Wedding Anniversary Gifts- Easy and Affordable

Weddings are joyful occasions. It is a time when two people bond together in marriage to form a lasting relationship. Wedding anniversaries are yearly celebrations in remembrance of that special occasion. We celebrate wedding anniversaries in various ways. Renewal of wedding vows, candle light dinners and gift giving are just some of the ways we celebrate our wedding anniversaries.

But what is an appropriate gift to give for an anniversary? In 1922, Emily Post suggested traditional gifts for the first 15 yearly wedding anniversaries and gifts for every 5 year anniversaries thereafter. Gifts for the early wedding anniversaries tend to be inexpensive and rather practical while gifts for the later wedding anniversaries tend to be more elaborate and expensive.

Below is a list of the traditional yearly wedding anniversaries with gift ideas and suggestions for each.

First Wedding Anniversary: Paper
Suggested gifts: stationary in a favorite color, a personal journal, first edition of a favorite book, a framed invitation

Second Wedding Anniversary: Cotton
Suggested gifts: high thread count sheet set, personalized quilt or throw blanket, tapestry wall hanging, towels

Third Wedding Anniversary: Leather
Suggested gifts: watches, jackets, luggage, wallets, belts

Fourth Wedding Anniversary: Fruit or Flowers
Suggested gifts: fruit basket, floral arrangement, flowering plant or shrub

Fifth Wedding Anniversary: Wood
Suggested gifts: furniture, jewelry boxes, a framed photograph

Sixth Wedding Anniversary: Candy or Iron
Suggested gifts: cookie bouquet, box of chocolates, wrought iron picture frame or wall hanging, home décor items

Seventh Wedding Anniversary: Wool or Copper
Suggested gifts: warm coat, scarf and gloves, yard décor such as wind chimes, copper birdbaths, pottery or fire pit

Eighth Wedding Anniversary: Bronze or Pottery
Suggested gifts: bronze sculptures, yard items such as a bird bath or sundial

Ninth Wedding Anniversary: Pottery
Suggested gifts: ceramic pots, wall hangings, sculptures, tableware
Tenth Wedding Anniversary: Tin or Aluminum
Suggested gifts: tea and coffee tins, decorative boxes, aluminum watches, tableware, home décor items

Eleventh Wedding Anniversary: Steel
Suggested gifts: jewelry, kitchenware, sculpture, home décor items

Twelfth Wedding Anniversary: Silk or Linen
Suggested gifts: tablecloth, handkerchief, robe, silk blouse or shirt, silk sheets

Thirteenth Wedding Anniversary: Lace
Suggested gifts: sleepwear, handkerchiefs, table runners or placemats, a framed invitation

Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary: Ivory
Suggested gifts: jewelry, figurines, roses

Fifteenth Wedding Anniversary: Crystal
Suggested gifts: glassware, jewelry, wind chimes, lamps, candlesticks

Twentieth Wedding Anniversary: China
Suggested gifts: dishware, dinner at a Chinese restaurant

Twenty-fifth Wedding Anniversary: Silver
Suggested gifts: jewelry, kitchenware, tea or coffee service, watch

Thirtieth Wedding Anniversary: Pearl
Suggested gifts: jewelry, game boards, rosary beads

Thirty-fifth Wedding Anniversary: Coral (Jade)
Suggested gifts: figurines, jewelry, vases, candle holders, chess set

Fortieth Wedding Anniversary: Ruby
Suggested gifts: gemstone jewelry, ruby heart photo frame

Forty-fifth Wedding Anniversary: Sapphire
Suggested gifts: gemstone jewelry

Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary: Gold
Suggested gifts: jewelry, watches, collectible coins, picture frames

Wedding anniversaries can be celebrated in many different ways. Giving a traditional wedding gift is just one way to celebrate. The most important thing is to remember to celebrate in a way that is special to you.