Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year: The Ultimate Guide

It’s tradition for couples to celebrate their anniversary each year of marriage, but did you know you’re supposed to give specific gifts based on how many years it’s been since the couple’s wedding? Not only are there traditional anniversary gifts for each year, there’s also a modern equivalency, an anniversary flower, and an annual gemstone. It can get confusing, but it also makes gift giving a lot more fun when give traditional anniversary gifts in creative ways. 

To help you out, I’ve made plenty of lists for each year to inspire what you give to your husband, wife, or spouse. This is also a handy guide for family and friends to give anniversary gifts to a couple in their life!

Why Do We Give Specific Anniversary Gifts Each Year?

This is actually super interesting! Giving milestone gifts dates back to at least the 1500s – at least that’s how far back we have records. Back then, they only celebrated the major milestones by giving precious metals. That’s why we give gold on the 50th and silver on year 25!

Other traditions, like giving freshly cut wood to your wife on your 5th anniversary, also helped popularize specific gift giving for milestones.

Somehow these conventions merged and that’s how we got our list of traditional wedding anniversary gifts we know today.

Like all good shopping stories, the real push for anniversary year gift giving tradition comes from retailers; most notably by the American National Retail Jeweler Association in 1937 when they released the modern gift suggestions for years 1-25.

That explains why the “modern” gift ideas aren’t really that up to date!

How Are Anniversary Gifts By Year Determined?

There are actually four (to my current knowledge!) different types of anniversary gifts by year, not just one. If you’re feeling fancy you can go overboard and get something from each of the four anniversary themes.

The four categories are:

• Traditional: This is the most well known list of gifts by year, but an important note is that it is not always the same in the US and the UK traditions.
• Modern: To change things up, especially as the prices of goods changed over time, this list may be more interesting to you.
• Flower: There is a flower for most milestone anniversaries as well. Of note, sometimes they can be hard to source in the correct season.
• Gemstone: There are also gemstones associated with each anniversary gift year.

Not in the US or UK? There’s no clear consensus as to what each country celebrates so feel free to borrow from any of these lists on your milestone years.

The Ultimate Guide to Traditional and Modern Anniversary Gifts by Year

For the first twenty five years there are traditional and modern gifts that you can give to your partner or a couple in your life. After that, only the 5 and 10 year milestones have special gifts; you’ll just have to get creative on those in between years!

This guide includes what modern and traditional gifts are given on each anniversary year, plus (when applicable) what flower and gemstone is associated with each milestone. You can pick any of these as a theme for your anniversary year gift giving!

First Wedding Anniversary

• Traditional: Paper in the USA and Cotton in the UK
• Modern: Clocks
• Flower: Carnation
• Gemstone: Mother of Pearl

The first anniversary is usually big milestone for both the couple and people around them. Paper is the traditional gift in the US, which is handy because paper themed gifts are really easy to turn into something special. For example, you can surprise your spouse with paper plane tickets for an anniversary vacation or a paper love letter that celebrates one year of love together.

In the UK, cotton is traditional instead of paper, which again is versatile when it comes to gift giving. Cotton linens are great gifts and so are clothes. Or use cotton to wrap gifts so you can give something special while still keeping in line with tradition (at least a little).

Finally, the modern convention for 1st anniversaries is clocks. This isn’t to be confused with watches, which comes up later on year 15 – but you can also get a little creative and give your spouse something clock adjacent like an Amazon Echo show or table with a lock on it.

Need more ideas: Here are some of our best gift ideas for first year anniversaries:

2nd Wedding Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Cotton in the USA and paper in the UK (the first and second anniversaries are swapped!)
• Modern: China
• Flower: Lily of the Valley
• Gemstone: Garnet

You might have already noticed but the first and second anniversaries for UK and US are swapped. Talk about confusing! If you want to break tradition, the modern convention for a 2nd wedding anniversary gift is china. Why not take advantage and complete your wedding china set this year?

Whether you’re after cotton, paper or china, we have wonderful, unique gift ideas for him and for her:

3rd Anniversary

• Traditional: Leather
• Modern: Crystal/Glass
• Flower: Sunflower
• Gemstone: Moonstone

Leather is a great tradition when it comes to gift giving so we usually favor that one when sharing 3rd anniversary inspiration. That being said, crystal or glass are also lovely gifts, especially for a couple who likes to entertain or has a home bar.

