Wedding anniversary names are assigned based on the year of marriage and follow the traditional anniversary gifts by year list shown later in this article.
Celebrating your anniversary is essential to a strong and healthy relationship and finding the right gift makes all the difference. The traditional anniversary gift list is shown below but if you are looking for something less traditional, then check out Anniversary gifts for Her, Anniversary gifts for Him.
And if you are planning to celebrate your anniversary by travelling to a romantic destination, then take a look at Anniversary Vacation Ideas.
Many couples like to select a gift that reflects their anniversary year. The following chart shows the traditional anniversary gifts, modern anniversary gifts and traditional flower associated with each anniversary year:
Anniversary Gifts By Year
Wedding Anniversary Names are based on the traditional anniversary gift list. So your 1st wedding anniversary is known as your paper anniversary, the 2nd as cotton, the third as leather and so on.
Theatre Tickets: Everyone loves a night out, especially if it gives you both a chance to see that new show that everyone is talking about. The Lion King, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, Warhorse to name but a few - there's something for every taste. Combine it with a romantic getaway to the big city and you've a gift made in heaven - Broadway here we come!
Annual Memberships: Give a gift that lasts a full year -buy an annual membership to your favourite attraction. Consider museums, art galleries, zoos, wildlife parks, amusement theme parks, botanical gardens, the list is endless!
Life Experiences: Many retail outlets offer gift cards for life experiences, such as white water rafting, ballooning, romantic getaways, golfing, a day at the spa. There's so many things you can do together - it's your choice!
Sports Tickets: Score some tickets to your favourite sports team: football, basketball, hockey, golf, soccer - the list is endless. Support your local teams or combine with travel to an away game and enjoy a romantic getaway.
Gift Cards: Love to eat out? How about a gift card to your favourite restaurant chain, pub or coffee shop. Offers great flexibility and the more you spend, the more great meals you'll have together!
Lottery Tickets: Buy an annual subscription for yourselves to the lottery and live with the dream of becoming a millionaire each and every week of the year!
Anniversary Gift Ideas:
If you are struggling to think of gifts to fit each category, take a look at JustPaperRoses.
They have taken the classic bunch of roses to a whole new level.
Starting with "Paper Roses" for the 1st anniversary, they have developed a bunch of roses for each anniversary made out of the traditional material for that year, e.g. cotton for the 2nd anniversary, leather for the 3rd, etc.
Bali: This year, to celebrate our 30th anniversary, we visited Malaysia, Singapore and Bali. The island of Bali is in Indonesia and it has many interesting attractions including spectacular beaches, surfing, Hindu temples, monkeys, volcanoes, motorbikes and more! Take a look at Romantic Getaway to Bali to see more photographs and stories from this incredible anniversary destination.
San Francisco: This is my favourite city: the Golden Gate, cable cars, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Napa valley. And, to the south, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Carmel and Big Sur.
Paris: The City of Love - unbelievably romantic. Enjoy the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (mona Lisa), Versailles and so much more.
New York: There's so much to see and do - Empire State Building, Broadway, Times Square, Statue of Liberty. We also spent a fantastic day exploring in Central Park. If you haven't been before then check out Central Park: Size Does Matter! to explore everything this 843 acre park has to offer. And, if you have been before, then take my quiz to see How Well You Know Central Park.
If you enjoyed this article, please check out my related posts.
This article provides ideas and suggestions to help you find an anniversary gift for that special lady in your life.
Once you’ve found that perfect gift, check out my other anniversary tips that show you how to celebrate your anniversary. Check out the top 10 anniversary destinations for a romantic getaway, tips to write personal Anniversary quotes and 10 Secrets of a happy marriage to make sure that you have many more anniversaries to share together!
Personalized Anniversary Gifts Nothing is more romantic and thoughtful than personalized anniversary gifts. Find that perfect gift, get it engraved with a personal message, and watch her smile!
Lingerie:
The most intimate gift of all, and one that you can both enjoy! The gift of lingerie sends a strong signal that you still find your partner physically attractive. And, if you are looking for atraditional anniversary gift, lingerie is perfect for the 2 year anniversary (cotton), 12 year anniversary (silk) and the 13 year anniversary (lace). Imagine your girl in one of these outfits!
Jewelry: A favourite gift to give and receive, jewelry comes in many different designs, styles and colours allowing you the perfect opportunity to customize your gift for your loved one. Choose from rings, necklaces, earrings, brooches, bracelets, watches and much more. Look for designs that complement her interests (favourite animal), her colours (clothes, eyes). Choose a gem that matches your anniversary year, or birth month or even zodiac sign! And, for the most special anniversaries, the gift of an eternity or anniversary ring symbolizes your never-ending love.
Flowers: “Say it with flowers” is more than just a saying – flowers really do send a strong romantic message – and they smell nice too! Choose from a wide range of cut flowers in a bouquet or an elegant vase, or a potted plant for extended life. You might not be surprised to learn that there is even a flower associated with each anniversary year.
Chocolates: Truly a girl’s best friend – and the calories don’t count on your wedding anniversary! Variations to suit all budgets from traditional favourites like After Eights and Ferrero Rocher to hand-dipped Belgian chocolates. And, if you’re planning an anniversary celebration, don’t forget to rent a chocolate fountain, every one loves chocolate–covered strawberries!
