Wedding anniversaries are significant milestones in a couple's life, and traditional gifts have been associated with these occasions for centuries. The tradition of giving specific gifts on different anniversaries has its roots in ancient Roman and medieval European cultures.
The traditional gifts assigned to different anniversaries often symbolize the stages of a couple's relationship, the growth of their bond, and the milestones they have achieved.
Commemorate your first year of marriage with a traditional paper gift, or for a modern touch, a timeless clock (or watch) that symbolises the time you’ve spent together over the last 12 months since your wedding day. From a photo to a commissioned piece of art or a clock they can treasure for years, there is no shortage of creative ways to show your love on your first wedding anniversary.
Traditional: Paper
Modern: Clocks
Colour: Gold or Yellow
Gemstone: Gold Jewellery, Peridot
The second wedding anniversary is commemorated with a gift of cotton or fine China – two different materials with distinctly different meanings. From cosy pyjamas, a pair of customised socks, or bath robes to a fine China dinner setting or ornamental China gift, you can choose a range of different presents.
Traditional: Cotton
Modern: China
Colour: Red
Gemstone: Garnet
Leather for the traditionalists and Crystal/Glass for the modern thinkers, the third wedding anniversary is a time to spoil your loved one with something traditional or modern. A luxurious leather gift, crystal ornament or glass set can be a great way to commemorate the occasion and reflect on the last three years of marriage.
Traditional: Leather
Modern: Crystal/Glass
Colour: White
Gemstone: Pearls
After four years, it’s your turn to show your love with a gift of fruit or flowers. A bunch of their favourite flowers or a dozen red-stemmed roses is a no-brainer that they are sure to love. If you want to indulge their sweet tooth, a fruit basket with the latest in-season offerings is another traditional approach. For modernists, an appliance is your go-to for the 4th wedding anniversary.
Traditional: Fruit/Flowers
Modern: Appliances
Colour: Blue or Green
Gemstone: Blue Topaz
Commemorate five years of union with wood or silver for your loved one. From a beautifully crafted box to golf clubs (think woods in a golf sense) for traditionalists to silver jewellery or silverware for something more modern.
Traditional: Wood
Modern: Silverware
Colour: Blue, Pink or Turquoise
Gemstone: Sapphire
The sixth wedding anniversary is sweet and sentimental, represented by candy and iron. Choose a gift that shows off your creative side or serve up their favourite treats on a cast iron skillet for the kitchen if you want to tick multiple boxes. For a modern gift, the 6th anniversary is marked by wood (the same as the traditional gift for the 5th anniversary).
Traditional: Candy/Iron
Modern: Wood
Colour: Purple
Gemstone: Amethyst
After seven years, it’s only fitting that the gifts should reflect the warmth and durability of your relationship. From a cosy wool blanket to a set of copper cocktail shakers for those summer cocktail evenings at home, this wedding anniversary is a time to reflect on the warmth and comfort of your relationship with gifts that will make your house feel more homely.
Traditional: Wool/Copper
Modern: Desk Sets
Colour: Off-white or Yellow
Gemstone: Onyx
For the eighth anniversary, consider gifts that reflect the warmth of your long-lasting relationship. Consider a decorative vase or sculpture if you’re a traditionalist and want a bronze or pottery gift. If you’d like to give them a practical gift, they will love having a useful new utensil or a box for their jewellery and treasured items. If you’d like to get them something modern, go for high-quality linens or delicate lace accents. Your partner will love the elegance these bring to their clothing or home décor.
Traditional: Bronze/Pottery
Modern: Linens/Lace
Colour: Bronze or Blue
Gemstone: Tourmaline
The ninth anniversary is a testament to your resilience and durability. It’s only fitting you get your spouse something that symbolises that strength, such as a new leather wallet, belt, bag or jacket. For those who love the classic theme, artisanal ceramics and woven baskets are beautiful, unique and thoughtful gifts. If you’d like to go down the gemstone route, lapis lazuli is said to bring harmony and peace and is a great symbol for your marriage.
Traditional: Pottery/Willow
Modern: Leather
Colour: Terracotta
Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli
Ten years have passed, and you love your significant other more than ever. On this joyful milestone, consider a precious piece of diamond jewellery to demonstrate the strength and beauty of your partnership. If you’re a traditionalist, you may want to choose a household gift made of tin or aluminium. These can be practical, like cookware or special appliances, or a more decorative, stylish piece, like a picture frame or sculpture. No matter your choice, your gift will be a memorable and lasting celebration of ten years of marriage.
Traditional: Tin/Aluminium
Modern: Diamond Jewellery
Colour: Silver or Blue
Gemstone: Diamond Jewellery
After eleven years, your marriage is as strong as it gets. The traditional steel gift can range from a practical appliance to a decorative sculpture. If you prefer to get something modern, go for jewellery! As the gemstone for the eleventh anniversary is turquoise, consider diamonds, or a turquoise ring or necklace to commemorate this occasion.
Traditional: Steel
Modern: Fashion Jewellery
Colour: Turquoise
Gemstone: Turquoise
The traditional gifts of silk and linen celebrate the comfort of twelve years of marriage. Consider getting your loved one some luxurious clothing, a new handkerchief, or fresh bedding. If you prefer the modern approach, head to the jewellery store and check out their diamond and pearl collection. Or, choose something with jade in it, promoting luck, wisdom, and longevity.
