Anniversary gifts by year are such a wonderful way to commemorate your marriage growing stronger, and all of the beautiful memories you’ve made together.
And whether you’re on year one with paper as the anniversary gift, or you’ve made it all the way to year 70 with platinum, this guide is going to help you break down each theme. Also, it’s gonna cover traditional anniversary gifts by year, modern gifts by year, and the flower, colors, and gemstone for each year.
Down below you’ll find some of the most celebrated anniversary years and helpful ideas on choosing a present that’s meaningful and memorable. Also, I’ve included an extra tip for each anniversary year for creative gift ideas (let me know what you think of those!).
And lastly, when you choose your themed anniversary gifts for the number of years you’ve both been married, make sure to pair it with a sweet card that has your happy anniversary wishes. It’s a wonderful way to make the day even more special!
Traditional Anniversary Gifts by Year
Wedding anniversary themes by year have been around for quite awhile, and if you wanna learn more about the meaning for each of these anniversary materials, then I’ve got you covered!
Also, I have plenty of inspiration to help you find the perfect present for your significant other.
So if you wanna stay on-theme and gift them this anniversary year’s gemstone, colors, flowers, material, or a creative mix of the above, then this guide will give you some great ideas!
1st Year Anniversary Gift: Paper
Traditional: Paper | Modern: Clocks | Metal: Gold | Flower: Carnation | Color: Gold/Yellow
Meaning: The paper represents the marriage’s love which is new and delicate, but can last with proper care. And the clock symbolizes the time you’ll both get to share with each other, now and always.
Gift Ideas:
- Paper: A leather-bound journal filled with letters for your future anniversaries, a beautiful custom art print of your wedding day location, a delicate origami bouquet that’ll last forever, or handwritten love letters in a lovely keepsake box.
- Clocks: A vintage-inspired mantel clock engraved with the date of your wedding, an elegant gold-accented desk clock, or a new watch.
- Gold/Carnation: Gold cufflinks or jewelry, an elegant gold pendant with your initials etched into it, or a fresh bouquet of carnations arranged in an antique-inspired gilded vase.
Creative Year 1 Gift Idea: Create a time capsule gift with a beautifully crafted paper box that’s filled with mementos from year one (ticket stubs, notes, photos), and include a clock engraved with a date for when you’ll open it up together.
2nd Year Anniversary Gift: Cotton
Traditional: Cotton | Modern: China | Gemstone: Garnet | Flower: Cosmos | Color: Red
Meaning: The interwoven threads of cotton symbolize how your lives have become incredibly connected and flexible together. And the modern gift of China represents the beauty and fragility of your new romance, reminding you to handle your love with care.
Gift Ideas:
- Cotton: A soft cotton throw embroidered with your initials, a handmade picnic blanket for your future adventures, or personalized house robes for cozy mornings.
- China: A pair of beautiful china tea cups (maybe painted with a scene from your honeymoon), or a hand-painted china serving platter for your first dinner party.
- Garnet/Cosmos: Garnet drop earrings for special moments, or a bouquet of white cosmos flowers in a crimson vase.
Creative Year 2 Gift Ideas: Plan a romantic picnic using your new cotton blanket and serve the food on elegant china plates. Or gift a garnet-red keepsake box to store the small mementos from your second year together.
3rd Year Anniversary Gift:
Traditional: Leather | Modern: Crystal or Glass | Gemstone: Pearl | Flower: Sunflower | Color: White or Jade
Meaning: Leather symbolizes the security and durability you’ve built up in your marriage so far. And crystal or glass reflects light and clarity, representing the bright future you’re both creating.
Gift Ideas:
- Leather: A leather-bound journal embossed with their initials, an attractive leather watch strap, or a high-quality travel bag for your future adventures together.
- Crystal/Glass: A set of beautiful crystal glasses for special moments, a classy hand-blown glass vase, or a crystal photo frame holding your favorite memory together.
- Pearl/Sunflower: A delicate pearl necklace, some pearl cufflinks, or a bouquet of fresh sunflowers in a chic crystal vase.
Creative Year 3 Gift Ideas: Create a leather photo album together with a crystal clasp, filling it with pictures from the first three years you’ve spent together. Or a set of matching leather watch straps paired with crystal embellished watches.
4th Year Anniversary Gift: Fruit or Flowers
Traditional: Fruit or Flowers | Modern: Appliances | Gemstone: Blue Topaz | Flower: Geranium | Color: Blue or Green
Meaning: Fruit and flowers represent a marriage that’s full of life and blooming, while home appliances reflect the comfort and routines you’ve established as a married couple in your shared home.
