
07 Jul Anniversary Gift Ideas by Year: A Complete Guide For Years 1 – 60
Discover symbolic wedding anniversary gift ideas & their meaning. Find traditional & modern anniversary gifts by year + anniversary colors, flowers & jewelry..
The tradition of celebrating wedding anniversaries dates all the way back to the Middle Ages [ Read: The History of Anniversary Gifts ]. Today, it’s common for couples to commemorate their special day with gifts, dinner, a night out, and even a romantic getaway or a second honeymoon.
For generations traditional, symbolic gift suggestions have guided us in finding meaningful, significant and appropriate ways to celebrate. The popular traditional and modern anniversary gift lists help us find special meaning in each anniversary year, making the occasion even more exceptional and memorable.
However, finding the right gift for your spouse (or another couple) can sometimes be a challenge, especially if you’re trying to follow the traditional gift suggestions. Lace (the traditional gift for the 13th anniversary year) might have been a popular gift at some point, but today it’s not as common. Same goes for ivory (the theme for 14th year anniversary gifts), which is no longer an ethical gift option and can be a bit tricky.
Luckily, each anniversary year offers several different options, including modern gifts, jewelry and gemstones, flowers and even colors that can help you tie in your present to the corresponding year.
Anniversary Gift Ideas For Every Year
To help you quickly find what the different symbolic gifts and themes are for each anniversary year — and to offer some unique gift suggestions — we’ve put together a comprehensive anniversary gift guide that includes a section for each year: 1 through 60.
Here is what you will find in this comprehensive guide:
- Full list of the traditional anniversary gifts – a complete list of traditional gifts, which exist for years 1 through 15, then every 5 years; anniversary themes fill in the years in between.
- Full list of modern anniversary gifts – a comprehensive list of all modern gifts.
- Full list of anniversary themes – these themes fill in the blanks for years without a traditional gift suggestion.
- Full list of anniversary colors – find colors that tie into the overall theme of the anniversary to help you plan the celebration and gifts.
- Full list of anniversary flowers – flowers are a natural anniversary gift, and this list includes suggestions for each year.
- Full list of anniversary jewelry – jewelry lovers will appreciate the complete list of anniversary jewelry suggestions for both men and women.
In short, you’re getting every gift idea, symbol and meaning of each wedding anniversary. The colors, flowers, jewelry and gift themes that represent each anniversary year will help you plan the perfect gift or celebration.
And if you’re looking for specific gift suggestions, keep reading to find unique gift ideas for him, for her and for another couple, including some great ways to celebrate big milestone anniversaries. You will also learn what the specific materials associated with the different anniversary years symbolize. For example, paper (1st anniversary) symbolizes new beginnings and the fragility of a new relationship, while diamonds (60th anniversary) symbolize strength, affection and undying, eternal love.
Anniversary Gift Ideas By Year
Anniversary Year 1 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Paper Clocks Gold or Yellow Carnations or Pansies Gold |
Anniversary Year 2 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Cotton China Red or Linen White Cosmos Garnet |
Anniversary Year 3 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Leather Crystal or Glass White or Jade Green Sunflowers or Fuchsia Pearls |
Anniversary Year 4 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Fruit or Flowers Appliances Blue or Green Geranium or Hydrangea Blue Topaz |
Anniversary Year 5 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Wood Silverware Blue, Pink or Turquoise Daisy Sapphire |
Anniversary Year 6 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Iron or Candy Wood Purple, Turquoise or White Calla Lilies Amethyst |
Anniversary Year 7 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Copper or Wool Desk Sets Onyx, Yellow or Off-White Freesia Onyx |
Anniversary Year 8 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Bronze or Pottery Linens or Lace Bronze Lilac or Clematis Tourmaline |
Anniversary Year 9 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Pottery or Willow Leather Terracotta Poppy or Bird of Paradise Lapis Lazuli |
Anniversary Year 10 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Tin or Aluminum Diamond Jewelry Silver or Blue Daffodils Diamond |
