Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

Keep in mind that these are gift ideas. They are just suggestions to make it easier to choose a gift. If you decide to give an anniversary gift that doesn't fit the list... that's fine. The only way to really go wrong with a wedding anniversary gift is...to not give one at all!

Anniversary	Traditional	Modern
1st	Paper	Clocks, Plastic, Gold Jewelry
2nd	Cotton	China, Cotton, Calico, Garnet
3rd	Leather	Crystal, Glass, Pearls
4th	Fruit, Flowers	Appliances, Linen, Silk, Nylon, Blue Topaz
5th	Wood	Silverware, Sapphire
6th	Sugar, Iron	Wood, Candy, Amethyst
7th	Wool, Copper	Brass, Desk Sets, Onyx
8th	Bronze, Pottery	Appliances, Linens, Lace, Tourmaline Jewelry
9th	Pottery, Willow	Leather, Lapis Jewelry
10th	Tin, Aluminum	Diamond Jewelry
11th	Steel	Fashion, Turquoise Jewelry
12th	Silk, Linen	Pearls, Jade
13th	Lace	Textiles, Furs, Citrine
14th	Ivory	Gold Jewelry, Opal
15th	Crystal	Glass, Watches, Ruby
16th		Silver hollowware, Peridot
17th		Furniture, Watch
18th		Porcelain, Cat's Eye Jewelry
19th		Bronze, Aquamarine
20th	China	Platinum, Emerald
21st		Brass, Nickel
22nd		Copper
23rd		Silver plate
24th		Musical instruments
25th	Silver	Sterling silver
26th		Original pictures
27th		Sculpture
28th		Orchids
29th		New furniture
30th	Pearl	Diamond
31st		Time Pieces
32nd		Conveyances (e.g., automobiles)
33rd		Amethyst
34th		Opal
35th	Coral (Jade)	Jade
36th		Bone china
37th		Alabaster
38th		Beryl, Tourmaline
39th		Lace
40th	Ruby	Ruby, Garnet
41st		Land
42nd		Developed real estate
43rd		Travel
44th		Groceries
45th	Sapphire	Sapphire
46th		Original poetry tribute
47th		Books
48th		Optical goods
49th		Luxuries, any kind
50th	Gold	Gold
55th	Emerald	Emerald, Turquoise
60th	Diamond	Gold, Diamond
75th	Platinum	Diamondlike Stones, Gold
80th		Diamond, Pearl
85th		Diamond, Sapphire
90th		Diamond, Emerald
95th		Diamond, Ruby
100th		10 Carat Diamond

This list has been compiled from an extensive list of sources. Most agree on the basics, but have slight variations. The only significantly different list was the alternative modern anniversary list of jewelry... that came from the Jewelry Industry Council.

Coming up with creative gift ideas can be hard. Jewelry is always safe, but an original gift can work, too! One article suggests combinations of traditional and modern that work for the early anniversaries. Home Indulgences adds flowers to the list. The best advice may be a quote from the Latin scholar, Plautus who wrote, "Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words."