Gift Ideas:
- Fruit/Flowers: Sign up for a fruit-of-the-month subscription, gift a basket of exotic fruits, or a floral arrangement with their favorite (or seasonal) blooms.
- Appliances: A coffee machine for those cozy mornings together, a high-quality blender for shared smoothies, or a retro-style toaster to add a bit of charm to your kitchen.
- Blue Topaz/Geranium: A simple pendant with blue topaz, an elegant set of blue topaz earrings, or some geraniums seeds to plant together.
Creative Year 4 Gift Ideas: Gift them a basket of fresh fruit along with a new high-end blender, tying both the traditional and modern themes together. Or engrave a blue topaz charm onto a watering can and pair it with a blooming geranium plant — a gift that keeps flourishing, just like your love.
5th Year Anniversary Gift: Wood
Traditional: Wood | Modern: Silverware | Gemstone: Sapphire | Flower: Daisy | Colors: Blue, Pink, Turquoise
Meaning: Wood symbolizes strong roots and the continuing growth for your marriage. The silverware represents the shared meals and the closeness you’ve built over the last 5 years.
Gift Ideas:
- Wood: An engraved photo frame, a handcrafted oak jewelry box with engraved names, monograms, and/or wedding date, carved keepsake chest, or wood-framed wall art of your wedding vows.
- Silverware: Monogrammed cutlery is a wonderful way to go, but you can also gift a vintage set of silverware for those special occasions spent together.
- Sapphire/Daisy: Sapphire pendant, daisy bouquet in a rustic wood vase, sapphire-accented cufflinks, or jewelry or stationery featuring delicate daisy motifs.
Creative Year 5 Gift Ideas: For the 5 year anniversary gift, here’s a sweet idea. Combine the themes and surprise them with breakfast in bed on a beautiful wood tray, while using elegant silverware for the meal. Or get a sapling to plant together as a long-term symbol of your marriage.
6th Year Anniversary Gift: Iron
Traditional: Iron | Modern: Wood Objects | Gemstone: Amethyst | Flower: Calla Lily | Colors: Purple, White, Turquoise
Meaning: Iron symbolizes an even stronger bond in your marriage than the wood in year 5, while the modern gift of wood is a wonderful representation of your union that is still growing.
Gift Ideas:
- Iron: A chic iron jewelry or trinket tray, a wrought-iron garden bench (or outdoor seating in general) for sitting with each other, or cast iron cookware to make some tasty meals together.
- Wood Objects: Some elegant hand-carved wooden jewelry, a high-quality walnut serving board, or a nice set of artisanal wooden utensils.
- Amethyst/Calla Lily: Amethyst stud earrings or cufflinks, a gemstone pendant, or an elegant bouquet of calla lilies tied up in an amethyst-colored ribbon.
Creative Year 6 Gift Ideas: Gift a set of iron candleholders with long elegant candles; a beautiful way to symbolize the light you both bring into each other’s lives (maybe pair it with a nice dinner at a home?). Or give an intricately carved wooden keepsake box that’s perfect for holding love notes, jewelry, and/or tiny mementos from your 6 years together.
7th Year Anniversary Gift: Copper or Wool
Traditional: Wool or Copper | Modern: Desk Sets | Gemstone: Onyx | Flower: Freesia | Colors: Yellow, Off-White
Meaning: Copper represents the beauty of adaptability in your union, while wool symbolizes the warmth, comfort, and the loving security you give to each other.
Gift Ideas:
- Copper/Wool: A copper French press for sharing coffee together, cute hammered copper mugs, a cozy wool throw blanket, or some matching wool scarves.
- Desk Sets: Gift them a personalized desk organizer, a high-quality leather and copper pen set, or an elegant monogrammed stationery set.
- Onyx/Freesia: Some onyx cufflinks or pendant jewelry, a protective onyx keychain, or a bouquet of freesias with a card saying what they symbolize (trust and friendship).
Creative Year 7 Gift Ideas: Surprise them with a cozy wool blanket that’s been embroidered with both of your initials, paired with a pretty copper tray for serving breakfast in bed. Or create a personalized desk set with items like a copper pen holder and a classy onyx paperweight. Then finish it off with some fresh freesia flowers to brighten up their workspace!
8th Year Anniversary Gift: Bronze or Pottery
Traditional: Pottery or Bronze | Modern: Linen or Lace | Gemstone: Tourmaline | Flower: Clematis | Color: Bronze
Meaning: Bronze symbolizes a lasting union and strength, while pottery reflects your shared love that has been shaped into something beautiful through patience. Linen and lace highlight your beautiful, delicate, and intricate love and connection.