Anniversary Year 11 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Steel Fashion Jewelry Yellow or Turquoise Morning Glory or Tulips Turquoise |
Anniversary Year 12 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Linen or Silk Pearls Jade, Opal or Oyster White Peony Jade |
Anniversary Year 13 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Lace Fur and Textiles White or Citrine Chrysanthemum Citrine |
Anniversary Year 14 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Faux Ivory Gold Jewelry Opal or Ivory Orchids or Dahlias Opal |
Anniversary Year 15 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Crystal Watches Ruby Red Roses Rubies |
Anniversary Year 16 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Coffee and Tea Silver Holloware Emerald, Red or Silver Statice and Lavender Peridot |
Anniversary Year 17 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Wine and Spirits Furniture Yellow Red Carnation Watches |
Anniversary Year 18 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Appliances Porcelain Blue Cacti Cat’s Eye |
Anniversary Year 19 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Jade Bronze Bronze Bronze Mums Aquamarine |
Anniversary Year 20 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | China Platinum Emerald Green or White Aster & Day Lily Emerald |
Anniversary Year 21 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Fire Brass or Nickel Orange Iris Iolite |
Anniversary Year 22 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Water Copper Green Pothos Spinel |
Anniversary Year 23 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Air Silver Plate Air Plants Silver Topaz |
Anniversary Year 24 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Stone Musical Instruments Lavender Lavender Tanzanite |
Anniversary Year 25 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Silver Silver Silver Iris Silver |
Anniversary Year 26 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Art Picture Jade Greens or Rose Pinks Rose Jade |
Anniversary Year 27 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Music Sculptures Black and Gold Cosmos Jet Stone |
Anniversary Year 28 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Linens Orchid Orchid Or Lavender Orchids Amethyst |
Anniversary Year 29 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Tools Furniture Deep Red Celosia Garnet |
Anniversary Year 30 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Pearl Diamond Green Lily or Sweet Pea Pearls |
Anniversary Year 31 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Travel and Tourism Timepieces White and Black White Flowers Ebony |
Anniversary Year 32 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Bronze Transportation Accessories Metallics Copper Colored Flowers Lapis Lazuli |
Anniversary Year 33 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Iron Amethyst Violet Strawberry Plant Amethyst |
Anniversary Year 34 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Food Opal Opal, Poppy Red and Amber Poppy Amber |
Anniversary Year 35 | |
Traditional: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Coral Jade Coral African Violets Emerald |
Anniversary Year 36 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Antiques Bone China Soft Pinks and Off-White Tea Rose Cameo |
Anniversary Year 37 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Books Alabaster White Alabaster Alabaster Garden Rose Alabaster |
Anniversary Year 38 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Luck Beryl or Tourmaline Red Lucky Plant Potted Shamrock Beryl |
Anniversary Year 39 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Laughter Lace Coffee and Cream Lace Flower Agate |
Anniversary Year 40 | |
Traditional Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Ruby Ruby Ruby Red Gladiolas or Nasturtium Rubies |
Anniversary Year 41 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Office and Desk Land Pale Blue Nasturtium Topaz |
Anniversary Year 42 | |
Theme: Modern: Jewelry: | Clocks and Watches Home and Real Estate Jasper |
Anniversary Year 43 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Jewelry: | Entertainment Travel Opal Opal |
Anniversary Year 44 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Jewelry: | Electronics Gourmet Turquoise Turquoise |
Anniversary Year 45 | |
Traditional Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Sapphire Sapphire Sapphire Blue Blue Iris Sapphire |
Anniversary Year 46 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Games Poetry Yellow Daffodil Pearl |
Anniversary Year 47 | |
Theme: Modern: Flowers: Jewelry: | Garden and Plants Books Camellia Amethyst |
Anniversary Year 48 | |
