Wedding Anniversary Gift Guide For Each Year
Wedding anniversary gifts by year
Got an anniversary coming up and not sure what gift to buy? Been married 1, 2 or maybe 25 years? Every couple chooses to celebrate in their own way, some may go out for a flashy meal, others prefer a dine in meal at home and a movie on the sofa. However you choose to celebrate, if you want to surprise them with a gift which follows the romatic tradition each year then look no further. Here is your ultimate guide to wedding anniversary gifts by year, with a few ideas of gifts thrown in too.
Where anniversary traditions began
The tradition of giving certain gifts for each year of marriage started in the days of the Roman Empire, when husbands would crown their wives with a silver wreath after 25 years of marriage and a gold wreath for the 50th. This was continued in medieval Germany and over the years the number of different gifts expanded to represent the stages of married life, Paper for 1st anniversary, Cotton for 2nd etc.
Traditional versus modern wedding anniversary gifts
The list of traditional wedding anniversary gifts has been used for many years but in recent years it was deemed, by some, to be out of touch with todays society and a modern anniversary list was created. It includes many of the traditional gifts such as paper and cotton although some have been replaced with things like electrical appliances and clocks for example. The diamond wedding anniversary has also been moved from 60 to 30 years, maybe 60 years felt too long to get another rock on the finger!
UK versus US
There are also differences between the UK and the US, with similar gifts on the list but some years swapped around with paper for 1st and cotton for 2nd in the UK but the other way around in the US. The US have iron for 6 years where the UK has sugar and fruit and flower for year 4 where the UK has linen.
Wedding anniversary gifts by year
So if you want to give a traditional gift for your wedding anniversary but not sure which year is which, here is the ultimate list! Fancy saying it with paper, cotton or leather for those first 3 years? Or a spot of sugar for 6 years? Here’s your list to consult before ordering that perfect gift…
1. Paper
2. Cotton
3. Leather
4. Linen
5. Wood
6. Sugar
7. Wool
8. Salt
9. Copper
10. Tin
12. Silk
15. Crystal
20. Porcelain
25. Silver
30. Pearl
35. Coral
40. Ruby
45. Sapphire
50. Gold
55. Emerald
60. Diamond
65. Blue sapphire
70. Platinum
75. Diamond, Gold
80. Oak
Year 1 - Paper
Paper is the traditional 1st anniversary gift because it symbolises the blank pages on which you will write the newest chapter of your life. It is also believed to represent the fragile nature of the new marriage and also serves as a reminder of natural growth.
BIrth Month Flower Prints - choose the flower of the month you were married.
Year 2 - Cotton
The meaning behind cotton as the 2nd anniversary gift can be seen to represent how two lives are intertwined and growing closer through marriage, like the fibres in the woven fabric. It is also said to reflect the feelings of comfort and strength.
Handmade Cotton Flowers - available in a range of colours.
Year 3 - Leather
By year 3 there is a shift away from the more fragile materials of paper and cotton to leather. Leather is the traditional gift for the 3rd wedding anniversary as it is said to represent something stronger and more durable, like the material itself. It also changes and evolves over time, becoming softer or darker, gaining nicks and scratches, like the ups and downs of marriage, becoming more beautiful from it’s imperfections.
Handmade Leather Flowers - available in a range of colours.
Year 4 - Linen
The traditional 4th wedding anniversary gift is linen. Linen is seen to be a stronger fabric than cotton so represents the strengthening of the marriage by it’s fourth year.
Handmade Linen Flowers - available in a range of colours.
Year 5 - Wood
The 5th wedding anniversary gift is wood which symbolises strength and durability, representing a solidified relationship and strong marriage bond.
Printed and laser cut wooden flowers with leaves.
It’s not all about what you can buy though, homemade gifts can be so personal and romantic, although easier for some years than others!