Gift Ideas:
- Bronze/Pottery: A bronze keychain engraved with your initials, a set of bronze-toned candleholders, or artisan pottery mugs for those slow mornings together.
- Linen/Lace: An elegant hand-embroidered linen tablecloth, some lace-trimmed bedding, or a linen picnic set for your fun outdoor dates.
- Tourmaline/Clematis: A tourmaline pendant or bracelet in pink and green hues, or a clematis climbing plant in a pretty pot.
Creative Year 8 Gift Ideas: Gift artisanal handcrafted pottery bowls that have been glazed in bronze tones. Or surprise them with a beautiful piece of tourmaline jewelry in an intricate lace pouch, paired with a vase of fresh clematis flowers.
9th Year Anniversary Gift: Willow or Pottery
Traditional: Willow or Pottery | Modern: Leather | Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli | Flower: Poppy | Color: Terracotta
Meaning: Willow represents the beautiful harmony of flexibility and strength in your union, while pottery mirrors the both of you creating something lovely and lasting. And the modern anniversary gift of leather adds a sense of endurance and lasting protection in the marriage (while also getting better over time).
Gift Ideas:
- Willow/Pottery: A woven willow picnic basket filled with your snacks, a long-lasting willow rocking chair, a chic pottery serving bowl, or pottery mugs glazed in the colors from your wedding.
- Leather: A leather-bound travel journal for your memories together, a nice leather wallet with a hidden love note folded up inside, or a custom leather photo album to hold the memories from the last 9 years.
- Lapis Lazuli/Poppy: Lapis lazuli cufflinks flecked with gold, a deep-blue lapis pendant on a delicate chain, a stationery set with lapis-inspired marbled designs, or a vibrant bouquet of red poppies symbolizing imagination and enduring passion.
Creative Year 9 Gift Ideas: Gift them a handcrafted pottery vase that’s been etched with a willow design, filled with poppies in their favorite color. Or surprise them with a custom-made leather journal with a lapis lazuli stone clasp, where you can write love letters to each other every year and document special memories. Both of these ideas are great for a very thoughtful 9th anniversary gift.
10th Year Anniversary Gift: Aluminum or Tin
Traditional: Aluminum or Tin | Modern: Diamond Jewelry | Gemstone: Diamond | Flower: Daffodil | Colors: Silver, Blue
Meaning: Aluminum or tin stands for a union that’s gone through challenges and only grown stronger, while diamond jewelry captures the brilliance and durability you both have in sharing a decade together.
Gift Ideas:
- Aluminum/Tin: Some cut, personalized tin camping mugs with your names on them, a cute tin wall sign for your kitchen, or a tin keepsake box filled with love letters and mementos from your first 10 years together.
- Diamond Jewelry: A delicate diamond pendant for special evenings, a diamond-accented bracelet (that’s also engraved with your anniversary date), or some cufflinks with a subtle diamond inlay.
- Diamond/Daffodil: A solitaire diamond ring or necklace as a symbol of your strong love, a beautiful framed art piece with daffodils, a fresh bouquet of daffodils arranged in a chic vase, or daffodil-shaped jewelry for a fun anniversary gift.
Creative Year 10 Gift Ideas: For the 10 year anniversary gift, here’s a sweet and fun idea. Have a “time capsule dinner” where you make a special meal cooked in tin foil, then put handwritten letters to each other in an aluminum container, ready to be opened up on your 20th anniversary. Or put together a “10 Memories for 10 Years” scrapbook, and have the final page holding a photo of the two of you taken on this special day.
11th Year Anniversary Gift: Steel
Traditional: Steel | Modern: Fashion Jewelry | Gemstone: Turquoise | Flower: Morning Glory | Color: Turquoise
Meaning: Steel represents the unbreakable loving bond that’s at the core of your marriage, while fashion jewelry is a great way to surprise your spouse with a meaningful piece on this special year.
Gift Ideas:
- Steel: A stainless-steel watch engraved with their initials or a special message on the back, a sleek pair of brushed steel cufflinks, or a stainless-steel fountain pen for writing love notes to each other.
- Fashion Jewelry: A personalized charm bracelet with a symbol that’s meaningful to the both of you, a layered necklace showcasing each of your children’s birthstones, stackable rings engraved with the date of your anniversary, or a custom pendant that has their initials entwined.
