anniversary

Traditional: Lace

Suggestions: Clothes, lingerie, tablecloths, doilies

Modern: Textiles, furs

Suggestions: Clothes, bed linens, coats, table linens, clothes, rugs

Fourteenth Anniversary

Traditional: Ivory

Suggestions: Candlesticks, jewelry, knick-knacks, sculptures

Modern: Gold jewelry

Suggestions:  watches, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Fifteenth Anniversary

Traditional: Crystal

Suggestions: Glasses, vases, bowls, knick-knacks, candlesticks

Modern: Watches

Suggestions: , wrist watches, necklace watches

Sixteenth Anniversary

Modern: Silver hollowware

Suggestions: Tableware, pitchers, bowls

Seventeenth Anniversary

Modern: Furniture

Suggestions: Tables, chairs, desks, couches,

Eighteenth Anniversary

Modern: Porcelain

Suggestions: Dishes, knick-knacks, teacups, candleholders, serving bowls, salt and pepper shakers

Nineteenth Anniversary

Modern: Bronze

Suggestions: Sculptures, statues, candle holders

Twentieth Anniversary

Traditional: China

Suggestions: Plates, serving bowls, tea pots, tea cups

Modern: Platinum

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links

Twenty Fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Silver

Suggestions: Jewelry, Serving plates, silverware, tea services, cuff links, tie clips

Modern: Sterling Silver

Suggestions: Jewelry, Serving plates, silverware, cuff links, tie clips

Thirtieth Anniversary

Traditional: Pearl

Suggestions: Jewelry, knick-knacks, jewelry boxes

Modern: Diamond

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, money clips

Thirty-fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Coral or Jade

Suggestions: Jewelry, sculptures, knick-knacks, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Modern: Jade

Suggestions: Jewelry, sculptures, knick-knacks, tie clips, cuff links, money clips

Fortieth Anniversary

Traditional: Rubies

Suggestions: Jewelry, cuff links, tie clips

Modern: Rubies

Suggestions: See traditional

Forty-fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Sapphire

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Modern: Sapphire

Suggestions: See traditional

Fiftieth Anniversary

Traditional: Gold

Suggestions: Jewelry, pen & pencil sets, cuff links, tie clips, money clips, hair accessories, knick knacks, letter openers, watches

Modern: Gold

Suggestions: See traditional

Fifty-fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Emerald

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, money clips

Modern: Emerald

Suggestions: See Traditional

Sixtieth Anniversary

Traditional: Diamonds

Suggestions: Jewelry, watches, hair accessories, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Modern: Diamonds

Suggestions: See traditional