Easy Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

Are you looking for traditional wedding anniversary gift ideas? Certainly, you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve included traditional anniversary gifts by year 1-60. In addtion, I’ve also got wedding anniversary gifts for her and anniversary gifts by year for him.

traditional wedding anniversary gift ideas

Table of Contents

Why cover annivesary gift ideas overall

I’ve got a blog post on anniversary freebies that gets a ton of traffic all year long; it focuses on restaurants that give free food on your anniversary, for example. 

So, I know people are coming to my blog for anniversary information. Therefore, why not help them with ideas for traditional wedding anniversary gift ideas, too. 

Above all, as I mentioned, I wanted to put this information on traditional wedding anniversary gifts in one place. Therefore, this list goes from a 1st anniversary right through to 60th wedding anniversary.

In short, it’s a fairly comprehensive piece on traditional wedding anniversary gifts.

Themes for traditional anniversary gift shopping

I’ve listed below the themes for traditional wedding anniversary gifts. Meanwhile, I’ve also included three other themes, symbols or motifs, if possible.

They are, for example:

  1. color
  2. flower
  3. jewelry/gemstone

I had no idea you had so many options when buying wedding anniversary gifts.

When anniversary themes repeat

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Anniversary themes definitely repeat. For instance, iron, the metal, is the theme for both the 6th and 33rd wedding anniversaries.

Pottery, for instance, shows up in consecutive anniversaries. It is the theme for both the 8th and 9th anniversaries.

There are second themes for each, if you don’t want to repeat yourself, by the way. Therefore, don’t think it’s a mistake when you see this repetition, I wanted you to know this is legit.

Traditional wedding anniversary gift ideas outlined

As a result I’ve outlined it all below. I hope it makes it easier for you to find traditional wedding anniversary gifts by year or years married, and by theme.

Likewise, this would hold true whether you’re shopping for your husband, parents, friends or a couple you know. So, onto the list.

This list can help you with UK Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year.

1 year wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: paper
  • 1 year wedding anniversary color: gold or yellow
  • Flowers for 1 year wedding anniversary: carnations or pansies
  • Jewelry or gemstone for a 1st anniversary: gold, pearl or peridot

Traditional 1 year wedding anniversary gift ideas

Tickets to a show or a sporting event via Goldstar.com or StubHub.com.

What about a new Kindle Paperwhite?

Second wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: cotton
  • Colors for second wedding anniversary gift: red or linen white (probably to go along with cotton)
  • Flowers for second wedding anniversary gift: lily of the valley
  • Second wedding anniversary gem or jewelry: garnet or rose quartz

Traditional second anniversary gift idea

Egyptian cotton robes for him and her

3rd wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: leather
  • Color for three year wedding anniversary: white or jade green
  • Flowers for 3rd anniversary: sunflowers or fuchsia
  • Gemstone for third year: pearl

Traditional third year anniversary gift ideas

Leather wallet or leather bound iPad case

A leather jacket for him or for her

4th wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: fruit or flowers
  • Color for 4th year wedding anniversary: blue or green
  • Flowers for 4th year wedding anniversary: hydrangeas or geraniums
  • Gemstone for 4th wedding anniversary: blue topaz

Traditional 4th wedding anniversary gift ideas

Send a gift basket of fruit or flowers

Check out these fruit and flower ideas I found on Etsy

5th wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: wood
  • Colors for 5th wedding anniversary gift: blue or pink
  • Flowers for 5th wedding anniversary: daisies
  • Gemstone for 5th wedding anniversary: sapphire

Traditional 5th wedding anniversary gift ideas

Games made of wood, such as cornhole or Jenga

wood anniversary gift ideas

Etsy 5th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Another option is to get a custom Jenga game from Etsy

6th wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: iron or candy
  • Colors for 6th wedding anniversary: purple, turquoise or white
  • Flowers for 6th wedding anniversary: calla lilies
  • Gemstone for 6th wedding anniversary: amethyst

Traditional 6th wedding anniversary gift ideas

Andiron set for your fireplace

Cast iron pots

Here is my article about cookware with a lifetime warranty.

7 year wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: copper or wool
  • Colors for 7 year wedding anniversary: onyx, yellow or off white
  • Flowers for 7 year wedding anniversary: freesia or Jack in the pulpit
  • Gemstone for 7 year wedding anniversary: onyx

Traditional 7 year wedding anniversary gift ideas

New copper pots for the kitchen

Wool gloves or hats from LL Bean

Smartwool brand of socks

Darn Tough Socks for him or her

8th wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: bronze or pottery
  • Colors for 8th wedding anniversary gift: tourmaline, tanzanite or bronze
  • Flowers for 8th wedding anniversary gift: lilac or clematis
  • Gemstone for 8th wedding anniversary gift: tourmaline

Traditional 8th wedding anniversary gift ideas

North Carolina is one of the best places to go for pottery

Sign up for a class on Wondrium with master potter and designer Jonathan Adler

Check Etsy for pottery ideas

9 year wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: pottery or willow
  • Colors for 9 year wedding anniversary gift: blue lapis, purple, green or terracotta
  • Flowers for 9 year wedding anniversary gift: bird of paradise or poppy
  • Gemstone for 9 year wedding anniversary gift: lapis lazuli

Traditional 9 year gift ideas

Figurines of angels, dogs and catsfrom the company Willow Tree

10 year wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: aluminum or tin
  • Colors for 10th wedding anniversary: silver or blue
  • Flowers for 10th wedding anniversary: daffodils
  • Gemstone for 10th wedding anniversary: diamond (These days you can choose a more affordable option in lab-grown diamonds.)