Romantic Getaway: Gives you a chance to have some alone time and rediscover those special moments together. Whether it is for a long weekend or an extended duration, romantic getaways give you the opportunity to explore new surroundings, enjoy new experiences and rekindle your relationship. Check out my article on romantic getaways and see why these destinations are truly special.
Women's Leather Clothing:
A stylish gift that is an ideal solution for the three year traditional anniversary gift of leather (nine years in the modern anniversary gift list). Many styles and types to choose from including stylish leather jackets and blazers, sheepskin coats, skirts and dresses, winter coats, vests and boots.
Everyone loves a night out, especially if it gives you a chance to see that new show that everyone is talking about. The Lion King, Chicago, Rock of Ages, Mary Poppins, Wicked to name but a few - there's something for every taste. Combine it with a romantic getaway to the big city and you've a gift made in heaven.
Wine & Cocktails: There's no better way to celebrate your anniversary than a good bottle of vintage wine or a glass of champagne. And who doesn't love a 'Screwdriver', 'Rusty Nail' or 'Sex on the Beach'! For those longer anniversaries, look for products that age well such as port, madeira, dessert wines, cognac, Scotch whisky and champagnes. Special anniversary glasses complete the perfect romantic gift!
Movies: Romantic movies give you the chance to share a roller coaster of emotion snuggled up together in the comfort of your own home. You can't go wrong with any movie that stars Tom Hanks (Sleepless in Seattle) or Hugh Grant (Notting Hill and our personal favourite, Love Actually).
The Gift of Charity: Often overlooked, but giving a gift to a charity in the name of your partner can be very moving and romantic. When you're looking for that special gift for the person who has everything, what can be better than helping those less fortunate. And your gift is tax deductible! Here are two great examples:
Canadian Feed the Children, a registered charity that has developed a holiday gift program. Donors can choose an education, health, nutrition or good livelihood gift to make a meaningful difference in a child's life. Check it out at BestGiftEver.ca
Adopt an Animal: Support the World Wildlife Fund and adopt an animal for your loved one. Select a species to adopt, choose a plush gift and much more.
Hopefully, I've given you some ideas to find that perfect wedding anniversary gift. If so, let me know how it works out, I'd love to hear about the best anniversary gift that you ever gave, or received.
This article provides ideas and suggestions to help you find an anniversary gift for the man in your life.
Once you’ve found that perfect gift, check out my other anniversary tips that show you how to celebrate your anniversary. Check out the top 10 anniversary destinations for a romantic getaway, tips to write personal Wedding Anniversary Quotes and 10 Secrets of a happy marriage to make sure that you have many more anniversaries to share together!
Our Wedding Anniversary Memory Book One of the best wedding anniversary gifts is a Memory Book where you can record anniversary celebrations, photos and other milestone events in your marriage. A perfect gift for you or your friends!
And, if you have children, you might also want to take a look at When Is Fathers Day 2012? to make this the best Fathers Day ever for your husband.
Here are my top Anniversary Gifts for Him:
(Tip: To see all of the gift ideas, give the carousel a spin using the arrows at bottom right)
Electronics: No man can resist any new gadget, whether it is a big screen TV, mobile phone, iPad or the latest gaming device. The secret here is to find a gift that you can both share – perhaps a pair of mobile phones with free calling to each other, or a game that you can both play.
Power Tools: Again, an unlimited range of options: drills, electric saws, routers, nail guns. Pretty hard to find anything romantic here, unless you are also a DIY expert, but at least you’ll get those odd jobs fixed by your very own handyman.
Garden Furniture: More opportunity for romance here with a swinging chair for two, a top-of-the-line BBQ to grill a romantic dinner, a chimenea to keep you warm before you round off the evening in your very own portable hot tub.
Watches: A watch can make an excellent anniversary gift for men. Gold or silver watches for those big anniversaries, waterproof watches for the swimmers and divers, or atomic watches for the travellers to keep track across multiple time zones.
Cameras: A must have in any relationship to capture the memorable moments in your life - birthdays, anniversaries, romantic getaways. And, even if your man already has a camera, there is a wide range of accessories such as lenses, tripods, memory cards and photo albums.
Men's Leather Coats: A stylish gift that is an ideal solution for the three year traditional anniversary gift of leather (nine year in the modern anniversary gift list). Many styles and types to choose from including jackets and blazers, sheepskin coats, bomber jackets, winter coats, tops and vests.
Sports Tickets: Grab some tickets to his favourite sports team: football, basketball, hockey, golf, soccer - the list is endless. Support your local teams or travel to an away game and enjoy a romantic getaway.
Movies: There are literally thousands of great action movies that will keep your man entertained for hours. Snuggle up on the sofa and enjoy the action. In addition to the recent releases, don’t forget to look for some of his all-time favourites like The Great Escape, Jaws, Alien or any James Bond or Clint Eastwood movie. Or perhaps a boxed set of his favourite TV show.
Hopefully, I've given you some ideas to find perfect wedding anniversary gifts for him. And don't worry, if you get it wrong, there's always next year!