- Turquoise/Morning Glory: Elegant turquoise drop earrings set in silver, a turquoise cuff bracelet, a home decor piece with a turquoise stone inlay, or some morning glory seeds you can both plant and watch grow together.
Creative Year 11 Gift Ideas: Gift each other a set of 9 handwritten love notes tucked into a keepsake box (maybe a steel box?). You both can then open up one note each anniversary leading up to your 20th year together. Or commission a jeweler to combine steel with their favorite kind of stone (think birthstone, favorite color, or something symbolic to your relationship) to create an amazing fashion jewelry piece.
12th Year Anniversary Gift: Silk or Linen
Traditional: Silk or Linen | Modern: Pearl | Gemstone: Jade | Flower: Peony | Color: Oyster White
Meaning: Silk and linen represent the comfort and warmth you’ve woven into your daily life together, while pearls symbolize a hidden beauty that will always be treasured.
Gift Ideas:
- Silk/Linen: Matching silk robes embroidered with your initials, a set of white linen napkins hand-stitched with your wedding date on them, silk pillowcases for restful nights together, or a silk scarf that has a design from your honeymoon destination.
- Pearl: A classic strand of pearls for romantic nights out, some timeless pearl drop earrings, pearl-studded cufflinks for him, or a delicate pearl bracelet with gold accents.
- Jade/Peony: A jade bangle passed down as a keepsake, jade cufflinks, a bouquet of beautiful peonies in soft pinks and creams, or peony-inspired artwork for the springtime.
Creative Year 12 Gift Ideas: A custom linen picnic blanket that’s been embroidered with their initials, and paired with a picnic basket stocked with fine cheeses, chocolates, drinks, and their favorite snacks. It turns the gift into a fun romantic outing. Or a silk bound life vision journal where you can both write your shared life vision together and work on achieving goals together. Then document your journey and progress and see how far you’ve come by the next anniversary!
13th Year Anniversary Gift: Lace
Traditional: Lace | Modern: (Faux) Furs or Textiles | Gemstone: Citrine | Flower: Chrysanthemum | Color: White
Meaning: Lace symbolizes the intricate and unique marriage you have woven together while also representing a beautiful sanctity. And the modern gift of textiles and furs (hopefully faux) symbolize the comforting warmth you both give each other.
Gift Ideas:
- Lace: A lace-trimmed silk robe (maybe with their initials), an elegant lace table runner for future special dinners, or lace-inspired jewelry with some delicate filigree patterns.
- Textiles/Faux Fur: A faux fur throw blanket to curl up under together, chic, artisan-woven pillow covers, a quilt stitched with patterns that are meaningful to the both of you, or a personalized woven wall hanging for the home.
- Citrine/Chrysanthemum: Pretty citrine earrings that’ll catch the light, chrysanthemums in a flower pot (you can both tend to it), or chrysanthemum-themed stationery.
Creative Year 13 Gift Ideas: Make a quilt that’s made up of meaningful fabrics from your life spent together (so think favorite old shirts, honeymoon clothing pieces, or even baby clothing). Host a surprise at-home candle lit dinner with a lace table setting, linen napkins, and incredible food. Basically you’re turning lace into an atmosphere rather than just a gift you hand them.
14th Year Anniversary Gift: Ivory
Traditional: Ivory | Modern: Gold Jewelry | Gemstone: Opal | Flower: Dahlia | Color: Ivory
Meaning: The traditional gift of ivory represents luck and protection, originating from Indian mythology. And gold jewelry represents an eternal union that is perfect and lovely.
Gift Ideas:
- Ivory: An ivory cashmere throw for nights in together, an elegant piece of ivory-colored artwork or sculpture, or a keepsake box inlaid with faux-ivory (an ethical alternative to real ivory).
- Gold Jewelry: A delicate gold bracelet that’s engraved with your anniversary date, a locket with space for a special photo or love message, or a gold tie bar for special evenings out.
- Opal/Dahlia: Find out what there favorite kind of opal is and get it as a ring, necklace, or cufflinks, a bouquet of white dahlias, or even an opal tie bar.
Creative Year 14 Gift Ideas: Gift them a bouquet of dahlias alongside a handwritten love letter on high-quality ivory-colored stationery that’s been tied up in gold ribbon. Or, commission a custom piece of gold jewelry with an opal worked into the design, and present it in elegant ivory-toned packaging, making the whole gift feel very cohesive and heirloom-worthy.
