Wedding Anniversary Gifts

One of the most important days in a married couple’s lives is the wedding. It is the moment when they seal their love to each other, promising to be true to each other until the day they die.
Naturally, every year they show they have not forgotten the vows they expressed to each other on that magical day by celebrating their wedding anniversary and giving each other wedding anniversary gifts.

Often, the wedding anniversary can consist only of a dinner for two, or possibly a romantic movie and cuddling on the couch.
However, as any man will tell you, forgetting to do anything for your anniversary will send you to the couch and the doghouse faster than you can say “I do!”

You can go with flowers, however if this is all you buy every year, you are going to get some dirty looks for a lack of originality.
Thankfully, there is a large list of both traditional and modern wedding anniversary gifts that make things easy on any gift giver.

In terms of traditional gifts, the first ten years are made up of paper, cotton, leather, fruit, wood, candy, wool, pottery, willow and tin respectively. The 11th through 15th years are steel, silk, lace, ivory and crystal.
At this point, there are no more presents for each individual year, and instead it turns to every fifth year. The 20th year’s present is china, while the 25th goes with the time-honored tradition of silver. The 30th, 35th, 40th and 45th are pearl, coral, ruby and sapphire. At this point, you reach a real milestone in your marriage when you hit the half-century mark. Naturally, nothing but gold will do for such an important anniversary. For the 55th and 60th year, the presents are equally expensive, as would be expected for such important years, emerald and diamond.

The modern day equivalents change for certain years, with the exception of the sixth, eighth, 25th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th and 60th.

The first through fifth years are now clocks, china, glass, appliances and silverware. The seventh, ninth and tenth years are desk sets, linen and leather.

The 11th to 15th years have changed to jewelry, pearls, textiles, gold jewelry and watches, while the 20th, 30th and 35th years are platinum, diamond and jade.

Now, there is no reason why you should have to buy these gifts for your spouse, simply because they are the traditional or modern themes for that particular wedding anniversary.

Often, by thinking outside the box and going original, you can find, or create some excellent gifts that your wife or husband will hold onto for years to come.

First of all, nothing beats a life experience for a gift. Studies have found that individuals will get more enjoyment out of a life experience than a material gift, so try and provide this for your spouse.
It may be something you both can take part in, like a trip to another country, or it may be something just for him or her, like a fantasy baseball camp or flying lessons.

Alternatively, if you do not have the money for a life experience, you can make something for the anniversary.
Scrapbooks are a huge trend across North America and Europe right now, with many people becoming scrapbook enthusiasts and documenting special events in their lives with their craft. By making a scrapbook of memories for your spouse, you can show them all the great times you have had together. The time and care you put into the present will say more about your love than you ever could.

When you buy an anniversary gift, do not go with something you would buy for Christmas or a birthday. This includes clothes, tools or anything else that is lacking in the romance department.

The wedding anniversary is a special day where the two of you look at the years you have been together with smiles, and think about the years to come in your marriage. You should make sure your gifts reflect that.
Always remember to go with the heart with wedding anniversary gifts. It can be extravagant like jewelry or a trip, it can be special like handmade gift, or it can be intimate like a dinner for two in a romantic restaurant.
Remember, it is the thought that counts with a wedding anniversary gift. So think about it and don’t forget it.