Anniversary gifts by year: the traditional list (1–60) with ideas
The traditional US anniversary list gives each year a material. Lists vary a little between sources; this is the most common version, with one idea per year:
1st — Paper
A printed star map of your wedding night: the real stars over your venue, with both names. From $14.99 at myskykept.com. See your sky free →
2nd — Cotton
Cotton sheets, a quilt — or your wedding-night star map printed on canvas at a print shop.
3rd — Leather
A wallet, bag, watch strap or journal.
4th — Fruit & flowers
A fruit-tree sapling or a flower subscription.
5th — Wood
Your star map in a solid wood frame, or a wood-mounted print; a carved keepsake box.
6th — Iron
Cast-iron cookware or a wrought-iron garden piece.
7th — Wool (or copper)
A wool blanket or a copper mug set.
8th — Bronze
A bronze sculpture or bookends.
9th — Pottery
Hand-thrown dishes or a pottery class together.
10th — Tin (or aluminium)
A tin keepsake box filled with ten letters.
11th — Steel
Steel jewellery or a good knife set.
12th — Silk (or linen)
A silk scarf, tie or pillowcases.
13th — Lace
Lace lingerie or a lace table runner.
15th — Crystal
Crystal glasses for a toast.
20th — China
A fine china tea set.
25th — Silver
A silver frame holding the sky from your wedding night, 25 years on.
30th — Pearl
Pearl earrings or a necklace.
40th — Ruby
Ruby jewellery or a ruby-red wine from your wedding year.
50th — Gold
Gold jewellery — or the sky over their wedding in navy and gold, framed for the whole family.
60th — Diamond
Diamond jewellery, or a family gathering with a framed print of their wedding night.
Tip: Whatever the year, the wedding date itself is the most personal detail you can put on a gift.
Questions
What is the 1st anniversary gift?
Paper — letters, tickets, books, or a printed star map of your wedding night.
What is the traditional 5th anniversary gift?
Wood.
What is the 25th anniversary gift?
Silver.
Are traditional and modern lists different?
Yes — modern lists swap some materials (for example, clocks for the 1st). The traditional list above is the most widely used.
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