4th Wedding Anniversary

• Traditional: Fruit & Flowers in the USA and Linen or Silk in the UK
• Modern: Appliances (electrical)
• Flower: Hydrangea
• Gemstone: Blue Topaz

The 4th year is kind of unique that the gifts are a bit odd for American tradition. Once you get inspired, though, you’ll see that giving fruit or flowers can actually be really fun! Think gardening themed gifts, a delicious fruit basket or edible arrangement for a couple, or planing a fruit tree with your spouse.

For our UK friends, linen or silk make up traditional 4th year anniversary gifts so don’t be afraid to give luxurious sheets, table coverings, or silky garments this year.

Of course you can always opt for the modern 4th year tradition: appliances! Here’s some more ideas:

5th Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Wood
• Modern: Silverware
• Flower: Daisy
• Gemstone: Rose Quartz

The first big milestone anniversary, those celebrating year 5 traditionally would give wood gifts to each other or a happy couple. Again, you can really get imaginative with this one because wood products are so broad! We love giving cutting boards to couples this year.

Between all the wooden kitchen gadgets and the modern convention of silverware, this milestone usually ends up focusing a lot on home goods when it comes to gifts. Here’s some inspiration:

6th Year Anniversary

• Traditional: Iron in the USA and Sugar in the UK
• Modern: Wooden objects
• Flower: Calla
• Gemstone: Amethyst

Before we talk about the traditional options, note here the modern convention is wooden objects, so you can also check out the year above for more ideas.

As for iron-themed gifts, this one is super fun. You can give cast iron anything (love giving pans personally), iron furniture, or even Iron Man themed presents!

While we don’t have many ideas for sugar gifts on our lists, if you’re looking for inspiration you can’t go wrong spoiling the couple (or your spouse) with something from a local bakery.

7th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Wool or copper in the US and Woolen in the UK
• Modern: Desk sets/Pen and Pencil sets
• Flower: Freesia
• Gemstone: Onyx

Copper or wool are the options if you’re in the US and want to keep things traditional, which are both easy to give. Wool bags, coats, and blankets make great gifts, or opt for copper pots or jewelery.

Technically, woolen is actually slightly different from wool products, but most people won’t be looking at the semantics so you can safely use these wool gifts in the UK too.

If you prefer modern convention, desk sets or pen/pencil sets are it this year; a perfect excuse for upgrades to the home office or a really nice fountain pen for your spouse.

8th Anniversary

• Traditional: Bronze in the USA and Salt in the UK
• Modern: Linens & Lace
• Flower: Lilac
• Gemstone: Tourmaline

Bronze and salt? Talk about a juxtaposition! We focused on bronze with our gift guides since there are a lot more options. If you want to stay traditional in the UK, though, why not give a salt lamp or some delicious flavored salts as gifts?

Linens and lace are modern, which you’ll see covered in previous sections if you need inspiration.

9th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Pottery in the USA and Copper in the UK
• Modern: Leather Goods
• Flower: Bird of Paradise
• Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli

It’s the UK’s turn to get some copper gifts this year, so see above for ideas. If you’re in the US, stay traditional with pottery gifts; there are so many good options out there for your spouse or a couple! Also consider doing a pottery class as an anniversary date this year.

Modern gifts for year 9 are leather goods, which you can find examples of under year 3 where it’s the traditional option.

10th Wedding Anniversary Milestone Gifts

• Traditional: Tin or aluminum in the USA, Tin in the UK
• Modern: Diamond Jewelry
• Flower: Daffodil
• Gemstone: Crystal or Green Tourmaline

10 year milestone and what better way to celebrate than with… Tin? OK, this one is cute, but I strongly urge you to consider opting to include the modern convention” diamond jewelry. Especially when it comes to your spouse.

Here’s some ideas to give both tin and diamonds on year 10:

11th Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Steel
• Modern: Fashion jewelry, accessories
• Flower: Tulip
• Gemstone: Turquoise

Double digits now and still going strong! Like your relationship, the traditional gift for year 11 is steel and you can really get creative with this gift giving tradition.

