Anniversary Gifts by Year: Traditional and Modern

Milestone anniversaries allow partners to celebrate their relationship and reflect on the time they’ve shared. Traditionally, milestone anniversaries occur every five years. However, some couples choose to celebrate milestones in ten-year increments after their thirtieth anniversary.

Although gift-giving in celebration of wedding anniversaries dates back to Medieval times, the American National Retail Jewelers Association introduced a formal list of anniversary gifts in 1937. Ultimately, choosing how to celebrate an anniversary is entirely up to you. Still, some people find it helpful to refer to the traditional list of wedding anniversary gifts when searching for the perfect gift.

Paper is the traditional gift for celebrating your first year of marriage. Paper is fitting for a first-anniversary gift as it’s symbolic of the fragility of the early years of marriage and the world of possibilities that lies at the feet of newly married couples. A photo album of your first year of marriage is a wonderful first-anniversary gift. The modern first-anniversary gift is a clock meant to represent eternal love. Gold is the traditional first-anniversary color, and carnations are the customary flower.

The second anniversary is all about fiber or cotton, representing the knit-together nature of a relationship. China tableware is the modern counterpart due to its timelessness and enduring quality (albeit fragile). Red is the customary color associated with second anniversaries, and Lilly of the valley is the traditional flower. Bedding or ceramic mugs make great second anniversary gifts, as does garnet jewelry.

Leather is the traditional third-anniversary gift, representing the durable bond you’ve made with your partner. The modern third anniversary present is crystal or glass, highlighting your three-year-old relationship's delicate yet enduring side. The traditional color associated with this anniversary is white.

Traditionally, couples gift each other flowers or fruit on their fourth wedding anniversary, indicative of their blossoming or ripening relationship. The modern fourth-anniversary gift, appliances, is meant to free up time and make life at home more efficient. The traditional colors used to celebrate this anniversary are blue and green tones. If you’re looking for a gemstone to celebrate your fourth, consider blue topaz.

Couples traditionally gift each other something made of wood to celebrate half a decade together. You can give your significant other a picture frame with your favorite wedding photo to celebrate your fifth anniversary. For a more modern approach, consider gifting your partner silverware. It may sound domestic, but it symbolizes the bond you build over shared meals. The gemstone associated with the fifth anniversary is a blue sapphire (but any color will do). Daisies are the customary five-year flower.

The sixth anniversary of your wedding day is a time to reflect on the sweetness of life. Giving your loved one candy is customary on this anniversary. If you’re following the modern anniversary gift list, give your partner something made of wood. Amethyst is the conventional gemstone for celebrating the sixth anniversary. The calla lily is the traditional flower given to mark the occasion.

Both copper and wool are acceptable as the traditional seventh-anniversary gift. The two materials are excellent conductors of heat, symbolic of the warmth you and your partner feel for one another. The modern gift for the seventh anniversary is a desk set, which shows your loved one that you support their ambitions. The traditional gemstone is onyx. Give your partner freesias to celebrate your seventh anniversary.

Both bronze and pottery are acceptable as traditional gifts to celebrate your eighth anniversary, while modern gifts include linen or lace. If you’d prefer to gift gemstones, tourmaline is the customary choice for an eighth anniversary. For flowers, consider gifting your significant other a bouquet featuring clematis—or better yet, plant it in the garden.

Pottery is the traditional gift for celebrating your ninth anniversary. Ceramicware, a handmade coffee mug, or a vase filled with poppies (the traditional flower for this anniversary) would be perfect anniversary gifts to celebrate the ninth year of your marriage. If you’re looking for a gemstone, consider lapis lazuli.

Following the traditional anniversary gift guide, aluminum is the proper tenth-anniversary gift. An antique aluminum kettle or colander would be a thoughtful gift for someone who likes to cook. A more modern approach to celebrating this significant milestone is diamond jewelry. Colorful daffodils are the perfect flower for marking the occasion.

Traditionally, partners give each other something made of steel on their eleventh anniversary. A modern alternative is fashion jewelry—perhaps something featuring turquoise, the official gemstone of the eleventh anniversary. When it comes to flowers, floral arrangements featuring morning glories are appropriate.

Silk is the traditional gift for celebrating your twelfth wedding anniversary, while the modern gift is pearls. If you’d like to give your partner gemstones, consider jade. For flowers, give your partner a bouquet of peonies or plant some in the garden.

