Gary
- 1 min read

Timeless Traditions: Wedding Anniversary Gifting Themes

Celebrating each year of marriage is a unique milestone, and the tradition of associated gifting themes has been a charming part of this ritual. The concept revolves around the idea that as each year passes, a couple's relationship strengthens, paralleling the growth of traditional materials used for gifts. From simple beginnings like paper for the first year and flowers for the fourth, these gifts evolve in substance and significance, eventually leading to precious stones and metals for the 40th anniversary and beyond.

The practice of assigning special gifts based on the number of years married dates back to the Victorian era, possibly even as early as ancient Rome. Today, most years have both traditional and modern gifting materials, reflecting contemporary lifestyles. Additionally, gemstones, colors, and flowers are chosen to complement each anniversary's overall theme, providing an array of choices for the perfect present to convey heartfelt anniversary wishes. Below are suggested gifts for each year of your strengthening marriage (if you are married):

Year	Traditional	Modern	Gemstone
1st	Paper	Clocks	Gold
2nd	Cotton	China	Garnet
3rd	Leather	Crystal/Glass	Pearl
4th	Fruits/Flowers	Appliances	Blue Topaz
5th	Wood	Silverware	Sapphire
6th	Iron	Wood Objects	Amethyst
7th	Copper/Wool	Desk Sets	Onyx
8th	Bronze/Pottery	Linen/Lace	Tourmaline
9th	Willow/Pottery	Leather	Lapis Lazuli
10th	Aluminium/Tin	Diamond Jewelry	Diamond
15th	Crystal	Watches	Ruby
20th	China	Platinum	Emerald
25th	Sterling Silver	Sterling Silver	Silver
30th	Pearl	Diamond	Pearl
35th	Coral	Jade	Emerald
40th	Ruby	Ruby	Ruby
45th	Sapphire	Sapphire	Sapphire
50th	Gold	Gold	Gold
55th	Emerald	Emerald	Alexandrite
60th	Diamond	Diamond	Diamond

Extracted from The Knot: Milestone Anniversary Gift Ideas

Understanding milestone years is crucial in this tradition. Milestone anniversaries initially occur every five years, starting from the fifth year and subsequently at the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th anniversaries. After three decades, it typically transitions to every 10 years, such as the 40th, 50th, 60th anniversaries, and so forth. Nevertheless, many couples also choose to commemorate their first anniversary as a special milestone. Ultimately, the decision on how much to celebrate each year lies with the couple, emphasizing that every year of marriage is worthy of commemoration with a special date and a thoughtful present.