15th Year Anniversary Gift: Crystal
Traditional: Crystal | Modern: Watches | Gemstone: Ruby | Flower: Rose | Color: Red
Meaning: Crystal symbolizes the beautiful sparkle, clarity, and transparency in your relationship, while the modern gift of watches marks the time you’ve shared together and the many years that are still ahead.
Gift Ideas:
- Crystal: A crystal studded box that’s been lined with velvet for your keepsakes, crystal photo frames with your wedding date etched on them, some crystal bookends for your shared library, or simple and elegant crystal jewelry.
- Watches: A classy wristwatch with a personal message engraved on the back, a vintage (or vintage-inspired) pocket watch, a sleek smartwatch that has your anniversary date etched, or even a matching set of watches for the both of you.
- Ruby/Rose: A ruby pendant necklace, ruby-accented cufflinks for a special occasions, a bouquet of red roses in a classy crystal vase, or rose-inspired jewelry that’s been accented with rubies.
Creative Year 15 Gift Ideas: Put together a “15 Years of Love” memory jar. So write 15 handwritten notes (one for each year) and place them inside a beautiful crystal jar, each tied up in a ruby-red ribbon. And in each note, you can write about one of your favorite memories with them from that year, and how you felt about them during that time (as an example).
16th Year Anniversary Gift: Wax
Traditional: Wax | Modern: Silver Holloware | Gemstone: Peridot | Flower: Statice | Colors: Silver, Emerald Green
Meaning: Wax represents the steady flame of the love you both have for each other, while silver holloware (example: a serving tray) reflects the unity you both have in your daily life together. And especially during the meals and moments you share together!
Gift Ideas:
- Wax: A beautiful collection of hand-poured beeswax candles, a decorative wax seal set for special occasions (and love letters), or a candle sculpture can doubles as chic home decor.
- Silver Holloware: An elegant silver-plated jewelry box, a silver serving tray that has your wedding (or anniversary) date engraved on it, or silver candlesticks for special occasions.
- Peridot/Statice: A chic peridot necklace, peridot-studded cufflinks, or stationery with some elegant statice floral designs.
Creative Year 16 Gift Ideas: Put together a love letter collection that’s been sealed up with wax, and then placed in a silver-toned (or emerald green) keepsake box. Then open them up on an anniversary date of your choice. So for example, you might want to open them up in 10 years which would be your 26th anniversary.
17th Year Anniversary Gift: Furniture
Traditional: Furniture | Modern: Furniture | Gemstone: Carnelian | Flower: Red Carnation | Color: Yellow
Meaning: Furniture represents the nearly two decades of you both building a stable, comforting life together, making your marriage a true home.
Gift Ideas:
- Furniture: A beautifully crafted desk made from rich hardwood, a cozy armchair that’s been upholstered with your spouse’s favorite fabric, or a custom bookshelf to hold the stories you’ve both collected together.
- Furniture: A custom bench for your entryway and a place for the bot of you to sit and talk, a writing desk, or an elegant and chic vanity table.
- Carnelian/Red Carnation: A cute carnelian bracelet for fun outings, carnelian cufflinks in a deep red, a bouquet of red carnations with a lover letter, or red carnation-inspired wall art for the home.
Creative Year 17 Gift Ideas: Commission a “memory bench” that has a hidden compartment under the seat where you can store love letters and keepsakes from your years together. It’s functional, a place where you can both sit and connect, and it even has sentimental value.
18th Year Anniversary Gift: Porcelain
Traditional: Porcelain | Modern: Porcelain | Gemstone: Cat’s Eye | Flower: None | Color: Blue
Meaning: Porcelain reflects elegance and the careful attention needed to keep the love going strong. It’s a wonderful reminder that beauty grows through consistent care and commitment.
Gift Ideas:
- Porcelain: A beautiful porcelain jewelry box with delicate floral artwork, an elegant hand-painted porcelain vase for fresh your blooms, or a personalized porcelain plate that has your wedding date.
- Porcelain: A set of nice porcelain teacups for those quiet mornings together, a porcelain lamp base with an intricate pattern, or a pretty porcelain keepsake ornament.
- Cat’s Eye/Blue: Cat’s eye earrings, some modern cat’s eye cufflinks, or a bouquet of blue-toned flowers to match this year’s anniversary color.
Creative Year 18 Gift Ideas: Surprise them with a special “porcelain dinner night” at home. You can cook and serve them a multi-course dinner on beautiful porcelain dishes. This might also be the time where you’ll want to exchange gifts as well!
19th Year Anniversary Gift: Bronze
Traditional: Bronze | Modern: Bronze | Gemstone: Aquamarine | Flower: Bronze Chrysanthemum | Color: Bronze
Meaning: Bronze represents a love that grows stronger over time in your beautiful union.
