What are the traditional and modern wedding anniversary gifts by year?
Wedding anniversaries are a unique time to celebrate another year of marriage.
It’s beyond just marking the dates on the calendar. It’s always a time to reminisce about memories, make plans for the future and celebrations.
Let’s learn more about these traditional and modern wedding anniversary gifts.
1st Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
The traditional gift on the first wedding anniversary is paper. It symbolizes the challenge of the first year of marriage. Paper is a gift theme for the first anniversary as it is a reflection of the first year marriage is very demanding.
The modern gift for the first wedding anniversary is a clock, which suggests infinite love for your loved one in the future.
Paper (Traditional Gift)
Clock (Modern Gift)
2nd Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Cotton is a traditional gift for the second year of anniversary. The versatility of the material symbolizes both comfort and strength. As cotton is made from woven thread, it suggests the strong bond of the relationship between your loved one over time.
There are lots of cozy cotton anniversary gift that you can get your loved one such as a pillowcase, robe, or even a hand-sewn blanket made by you!
Cotton (Traditional Gift)
China (Modern Gift)
3 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
The leather gift is the traditional gift for 3rd year wedding anniversary gift as it symbolizes durability and flexibility. Just like the strong durability of your love on your marriage. As your marriage matures, your relationship becomes much stronger.
A classic handbag, a wallet is perfect if you’re looking for a timeless leather anniversary gift. A personalized leather phone case is also a great leather gift for your wife. For a man, a belt or hip flask is ideal.
The modern gift for the third wedding anniversary is crystal or glass. It is a reminder of the fragility of love and care that require to maintain a marriage.
Leather (Traditional Gift)
Glass/Crystal (Modern Gift)
4 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
The traditional gift for the 4th wedding anniversary gift is fruit or flower which means blessing you blossom and ripen relationship. Roses traditionally represent how much your love has blossomed.
So, take your present-giving to the next level by naming a rose after your spouse. You choose the name, it’s officially registered, and then you receive a pack of seeds to grow your roses.
Bloom and Wild offer a huge range of gorgeous bouquets or flower gift subscriptions.
Flowers, not their thing? Then try a modern gift. The appliance is a modern gift for the 4th anniversary where you can get a lot of cool gadgets for your home.
Fruit/Flowers (Traditional Gift)
Appliances (Modern Gift)
5 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
The traditional gift for the 5th anniversary is wood. Trees symbolize strength and wisdom that will continue to grow through the year of your marriage. A romantic wooden sign for your home is a thoughtful gift for your spouse. A miniature wooden signpost marking all the major moments in your journey together is also lovely.
The modern gift for the 5th wedding anniversary is often celebrated with silverware gifts.
Wood (Traditional Gift)
Silverware (Modern Gift)
6 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Life gets sweeter by the time you reach your sixth wedding anniversary. That is why candy is the traditional theme gift to celebrate the 6th wedding anniversary. It symbolizes a reminder to keep the romance alive. The modern gift for the 6th wedding anniversary is wood. It is a great gift that represents long-lasting and continuous growing marriage just like a tree.
Candy/Iron (Traditional Anniversary Gift)
Wood (Modern Gift)
7 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Copper and wool are the traditional gift for 7th wedding anniversary. Both materials are good at keeping heat which symbolises warmth and comforting marriage just like a cup of coffee in the morning.
A desk set is the modern gift for your 7th wedding anniversary, where it can be a practical gift such as a desk organizer, fountain pens or a cool sword letter opener.
Copper (Traditional Gift)
Desk Set (Modern Gift)
8 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Bronze is the traditional gift for eight years of marriage. Bronze is made from a mixture of two metals (copper and tin) that are stronger together just like your marriage.
Linen and lace are modern gifts for an 8 year wedding anniversary. There’s nothing nicer than slipping into a fresh, clean, and smooth bed sheet. If you want to spice up a little bit, try some sexy lace lingerie.
Bronze (Traditional Gift)
Linen/Lace (Modern Gift)
9 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Pottery is the traditional gift for the 9th wedding anniversary. Each pottery is carefully molded from clay to piece of the craft just like a marriage is carefully shaped by the experience and created a memorable marriage. It is a great idea to start your 9th-year anniversary gift with a pottery class creating a piece of pottery for each other.
Leather is the modern gift for 9 year wedding anniversary, so if you didn’t get leather gifts for your third anniversary, now is the time.
Pottery (Traditional Gift)
Leather (Modern Gift)
10 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Tin is a traditional gift for the 10th anniversary. Tin was once used to protect the iron from rust and corrosion, just like protecting your marriage.