For modern ideas, opt for fashion jewelry… Hopefully you followed the modern option last year so this becomes a fun way to accessorize on those occasions that don’t call for diamonds.

12th Anniversary

• Traditional: Silk in the US and Silk & Fine Linen in the UK
• Modern: Pearls, coloured gems
• Flower: Peony
• Gemstone: Jade

Can’t go wrong with silk, especially when it comes to spoiling your spouse. Or go modern and give some jewelry; pearls are a great idea, but any colored gems are appropriate gifts too.

 

13th Anniversary 

• Traditional: Lace
• Modern: Textiles, furs
• Flower: Chrysanthemum
• Gemstone: Citrine

Lots of options here when it comes to fancy clothing, that’s for sure! Maybe this is the year you gift your spouse a fur coat? Of course, you can also just go with textiles and give clothing or even a great blanket this year.

 

14th Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Ivory
• Modern: Gold Jewelry
• Flower: Dahlia
• Gemstone: Opal

I’m not going to suggestion you go get real ivory anymore, but you can definitely give something ivory inspired to keep with tradition. Or treat your spouse to gold!

15th Wedding Anniversary

• Traditional: Crystal
• Modern: Watches
• Flower: Rose
• Gemstone: Rhodolite

Crystal isn’t as popular anymore but if you do want a traditional gift you can get a lot of gorgeous crystal barware and vases out there!

Or keep things modern and get your spouse a nice watch; it’s a great time for it! (get it?)

16th Anniversary – Silver Holloware

• Traditional: None
• Modern: Silver Holloware

We’ve now reached the end of our traditional gifts outside major milestones, but thankfully there’s still modern options. This year’s modern gift is silver holloware. If you’re not sure what that is, it’s those silver plated serving dishes, utensils, and even jewelry that you see often.

17th Anniversary – Furniture

• Traditional: None
• Modern: Furniture

18th Anniversary – Porcelain

• Traditional: None
• Modern: Porcelain

Porcelain is great when it comes to upgrading your dishes, but you can also find so many beautiful porcelain knick knacks or decor items.

Another unique idea is porcelain tile; AKA a renovation!

18th Anniversary – Bronze

• Traditional: None
• Modern: Bronze

If you didn’t already do a bronze anniversary on year 8 this is your second chance!

20th Anniversary Milestone Gifts (Traditional & Modern)

• Traditional: China
• Modern: Platinum
• Flower: Aster
• Gemstone: Emerald

Another big milestone year! Give china if you’re feeling traditional, or go big with platinum for your 20th. Either way you can get something gorgeous that really shows your spouse how you feel after 20 beautiful years together.

21st Anniversary – Brass or Nickel

• Traditional: None
• Modern: Brass, Nickel

Brass and nickel are both finishes that are popular right now so you should find no end of home decor items that fit with this modern convention.

22nd Anniversary – Copper

1. Traditional: None
2. Modern: Copper

Another repeat of tradition, here’s some more gift ideas to inspire you:

23rd Anniversary – Silver Plate

• Traditional: None
• Modern: Silver Plate

If you like to travel go somewhere special for your 23rd and bring a silver plate home as a souvenir!

24th Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Opal
• Modern: Musical Instruments

I’m not sure why year 24 randomly has a traditional gift but whatever, opals are gorgeous gifts. That being said, I love the modern take on this milestone: instruments!

25th Silver Wedding Anniversary Traditions

• Traditional: Silver
• Modern: Silver
• Flower: Iris
• Gemstone: Tsavorite

The silver anniversary is a major milestone for couples, especially nowadays. You can’t go wrong with jewewlery when it comes to gifts, but here’s some other fun ideas if that’s not your thing:

30th Anniversary Gift Traditions

• Traditional: Pearl
• Modern: Diamond
• Flower: Lily
• Gemstone: Pearl

As you might have noticed, we only have gifts on the 5s and 10s now – no more annual traditions. The 30th year is repeats of previous traditions so use whichever convention hasn’t been done or that your spouse will prefer.

35th Coral or Jade Wedding Anniversary

• Traditional: Coral and Jade in the US, Coral in the UK
• Modern: Jade

I love jade and think it’s an amazing anniversary gift. If you’re feeling adventurous, plan a trip to China and pick up some jade where it’s most well-known. Coral is another good one when it comes to trips… Beach vacation, anyone?

