Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts

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The tradition of giving specific anniversary gifts based on the number of years of marriage dates back to the Middle Ages. Lifetimes were much shorter then, and it was customary for 25 or 50 years of marriage to be celebrated. The husband would crown his wife with a wreath of silver for 25 years and of gold for 50 years. From this came the tradition of the Gold and Silver wedding anniversaries we celebrate today.

In modern times it became an annual tradition. The gifts begin simply, with paper, and gradually increase in substance and value, reflecting the investment that the couple make in each other.

Below is a list of the most popular anniversaries, with suggested gift ideas - the rules are very loose so think laterally - for example, paper doesn’t just mean stationery. It could mean a book, or tickets to an event or a place.

First – Paper –stationery, book, journal, tickets, magazine subscription, sketch

Second – Cotton – bed linen, clothing, tablecloth, dressing gown

Third – Leather – purse, wallet, bag, shoes, jacket, gloves

Fourth - Fruit/Flowers – plants & trees, painting of fruit/flowers, floral print tie or blouse

Fifth – Wood – furniture, photo frame, tree, wooden chess set, wooden clock

Sixth - Sugar/Iron – gourmet chocolates, wrought iron candlesticks

Seventh - Wool/Copper – sweater, blanket, tapestry, copper saucepans

Eighth - Bronze/Pottery – bronze platter, urn, statue, ceramics

Ninth - Pottery/Willow – vase, bowl, dinner set, ornament, basket

Tenth - Tin/Aluminum – containers, picture frame, clock

Eleventh – Steel – trailer, watch, cutlery, car

Twelfth - Silk/Linen – lingerie, sheets, tablecloth

Thirteenth – Lace – curtains, napkins, lingerie, clothing

Fourteenth – Ivory – save an elephant and get jewellery - tie-pin, cufflinks, locket,etc

Fifteenth – Crystal – glassware, mirror, stained glass, a conservatory

Twentieth – China – dinner set, ornament, trip to China

Twenty-Fifth – Silver – Locket, photo frame, watch, special jewellery, cufflinks, cutlery

Thirtieth – Pearl – string of pearls, mother-of-pearl jewellery, cufflinks

Thirty-Fifth – Coral – coral earrings, trip to the Great Barrier Reef

Fortieth – Ruby – red roses, red wine, a ruby ring or earrings

Forty-Fifth – Sapphire – jewellery, tie-pin

Fiftieth – Gold – watch, jewellery, gold shares, gold panning trip

Fifty-fifth – Emerald – a ring, a trip to Ireland, the Emerald Isle

Sixtieth – Diamond – jewellery, cufflinks, a telegram from the Queen

Seventieth – Platinum – An eternity ring as your marriage is strong, precious and rare

Seventy fifth – 2nd Diamond – Nothing beats a diamond