On the other hand, a diamond is a modern gift for the 10th anniversary. It reflects the beauty and precious marriage you have that lasts for 10 years.
Tin/Aluminium (Traditional Gift)
Diamond Jewellery (Modern Gift)
11 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Steel is the traditional gift for an 11th wedding anniversary. Steel symbolizes the durability and strength of 11 years together. A modern gift for the 11th wedding anniversary is jewelry which is a way to display your affection with fancy jewelry.
Steel (Traditional Gift)
Fashion Jewellery (Modern Gift)
12 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Silk is a luxurious material that symbolizes protection, security, and comfort. A perfect gift for the stability you feel after 12 years of marriage with your loved one. Silk pajamas, robes, or lingerie are a romantic gift to give to your partner. The modern equivalent is an elegant pearl that symbolizes the memorable 12 years that you have been through.
Silk/Linen (Traditional Gift)
Pearl (Modern Gift)
13 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Lace is the traditional gift for the 13th wedding anniversary. It is a meaning of perfection and a long-lasting relationship with your loved one.
Real fur is the modern gift for a 13th wedding anniversary however, you don’t want to harm any animal so you might want to replace it with faux fur. It can be a thoughtful anniversary gift that keeps your loved one warm.
Lace (Traditional Gift)
Textile/Furs (Modern Anniversary Gift)
14 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Ivory is the traditional gift for the 14th wedding anniversary but a lot of animals will be sacrificed while harvesting for ivory. Instead, an ivory-colored gift is a good alternative.
Gold is the modern gift for the 14th wedding anniversary. Gold is associated with wealth and prosperity. You might not be physically wealthy, but after 14 years of marriage, you’ll have a marriage with a wealth of love, trust, and support.
Animal/Animal Item (Traditional Gift)
Gold Jewellery (Modern Gift)
15 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Crystal is the traditional theme gift of the 15th wedding anniversary. This gift required quite a lot of investment meaning a marriage required some form of investment of money to make it work. For those who aren’t a fan of crystal, try the modern anniversary gift which is to give a watch where it symbolizes the time creating memorable memories in the future.
Crystal (Modern Gift)
Watch (Modern Gift)
20 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
China is fragile, but when handled properly, it will stand the test of time. Even after two decades together, your marriage might have experienced ups and downs. But, if you take care of your relationship, it will always survive the downs. Giving each other china theme gifts is a good way to remind yourselves of that.
Platinum is the modern 20th wedding anniversary gift. Platinum is a strong metal that can endure the test of time just like your 20 years of marriage.
China (Traditional Gift)
Platinum (Modern Gift)
25 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Silver is the gift theme for both traditional and modern 25th anniversary. Silver is a precious metal that maintains its beauty if properly cared for.
Silver (Traditional And Modern Gift)
30 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Pearl is the traditional and modern gift for the 30th wedding anniversary. Pearls are a symbol of hidden beauty. Just like appreciating the hidden beauty of your loved one through 30 years of marriage.
Pearl (Traditional And Modern Gift)
35 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Coral is the traditional gift for the 35th anniversary. It was once believed to have magical properties to protect against illness and danger.
Jade is the modern gift for the 35th wedding anniversary. Jade is a symbol of luck in Chinese culture. So, may the luck be with you!
Coral (Traditional And Modern Gift)
40 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Ruby is the traditional and modern gift for the 40th wedding anniversary. Red is a color often associated with love. A rich red ruby symbolizes your love and passion to keep the flame of your marriage going.
Ruby (Traditional And Modern Gift)
45 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Sapphire is a stone of royalty and it is both a traditional and modern gifts for a 45th wedding anniversary. The deep blue color in this gem is the reflection of the deep love for you and your loved ones.
Sapphire (Traditional And Modern Gift)
50 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
After a lifetime together, there’s only one gift that can do it justice – gold. Gold symbolizes lots of things, including prosperity and strength. Again, gold is a gift for both modern and traditional 50th wedding anniversaries.
Gold (Traditional And Modern Anniversary Gift)
60 Year Modern and Traditional Gift Ideas
Diamonds flourish under pressure and are extremely hard-wearing. Like your relationship will be after six decades of marriage. Diamonds represent love and wealth.
After 60 years of a happy marriage, you may not have physical wealth. But, you’ll have a wealth of experience and love to celebrate with diamond-inspired anniversary gifts.
Diamond (Traditional And Modern Gift)
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