Traditional: Silk/Linen
Modern: Pearls
Colour: Oyster White
Gemstone: Jade
For your marriage, thirteen years is anything but unlucky. Buy your partner something with lace, symbolising the delicate nature of your deep relationship. Grab some lingerie, lacey clothes, or curtains! On the other hand, some fur or textiles like cosy blankets or bathrobes can show your partner that you find life warm and comfortable when they’re around.
Traditional: Lace
Modern: Textiles/Furs
Colour: White or Citrine
Gemstone: Citrine
The classic gift on a fourteenth anniversary is ivory. As purchasing or giving ivory is discouraged, we recommend getting a piece of art that includes or resembles ivory instead. The more modern and ethical approach is gold, representing the endurance and light of your relationship. The gemstone for this milestone is opal. Get your spouse some jewellery, like a ring, pendant, bracelet, or necklace.
Traditional: Ivory
Modern: Gold Jewellery
Colour: Ivory
Gemstone: Opal
Your fifteenth anniversary is a time to reflect on the clarity and beauty of your relationship. Buy your partner a crystal gift, perhaps with an engraved message. Another popular idea for this milestone is a watch to tell your partner how precious your time together is. Consider something with ruby as well; this gemstone symbolises love and passion—perfect for your fifteenth year of marriage!
Traditional: Crystal
Modern: Diamond jewellery
Colour: Ruby Red
Gemstone: Ruby
After twenty happy years, your marriage is beautiful and delicate, like quality China. Buy your partner a nice tea set or dinnerware collection to show them how much you value them. Otherwise, platinum jewellery can convey how durable your relationship is. Something with emerald is a bonus, as this gemstone represents the love and commitment you have shared over twenty years.
Traditional: China
Modern: Platinum
Colour: Emerald Green
Gemstone: Emerald
When you’ve been married for a quarter of a century, there’s only one thing to give your partner: silver! Twenty-five years is commonly known as the silver anniversary, dating back to Roman times when husbands would give their wives a silver wreath on this occasion. You can choose silver jewellery, silver-plated décor or utility items. Whatever you choose, make it special; you only have one silver anniversary!
Traditional: Silver
Modern: Silver
Colour: Silver
Gemstone: Silver
Three decades of marriage deserves to be celebrated with a beautiful gift, such as pearls or diamonds. A piece of pearl jewellery tells your partner that you appreciate their hard work in making your marriage last this long and that it is still growing and flourishing. Something with a diamond lets them know you love them strongly and are grateful for the endurance of your marriage.
Traditional: Pearl
Modern: Diamond
Colour: Green
Gemstone: Pearl
After thirty-five years of marriage, your partner deserves some coral to show that you’ve loved the protection and longevity of your marriage. A piece of coral jewellery such as a necklace or bracelet can be a cherished traditional gift. If you want to give them something more modern, go for jade or emerald.
Traditional: Coral
Modern: Jade
Colour: Coral
Gemstone: Emerald
Rubies represent romance, devotion, and passion. After forty years of marriage, you’ve certainly shared many romantic, passionate moments. Your love is timeless, just like the ruby gemstone. It’s time to get your partner a piece of ruby jewellery or a home décor item with ruby accents. You can’t go wrong with this one, and after forty years, neither can your spouse. Celebrate your love together with a ruby gift!
Traditional: Ruby
Modern: Ruby
Colour: Ruby Red
Gemstone: Ruby
Known as the sapphire anniversary, forty-five years of marriage have blossomed through your undying loyalty and wisdom. Present your partner with gorgeous sapphire jewellery such as a pendant, bracelet, necklace, or watch. You may even want to have your gift engraved with a loving message or you and your partner’s initials.
Traditional: Sapphire
Modern: Sapphire
Colour: Sapphire Red
Gemstone: Sapphire
Your fiftieth wedding anniversary marks your beautiful relationship, full of strength and prosperity. A gold gift is the best way to mark half a century of devotion. Classic, timeless, and modern all at once, a piece of gold jewellery is the perfect way to tell your partner you love them more than ever, and it is an honour to spend the rest of your life with them.
Traditional: Gold
Modern: Gold diamond jewellery
Colour: Gold
Gemstone: Gold
The traditional gift for the fifty-fifth wedding anniversary incorporates the emerald, representing fidelity and hope. Give your spouse a beautiful emerald pendant or ring. On the other hand, if you’ve been consistently giving your partner jewellery, consider breaking it up with something like an emerald-coloured vase or appliance. Whatever it is, it will be a lasting memento of the loyalty of your long marriage.
Traditional: Emerald
Modern: Emerald cut diamond
Colour: Emerald Green
Gemstone: Emerald
Sixty years later, it’s time for your diamond anniversary. Rare, beautiful, and exceptional, this milestone proves that you and your partner have lived a life of true love, which cannot be measured by time. To express this, get your spouse a diamond gift, such as a tennis bracelet, earrings, pendant, or necklace, to represent the timeless nature of your love. You can also commission a diamond-encrusted and engraved photo frame, perhaps with a photo of you when you first got married and a photo of you now. Consider engraving your gift with your names, your wedding date, or a message that is special to you both. After sixty years, your love is as strong and beautiful as ever, like a diamond.
Traditional: Diamond
Modern: Diamond
Colour: Diamond White
Gemstone: Diamond
