When someone you love reaches their second wedding anniversary, it is nice to show that you remember, and celebrate with them by buying or making them a card, and choosing them an appropriate gift.
By the second anniversary, couples have normally got their house sorted, and decorated as they like, but young couples are often on a budget and appreciate additions to their home. Thoughtful gifts are also a constant reminder of the giver, and (in the case of a wedding anniversary gift) a reminder of their wedding vows.
The traditional wedding gift for a second wedding anniversary is something made of cotton or straw. The contemporary equivalent is something that is made of china. Whichever of these you choose to go with, it is a good idea to be creative with your gift ideas so as not to duplicate what other people give them.
The flowers associated with a second wedding anniversary are sometimes recorded as cosmos, and sometimes as lily-of-the-valley. These are both beautiful flowers and are not hard to find. If your friends have a garden it would be a good idea to buy them plants instead of cut flowers, so that they can enjoy your gift year after year. Alternatively, you could find a painting of the flowers, nicely framed.
COTTON
The obvious choice for a wedding anniversary gift made of cotton is bed linen. This is great if you know your friend’s taste, and how their bedroom is decorated. You might also find that newly-weds have already have a great deal of little-used bed linen.
A more unusual idea would be to buy items for elsewhere in the house. You could buy cushion covers for a summer house, or a rag rug for the kitchen. You could choose cotton towels in a deep luxurious pile, or a cotton patchwork counterpane.
You could buy a painting that has been created on a fabric background, or a wall-hanging woven from cotton threads.
You could choose clothing, and buy the couple matching cotton bathrobes or shirts.
STRAW
There aren’t that many gifts to choose that are made of straw, but if you look around, you will begin to see more and more. Try a straw matting rug or doormat with a quirky message on it. You can find straw place mats in many stores.
If you search on the internet, you can find places that sell traditional straw plait items, and corn dollies made to traditional English designs. One online shop is at www.briallen.co.uk . These ‘dollies’ were originally made as part of harvest festival, but are now used to celebrate all kinds of events. Look for heart-shaped designs for lovers.
CHINA
You can get lots of items in china, and should be able to choose something that suits the style of your friends house. Maybe a small ornament would be best for a small house, or something for the kitchen. You might be able to find some china with cosmos or lily-of-the-valley on.
If you search carefully, you can find people who paint on to china, or you might even find a place where you can do it yourself. Hand-painted china is a great gift, as you can have it personalized. One place that will write your message for you is http://dotpottery.dynamicpatterns.com , but this is just an example, as there are plenty more. Another one of my favorites is www.hand-painted-plates.com.
Take time to choose a gift that means something special to your friends and it will be extra special. Get creative, and get looking!
