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.

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.

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.

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.

Year 5 - Wood

The 5th wedding anniversary gift is wood which symbolises strength and durability, representing a solidified relationship and strong marriage bond.

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!