Gift Ideas:
- Bronze: A bronze sundial engraved with the wedding date for your garden, a pair of vintage bronze bookends for your shared library, or a small bronze sculpture that reflects your personal love story.
- Bronze: A chic bronze wall clock for your home, a beautiful bronze jewelry box, a bronze picture frame with a photo from one of your favorite moments together, or a bronze serving tray with some pretty ornate detailing.
- Aquamarine/Bronze Chrysanthemum: An aquamarine bracelet or ring, aquamarine cufflinks, a bouquet of bronze colored chrysanthemums symbolizing the longevity and fidelity in your marriage, or chrysanthemum-inspired stationery or art prints.
Creative Year 19 Gift Ideas: Plan a beautiful seaside getaway (so aquamarine = ocean blue), and surprise them with an ornate bronze compass (a fun piece for your travels) that’s been engraved with your wedding date as a keepsake.
20th Year Anniversary Gift: China
Traditional: China | Modern: Platinum | Gemstone: Emerald | Flower: Aster | Color: Emerald Green
Meaning: China symbolizes the delicate beauty of a long-lasting relationship, while platinum represents a strong love that can endure anything.
Gift Ideas:
- China: A hand-painted china serving platter with your initials worked in, an antique china teapot for your shared afternoon tea, or a set of china plates that has a custom design from your wedding day or location.
- Platinum: A sleek platinum band celebrating your 20th anniversary, some classy platinum cufflinks, a delicate platinum bracelet (maybe with diamonds), or a platinum pendant that symbolizes two decades of devotion.
- Emerald/Aster: An emerald ring or delicate bracelet, aster seeds you can both plant together in your garden, or artwork inspired by the emerald-green hues of your 20th year together.
Creative Year 20 Gift Ideas: Have a private afternoon tea for two using elegant fine china. And then surprise them by having a piece of emerald jewelry hidden at the bottom of a wood tea box. It’s a nice surprise reveal that’s tied into tradition
25th Year Anniversary Gift: Sterling Silver
Traditional: Sterling Silver | Modern: Sterling Silver | Metal: Silver | Flower: Iris | Color: Silver
Meaning: Sterling silver represents the beauty and shining brilliance of your marriage, honoring the amazing achievement of reaching a quarter-century together.
Gift Ideas:
- Sterling Silver: A silver bracelet that’s been engraved with your wedding date, sterling silver cufflinks accented with a special stone, a silver jewelry box lined with velvet, or a sterling silver picture frame holding a much loved photo from your 25 years together.
- Sterling Silver: A silver locket with a photo of you two inside, a silver pen with a meaningful engraved message, a set of silver candlesticks to mark your quarter-century milestone, or an antique silver tray for your home.
- Iris/Silver: A bouquet of deep purple or bright yellow irises arranged in a silver vase, iris-inspired jewelry with a delicate design, or an elegant art piece with irises worked into the painting.
Creative Year 25 Gift Ideas: Commission a sterling silver necklace and cufflinks. Have each of them be subtly engraved with “25” or your wedding date. Both become wearable heirlooms that complement each other.
30th Year Anniversary Gift: Pearl
Traditional: Pearl | Modern: Diamond | Gemstone: Pearl | Flower: Lily | Color: Green
Meaning: Pearls reflect the hidden beauty and maturity that can develop over decades of being together, while diamonds symbolize strength and beauty in a love that lasts forever.
Gift Ideas:
- Pearl: An elegant pearl pendant necklace for special nights out, pearl drop earrings that are set in gold, a pearl-accented bracelet (maybe antique), or mother of pearl cufflinks.
- Diamond: A heart-shaped diamond-accented pendant, a diamond-studded band to mark your three decades together, or a watch with diamonds set into the watch face.
- Pearl/Lily/Green: A pearl ring paired with emerald accents to work with the year’s color, a bouquet of white lilies symbolizing your unwavering devotion, or an elegant pearl-accented hair accessory.
Creative Year 30 Gift Ideas: Book dinner reservations for a private room in a fine-dining restaurant, and present a gift in a bouquet box with lilies. So for instance, if you’re gifting them a pearl or diamond jewelry piece, you can have the jewelry box be carefully nestled in the flowers.
35th Year Anniversary Gift: Coral
Traditional: Coral | Modern: Jade | Gemstone: Emerald | Flower: Coral Rose | Color: Coral
Meaning: Coral symbolizes protection with the deep bond you share, while jade can represent love and protection.