Theme: Modern: Flowers: Jewelry: | Home Improvement Optical Goods Aster Feldspar |
Anniversary Year 49 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Copper Luxury Goods Purple Purple Orchid Zircon |
Anniversary Year 50 | |
Traditional Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Gold Gold Gold Yellow Roses & Violets Gold or Golden Topaz |
Anniversary Year 51 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Photos and Cameras Framed Photos Deep Blue Blue Roses Blue Sapphire |
Anniversary Year 52 | |
Theme: Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Bath and Spa Ruby Ruby Red Red Roses Star Ruby |
Anniversary Year 53 | |
Theme: Modern: Flowers: Jewelry: | Plastic Romantic Getaway Cherry Tree Resin Jewelry |
Anniversary Year 54 | |
Theme: Modern: Flowers: Jewelry: | Glass Glass Rhododendron Murano Glass |
Anniversary Year 55 | |
Traditional Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Emeralds Emeralds Emerald Green Calla Lily Emeralds |
Anniversary Year 56 | |
Theme: Flowers: | Day Box Plant |
Anniversary Year 57 | |
Theme: Flowers: | Night Azalea |
Anniversary Year 58 | |
Theme: Flowers: | Faith and Hope Maple Tree |
Anniversary Year 59 | |
Theme: Flowers: | Charity Olive Tree |
Anniversary Year 60 | |
Traditional Modern: Colors: Flowers: Jewelry: | Diamond Diamond Diamond White Orchids Diamond |
Table Notes:
As noted above, the different anniversary lists aren’t complete and don’t offer suggestions for every year. In order to create a more complete list, we offer suggestions for items that are missing that tie into the overall anniversary theme or other gift suggestions.
- The 18th anniversary does not have a specific flower associated with it. Because the theme for this year is so practical, our suggested 18th anniversary year flower is: Cacti.
- The 22nd anniversary does not have a specific flower. Our recommendation is Pothos, which thrives when grown in water – and water is the 22nd anniversary year theme.
- The 23rd anniversary does not have a flower specified. However, the choice was obvious since the theme for the 23rd year is air – the 23rd year flower choice is: Air Plants.
- The 26th anniversary year color suggestions come from the jewelry and flowers tied to this year, which include Jade Green and Rose Pink.
- The 27th anniversary color recommendations are Blank and Gold, derived from the jewelry and flowers for that year.
- The 29th anniversary color ties into the flower and jewelry recommendations for the year. We suggest the 29th year color to be Deep Red or Pink.
Finding The Perfect Anniversary Presents
The traditional anniversary gifts and their symbolic meanings are listed for years 1 through 15. After that only milestone anniversaries occurring every 5 years have traditional symbols and meanings. However, the years in between are recognized with an anniversary theme and a modern gift, so you still have plenty of gift options and great ways to celebrate.
As you’ll notice, the traditional gifts tend to increase in value and substance along with the years, from common paper and cotton all the way to emeralds and diamonds. The modern gift suggestions tend to be more practical (clocks, appliances, silverware, etc) and some might be a bit outdated (like desk sets, bone china or silver holloware) but you can always take the general idea and just run with it.
The important thing is to find something that’s personal, intimate and tailored specifically to the individual or couple. With this in mind, please use our gift suggestions as a starting point to create the perfect personalized anniversary gifts to make each wedding anniversary a day to remember.
Saad Baig
Posted at 01:35h, 12 MarchThe best list so far. Giving your partner an anniversary present is a feeling of gratitude for your partner.
Louise
Posted at 08:46h, 25 Mayis there an idea for 21 years anniversary gift? I am having a hard time finding.
Kasia
Posted at 11:16h, 26 MayHi Louise,
Although there is no traditional 21st anniversary gift, there are some theme and ideas to tie in your gift:
– Theme: Fire
– Modern gift: Brass and Nickel
– Color: Orange
– Flower: Iris
– Jewelry: Opal or Iolite
Here are some specific 21st anniversary gift ideas:
– An outdoor fire pit
– A monogrammed nickel money clip or cuff links
– Tickets to a brass & percussion concert, or Jazz performance
– A custom brass or nickel house plaque
– Nickel or brass barware and accessories
You can also celebrate at a hibachi place or any restaurant that cooks with open fire!
Please see the complete gift guide for more gifting ideas for the 21st anniversary and others.
Nikki Gentry
Posted at 16:55h, 29 JuneA great gift idea from Dreamlines – a sketch of her wedding dress, the suit, bouquet, veil and so much more.