Milestone wedding anniversaries are often celebrated through gatherings with family and friends. Though it isn’t necessary, there are guidelines as to the types gifts given to the couple celebrating their anniversary. Whether you’re traditional or modern, there are many ideas with each type. Below you’ll find the types of gifts given with each milestone anniversary and ideas for those types.
5 years
Wood (Traditional) / Silverware (Modern)
Ideas for wooden items can include furniture, decorative signs or displays, clocks, coat racks, jewelry boxes or even art pieces. Many items are wood-trimmed or accented with wood. Wooden items can be hand-crafted, customized or personalized for a unique and heartfelt gift.
Silverware can refer to flatware or utensils, but also to gifts made of silver. For instance, jewelry, photo frames, candlesticks, coins, jewelry boxes or cases, and mirrors. There are a great number of elegant keepsakes with silver accents that make great gifts for couples celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
10 years
Tin, Aluminum (Traditional) / Diamond (Modern)
Many decorative items and keepsakes have tin or aluminum accents or trim. A few items that may contain tin or aluminum and make great gifts for married couples are clocks, fans, or even gift baskets that include tin or aluminum cans of coffee, food, etc.
Diamonds are most often found in jewelry like bracelets, rings, earrings and watches, but they can also be found in other keepsakes that make great gifts. Visit your local jewelry and diamond store for more ideas.
15 years
Crystal (Traditional) / Watches (Modern)
For the traditional gift, crystal is often found in jewelry, but can also be found in light fixtures, dishes, wind chimes and more.
For the modern gift, there are countless types and styles of watches that would make great gifts for a couple celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary.
20 years
China (Traditional) / Platinum (Modern)
The traditional version of this traditional gift would be china dishware. A creative interpretation would allow for an oriental gift basket, gift certificates for Chinese restaurants or markets, or Chinese herbs and teas.
There are a variety of jewelry items made from platinum (which is more precious than gold), like bracelets, rings, and earrings. The scientific element of platinum also plays a role in the art world with print-making, so a print could make a great gift for this anniversary, too.
25 years
Silver (Traditional) / Sterling Silver (Modern)
Silver is found in many, many items that make good gifts, such as jewelry, various collectibles, coins, musical instruments, kitchen utensils or cookware, and mirrors.
Sterling Silver is an alloy of silver and is used often in items able to be engraved, making them great gifts to personalize for the couple.
30 years
Pearl (Traditional) / Diamond (Modern)
Pearls are most often used in jewelry (and are also the birthstone of those born in June). There are also religious implications associated with the gemstone, as it is mentioned in several religious tomes. Therefore, religious items may also be suitable.
Diamonds, like pearls, are most often found in jewelry.
40 years
Ruby (Traditional) / Ruby (Modern)
Both traditional and modern gifts for this anniversary involve the gemstone ruby. Like others, it can be found often in jewelry, like pendants, bracelets and earrings. Rubies are also the gemstone of persons born in July, are associated with the Sun in astrology, and are very highly valued in Asian countries.
50 years
Gold (Traditional) / Gold(Modern)
Gold, suitable for traditional and modern gifts for the couple celebrating their fiftieth anniversary, can be found in jewelry, as well as many other decorative items. A few good gift ideas for this anniversary are coins, collectibles, photograph frames, watches, artwork, and some items can even contain gold thread.
For unique ideas, look for items, businesses or even places with the key words in their names. For instance, “Crystal Cruises” “Gold Canyon,” makers of aromatherapy candles, or “Ruby Falls” America’s highest underground waterfall. There are many choices to make when choosing a suitable, memorable and meaningful gift for the couple celebrating a milestone anniversary.
