Wedding Anniversary Gift Guide
June 26, 2010, By Catherine Couretas 2 comments
Finding gifts for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions throughout the year can become somewhat hectic – Is this the cool new thing? Do they already have that? What’s appropriate? After getting married, there is another occasion for gift giving thrown into the mix – anniversaries.
Times have changed, and whatever gift your parents exchanged when they were first together might not be what you’ll want to give your spouse. Here is a comparison of traditional and modern anniversary gifts and some ideas on what you might want to give your wife.
One Year
Traditionally, the first anniversary gift was paper. This could range from books and stationary to tickets to a sporting event or play. Now, the more modern choice is a clock (not a watch, though). If you go for this option, try a clock that can be engraved with a quote or phrase or one where you can include pictures to make it more personal, such as one of the many options from Things Remembered.
Five Years
The traditional fifth anniversary gift was wood (in the modern list it falls at No. 6), with picture frames and memory boxes, such as photo cubes or jewelry boxes, being the most popular. If you want to save that gift for the next year, you can pick up the modern gift, silverware. Chances are this is something the two of you received as a wedding gift, but it doesn’t hurt to have an extra, nicer set to go with more formal dinnerware or perhaps a fresh set for the kitchen. Use this guide from Macy’s to figure out which set is best for you.
Ten Years
Tin. Now that’s a traditional gift that will really get you thinking. With more limited options than ever before, try for tea or coffee tins or perhaps games or treats that come in tin containers. The modern gift, aluminum, gives options including vases, decorative pieces, watches and jewelry. The two are similar and some gift options can fall into either category.
Twenty Years
The twentieth anniversary’s traditional gift, china, has shifted greatly on the modern list. Now suggested for the second anniversary, the options vary from place settings (which you may already have from your wedding) and mugs to decorative pieces for the home. The modern gift is platinum, which can be more practical. Gifts can range from rings and other jewelry to wine glasses, like those by Lenox.
Thirty Years
Falling at No. 12 on the modern list, pearl has been the traditional gift for this anniversary. If you’ve already given your wife those pearl earrings and want to try something different, you can go for the modern gift, diamond. The most popular items are jewelry, but for something different, buy her a watch. It doesn’t have to be fully encrusted with diamonds, perhaps just a few floating in the face or around the edge. Diamond also appears on the list of alternative anniversary gifts for the tenth year as well as for the sixtieth anniversary.
Forty Years
As one of the years where the gift has remained the same over time, the traditional and modern gift is ruby. Though sometimes garnet is considered the modern gift, the two stones have a similar color and the gift most commonly thought of is jewelry. If you’re looking for a different option, find something else ruby in color like glasses, dinnerware or even wine. An example of a good color glass is available here at Target.
Fifty Years
This milestone has remained represented in the same way: gold. Instead of jewelry, though, gifts should include more personalized items for the home to represent 50 years spent together. Anniversary frames and gold-plated items such as dishes and wine glasses are available. Another option is a golden rose, available with different accents.
For a full list of gifts and other idea’s, visit About.com’s anniversary gift list or FindGift.com’s anniversary table.
Catherine Couretas is a freelancer at Barefoot Proximity and a regular contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.
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