Gift Ideas:
- Coral: Faux coral jewelry crafted elegantly (an ethical alternatives to real coral), a coral-colored silk scarf for him or her, classy coral-hued home decor accents, or a coral-toned glass vase for fresh blooms.
- Jade: A well-crafted jade pendant, bracelet, or ring, jade cufflinks for a subtle classy look, or high-quality light jade-hued linen bedding.
- Emerald/Coral Rose: Elegantly designed emerald earrings or a ring, an antique emerald green fountain pen, or a bouquet of coral-hued roses in an beautiful vintage vase.
Creative Year 35 Gift Ideas: Plan out a special 35 Years of Love evening where you surprise your spouse with a table that has coral-hued roses as a beautiful centerpiece, jade-green linens, and classy emerald-colored glassware. And by there plate is a piece of antique (or new) jewelry (jade, emerald, or coral) in a velvet box. The whole evening becomes the gift!
40th Year Anniversary Gift: Ruby
Traditional: Ruby | Modern: Ruby | Gemstone: Ruby | Flower: Gladioli | Color: Red
Meaning: The ruby’s deep red represents the lasting passion in your marriage, as well as protection and wisdom. It’s such a beautiful symbol for an enduring flame that still burns bright even after four decades together.
Gift Ideas:
- Ruby: A ruby eternity ring to symbolize your never ending love, ruby-accented cufflinks, a ruby pendant in a heart design, or ruby-studded earrings for special occasions.
- Ruby: An elegant gold bracelet with ruby, a ruby signet ring, a classy ruby-accented watch, or an antique ruby brooch.
- Ruby/Gladioli/Red: A bouquet of bold gladioli stems tied up in red ribbon, chic ruby-colored home decor accents, ruby-hued accented stationery or fountain pen, or a ruby ring presented in an antique red velvet ring box.
Creative Year 40 Gift Ideas: Commission a ruby-colored leather-bound “40 Years of Us” memory book. But instead of just having photos, fill it up with letters from family and friends, all of them sharing a favorite memory of your marriage. Then gift it alongside a bouquet of gladioli (and maybe some jewelry). The gift becomes both a legacy keepsake and a meaningful celebration of the love story you both built together.
45th Year Anniversary Gift: Sapphire
Traditional: Sapphire | Modern: Sapphire | Gemstone: Sapphire | Flower: Blue Iris | Colors: Blue, Red
Meaning: Sapphire symbolizes loyalty, sincerity, and wisdom, which definitely reflects the deep and steadfast love you’ve both cultivated over time.
Gift Ideas:
- Sapphire: A deep blue pear cut sapphire pendant necklace, sapphire drop earrings, a sapphire-accented ring if you want to do a renewal of your vows, or a pair of classy sapphire cufflinks.
- Sapphire: A sapphire and diamond bracelet, a sapphire crystal watch, a sapphire signet ring, or classy cufflinks with some sapphire accents.
- Sapphire/Blue Iris/Blue & Red: A bouquet of blue irises in a crystal vase, jewelry with sapphire and ruby blending this year’s anniversary colors, red or sapphire-blue silk throw or robes for cozy evenings together, or a red or sapphire-colored leather journal that’s been embossed with your initials for recording new memories together.
Creative Year 45 Gift Ideas: Commission a custom illustrated map showing all of the places that truly defined your marriage. So for instance, the location where you met, where you got married, homes you’ve shared, special travels, and even the hospitals where you had your children. And have the cartographer highlight 45 points, each symbolizing a meaningful memory. Then if you want, you can pair it with a piece of sapphire jewelry to really make the moment special!
50th Year Anniversary Gift: Gold
Traditional: Gold | Modern: Gold | Metal: Gold | Flower: Yellow Rose, Violet | Color: Gold
Meaning: Gold represents strength, wealth, and wisdom which really is the beauty of a love that has grown and thrived for half a century.
Gift Ideas:
- Gold: A pair of gold-engraved wedding bands to symbolize the renewing of your vows, a gold-accented compass to mark the journeys you’ve already taken and those still yet to come, a custom gold locket holding photos from each decade you’ve spent together, or a gold-accented jewelry box for keepsakes collected over the last 5 decades.
- Gold: A gold-detailed timepiece that’s been engraved with your anniversary date, a set of gold-trimmed wine glasses kept in a beautiful keepsake case (just for display), a gold pen set for writing love letters to each other, or a custom gold-leaf family tree art piece with names engraved on each of the branches.