Of course, trips aren’t the only way to celebrate, here’s some more ideas for men and women:

40th Ruby Wedding Anniversary Traditions

• Traditional: Ruby
• Modern: Ruby
• Flower: Gladiolus
• Gemstone: Ruby

Ruby, ruby, ruby… Only the flower is left out! If you don’t just want to give this brilliant gem in one form or another, there are so many other gift ideas for your 40 year anniversary.

Just tap your ruby slippers together and read these:

45th Sapphire Anniversary

• Traditional: Sapphire
• Modern: Sapphire

Another gorgeous gemstone, sapphire is both a beautiful stone and a lovely color. If you’re not into jewelery use your imagination here, or raw from the color to give your spouse or a couple something blue instead.

50th Gold Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Gold
• Modern: Gold
• Flower: Yellow Rose, Violet
• Gemstone: Gold

The golden anniversary! What an occasion. By this milestone, many couples in commonwealth countries will have received some kind of accolade for their long marriage from the government. How cool!

Anyway, here’s some ways to give gold on this milestone occasion:

55th Emerald Anniversary Traditions

• Traditional: Emerald
• Modern: Emerald

Emeralds are beautiful green gems that make great gifts. You could also get them something green if you don’t want to give (or can’t afford) gemstones this year.

60 Year Diamond Anniversary

• Traditional: Yellow Diamond in the US, Diamond in the UK
• Modern: Diamond
• Gemstone: Diamond

Here it is: the diamond anniversary. In the US yellow diamonds are traditionally given, although most opt for regular diamonds to celebrate year 60. Diamonds are great because at this point couples who have been together 60 years probably have everything they want or need!

60th Sapphire Anniversary

• Traditional: Blue Sapphire in the UK
• Gemstone: Sapphire

Sapphire is another beautiful blue gemstone that you can give either in jewellery or find some other unique way to take advantage of tradition.

70th Platinum Anniversary

• Traditional: Platinum in the UK
• Modern: None

Platinum is one of the most precious metals and it’s saved for the 70 year anniversary since this milestone is found almost as rarely.

75th Anniversary Milestone Gifts

• Traditional: Diamond, Gold
• Modern: Diamond, Gold

Although already done, diamond and gold are repeated here traditionally; this is probably because of different conventions and the fact that few couples reach this special occasion.

80th Anniversary Traditional and Modern Gifts

• Traditional: Oak in the UK
• Modern: Diamond, Pearl

If a couple got married when they were both 18 they’d be 98 on their 80 year anniversary. Oak is the UK tradition, or go with the modern convention that repeats some precious gems found in previous years.

85th Anniversary Traditions

• Traditional: Moonstone in the US, Wine in the UK
• Modern: Wife/Spouse’s Birthstone

Honestly if you make it to year 85 in your marriage you deserve a lot more than moonstone or wine, but then again, what else could you need at this point?

You can also give your spouse’s birthstone as a gift; it makes a beautiful family heirloom that can be passed down to the next generation.

90th Milestone Anniversary Gifts

• Traditional: Stone in the UK
• Modern: Engraved Marble, Granite

This last anniversary milestone with gifts associated with it: year 90 of marriage. If someone has reached this milestone both by longevity and a long-lasting marriage it really is a momentous feat to celebrate.

For the record, we could only find one marriage on record that could even claim to have received their 90th stone/marble/granite anniversary gift! The UK couple, Karam and Kartari Chand, apparently were married just shy of 91 years before Karem’s death.

Unfortunately, that isn’t even verified – but if you’d like to learn more, check out this list of long marriages.

Anniversary Years Without Milestone Gifts

Not every anniversary has a traditional or modern gift attached to it. Although modern convention added a few more anniversary years compared to traditional milestone gifts, several years don’t include a typical gift, gemstone, or flower.

This starts happening after the 25th anniversary, from there only the 5 and 10 year milestone anniversaries have special gift-giving traditions associated with them.

That means starting with the 26th anniversary, there are no traditional (or modern) gifts, gemstones, or flowers associated with anniversaries that don’t end in 5 or 0.