The traditional thirteenth-anniversary gift is lace. The modern gift of textiles is broader but in the same category as the traditional gift. Consider gifting your loved one clothing or home décor made of lace, faux fur, or velvet. The traditional gemstone for celebrating your thirteenth is citrine, and the traditional flower is the chrysanthemum.

Traditionally, couples gave one another ivory to celebrate the fourteenth anniversary. Consider keeping things within the anniversary theme by giving your loved one something ivory-adjacent, like something related to elephants or pianos. (A mini synthesizer would be a great gift for a music fan.) Of course, jewelry featuring an opal gemstone is also a great choice. Dahlias are the traditional celebratory flower for the fourteenth anniversary.

Cheers to fifteen years! Celebrate this milestone by giving your significant other something made of crystal, like a set of Champagne flutes or earrings. Or go the modern route and give your partner a watch, honoring the time you’ve spent together and the good times still ahead. The fifteenth-anniversary gemstone is the ruby, and roses help celebrate this romantic occasion.

Wax might not sound like a great gift initially, but it’s all about how you interpret it. For example, you could give your loved one their favorite scented candle or a vinyl record (colloquially known as “wax”) to celebrate your sixteenth anniversary. Silver holloware is the modern gift—think bowls, gravy boats, and serving trays. Floral celebrations for this anniversary year should include statice. If you’re going the jewelry route, reach for peridot gemstones.

The traditional and modern gifts for celebrating your seventeenth anniversary are the same: furniture. If a new sofa isn’t in the budget, opt for a functional piece of home décor instead. Carnelian gemstones can help you mark the occasion, as can red carnations.

The traditional and modern gifts for the eighteenth anniversary are the same: porcelain. Your relationship is officially going strong, much like this timeless, durable material. Think pottery, tableware, or jewelry. The cat’s-eye gemstone will help you commemorate the date. As for flowers, feel free to go your own way—there’s no official flower associated with the eighteenth anniversary.

Welcome to the bronze era. Both the modern and traditional lists call for bronze gifts. An aquamarine gemstone would pair nicely with a bronze necklace or earrings, and chrysanthemums are sure to make date night sweet.

Two decades together is truly something special. To make this momentous occasion, get out your best china tableware. If bone china is not your speed, consider another style of dinnerware. Alternatively, go the modern route with something platinum. Emeralds are the traditional gemstone for celebrating the twentieth anniversary, and daylilies are the customary flower.

By the twentieth anniversary, you’re halfway to celebrating your golden year. Appropriately, silver is the modern and traditional gift for celebrating this anniversary. There’s no official gemstone, but you can’t go wrong with silver jewelry or accessories. Irises are the official flower of the twenty-fifth.

Much like a thirty-year relationship, pearls result from decades of care and tremendous pressure, yielding something beautiful and rare. Give your loved one pearl jewelry to celebrate your thirtieth anniversary, and throw in a bouquet of lilies for good measure.

Traditionally, couples used coral to celebrate their thirty-fifth anniversary. However, perhaps a coral-inspired gift would be best—like a trip to a tropical location to celebrate this momentous anniversary year. Or opt for the modern gift, jade gemstones. Coral roses can help you stick to the anniversary theme and celebrate with the date’s customary flower.

The fiery red ruby gemstone is both the modern and traditional fortieth-anniversary gift. Gladiolus blooms will help add a pop of color to celebratory floral arrangements.

For your forty-fifth anniversary, get your loved one jewelry containing a red or blue sapphire gemstone. The sapphire is both the modern and traditional gift and the customary gemstone associated with the occasion. Blue irises are the conventional choice for flowers on your forty-fifth.

The fiftieth anniversary is the golden year. If you’ve made it this far, you’re in rare company. It’s an excellent time to go big and celebrate with gold jewelry or a gilded picture frame of your favorite wedding photo. Yellow roses and violets will complement golden gifts nicely.

Fifty-five years together is no small feat. Celebrate with emeralds and calla lily flowers.

The sixtieth anniversary is the diamond anniversary and the perfect time to update the stone in your wedding band. Beautiful, delicate orchids are the customary flowers and a fitting choice for celebrating an enduring marriage that’s withstood the test of time.

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