- Yellow Rose & Violet/Gold: A bouquet pairing yellow roses (for friendship and joy) with deep violets (faithfulness and loyalty) and a love letter, a gold and floral themed photo book of the beautiful life you’ve spent together, or a gold-accented serving tray for celebrating your family gatherings.
Creative Year 50 Gift Ideas: Work with a filmmaker to create a documentary-style short film of your 50 years together. You can weave together old footage, photos, and even stories from family and friends into one meaningful piece. Then watch it at a private anniversary party, where you and your spouse are celebrated as the “stars” of your golden anniversary.
55th Year Anniversary Gift: Emerald
Traditional: Emerald | Modern: Emerald | Gemstone: Alexandrite | Flower: “Green Goddess” Calla Lily | Color: Emerald Green
Meaning: Emerald symbolizes devotion, eternal love, and hope which is something the both of you have cultivated over the 55 years of being together.
Gift Ideas:
- Emerald: An elegant emerald necklace set in gold, an antique emerald ring, an emerald tungsten ring, or a pair of timeless emerald cufflinks.
- Emerald: A sleek watch with an emerald-green watch face, a personalized jewelry box with emerald-colored lining, an emerald-accented charm for an existing bracelet, or a classy emerald green silk scarf.
- Alexandrite/“Green Goddess” Calla Lily: An elegant piece of alexandrite jewelry that changes color in different lighting, a keepsake photo book bound in alexandrite-hued leather, a bouquet of “Green Goddess” calla lilies in an antique glass vase, or a beautifully framed famous art piece that features calla lilies (so think Diego Rivera’s “Calla Lily Vendor”).
Creative Year 55 Gift Ideas: Order a custom designed emerald ring, matching set of earrings and a necklace, or a set of cufflinks that are made to be passed down. So have it engraved with 55 Years or your wedding date (in an inconspicuous spot), making it not just jewelry but a future heirloom.
60th Year Anniversary Gift: Diamond
Traditional: Diamond | Modern: Diamond | Gemstone: Diamond | Flower: Orchid | Color: Diamond White
Meaning: Diamond represents the unbreakable connection in your union; the strength of a bond that has grown decade after decade and only gets stronger!
Gift Ideas:
- Diamond: An elegantly designed diamond pendant necklace, diamond earrings in their favorite stone cut, a men’s watch with diamond markers and engraved with the wedding date on the back, or diamond cufflinks for celebrating this very special occasion.
- Diamond: A classy diamond-accented charm added to their favorite bracelet, a diamond eternity band to mark your lifetime of love, or a luxury “diamond level” travel experience instead of an item for a gift (ex. Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express).
- Diamond White/Orchid: A fresh orchid arrangement in diamond white, a white silk robe embroidered with their initials, an elegantly designed orchid-inspired jewelry piece accented with diamonds, or a living orchid plant in a beautiful white ceramic pot engraved with your names and anniversary date (a longer-lasting gift instead of just a bouquet).
Creative Year 60 Gift Ideas: Plant and dedicate an orchid garden for this big milestone. So commission a small orchid greenhouse or dedicate an orchid garden to this important anniversary with a beautiful plaque. And on the plaque, you can put your names, when you were married, and the date of your 60th anniversary.
70th Year Anniversary Gift: Platinum
Traditional: Platinum | Modern: Platinum | Gemstone: Smoky Quartz | Flower: Chrysanthemum | Color: Platinum
Meaning: Platinum reflects a love that is both rare and enduring. It helps to mark a lifetime of commitment, devotion, and shared memories that will always be celebrated between the two of you.
Gift Ideas:
- Platinum: A platinum pendant or bracelet designed with a family tree motif (symbolizing the legacy you built together), a classy platinum watch with a personalized engraving on the back, or a platinum keepsake box to hold your many love letters and meaningful mementos.
- Platinum: A bespoke piece of platinum jewelry that incorporates your children’s and/or grandchildren’s birthstones, a scrapbook that’s platinum-trimmed and showcases all seven decades together, or a platinum-finished photo frame displaying a wedding photo and a more recent anniversary portrait side by side.
Creative Year 70 Gift Ideas: You can commission a professional portrait of you both together, your children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. Then frame it in a platinum colored frame. It’s a wonderful way to visually celebrates the life and love that’s grown from your marriage.
Finding just the right wedding anniversary gifts for your spouse is always an amazing way to make them feel loved and seen. Also, it’s a beautiful way to commemorate the years you’ve spent together.
And I hope that I was able to provide you with enough ideas to make this special day even more special!
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.