Traditional gift ideas

Vintage tin signs

11 year anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: steel
  • Colors for 11 year anniversary gifts: turquoise or yellow
  • Flowers for 11 year anniversary gifts: tulips or morning glory
  • Gemstone for 11 year anniversary gifts: turquoise

Traditional 11 year gifts ideas

Tickets to see a Pittsburgh Steelers game

steel anniversary gift pittsburgh

12 year wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: linen or silk
  • Colors for 12 year wedding anniversary gift: jade, opal or oyster white
  • Flowers for 12 year wedding anniversary gift: peony
  • Gemstone for 12 year wedding anniversary gift: jade

Traditional 12 year gift ideas

Linens for the home

Diffusers with a clean or crisp linen scent

Throwback, “vintage” scent from Estee Lauder called “White Linen”

13 year anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: lace
  • Colors for 13 year anniversary gift: citrine or white
  • Flowers for 13 year anniversary gift: chrysanthemum or hollyhock
  • Gemstone for 13 year anniversary gift: citrine

Traditional 13 year gift ideas

Lace lingerie

Box of lace cookies from the brand Laceys

14th traditional anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: fake ivory
  • Colors for 14th anniversary gift: opal or ivory
  • Flowers for 14th anniversary gift: dahlias or orchids
  • Gemstone for 14th anniversary gift: opal

Traditional 14th anniversary gift ideas

Stemless wine glasses with an elephant etched into the glass

Elegant throw featuring the image of a regal elephant on it.

University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide mascot is an elephant

15 wedding anniversary

  • Traditional theme overall: crystal
  • Color for 15 wedding anniversary gift: ruby red
  • Flowers for 15 wedding anniversary gift: roses
  • Gemstone for 15 wedding anniversary gift: ruby

Traditional 15th gift ideas

High-end crystal gifts include Waterford

crystal 15 wedding anniversary gift

Anniversaries 16 and beyond

From 16 years of marriage onward, there is a single theme or motif for colors, gemstones and anything else related to that anniversary. Therefore, I’ve linked to gift ideas directly in the bulleted lists below.

16 year wedding anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: coffee or tea
  2. Colors for the 16 year wedding anniversary gift: emerald green, red or silver
  3. Gemstone for a 16 year wedding anniversary gift: peridot

17 year wedding anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: furniture
  2. Colors for 17 year wedding anniversary gift: yellow
  3. Jewelry for 17 year wedding anniversary gift: watches

18 year wedding anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: appliances
  2. Color for 18 year wedding anniversary gift: blue
  3. Gemstone for 18 year wedding anniversary gift: cat’s eye

19th wedding anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: jade
  2. Color for 19th wedding anniversary gift: bronze
  3. Gemstone for 19th wedding anniversary gift: aquamarine

20th wedding anniversary traditional gift theme

  • Traditional theme overall: china
  • Colors for 20th anniversary gifts: emerald green or white
  • Flowers for 20th anniversary gifts: aster or day lily
  • Gemstone for 20th anniversary gifts: emerald

21st wedding anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: fire
  2. Color for 21st wedding anniversary gift: orange
  3. Gemstone for 21st wedding anniversary gift: iolite

22nd wedding anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: water
  2. Color for 22nd wedding anniversary gift: green
  3. Gemstone for 22nd wedding anniversary gift: spinel

23 year anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: air
  2. Color for 23 year anniversary gift: silver
  3. Gemstone for 23 year anniversary gift: imperial topaz

24 year anniversary gift theme

  1. Traditional theme overall: stone
  2. Color for 24 year anniversary gift: lavender
  3. Gemstone for 24 year anniversary gift: tanzanite

25 wedding anniversary traditional theme

  • Traditional theme overall: silver
  • Colors for 25 wedding anniversary gifts: silver
  • Flowers for 25 wedding anniversary gifts: iris
  • Jewelry for 25 wedding anniversary gifts: silver

25th anniversary gift ideas

Etsy has one-of-a-kind silver wedding anniversary gift ideas

Finally, the only variation might be if you wanted to work in the 25 wedding anniversary flower–the iris. You could always buy a silver iris or simply the real thing, for instance.

25th wedding anniversary gifts for parents on Amazon

Amazon has plenty of 25th anniversary gift ideas for parents

Wedding anniversary themes 26-29

Meanwhile, once you get to wedding anniversaries for years 26 through 29, they each have a single gift theme. So, your gift-giving choices get simpler. Therefore, here they are, in a bulleted list:

  • 26th wedding anniversary gift theme: art
  • 27th wedding anniversary gift theme: music
  • 28 years wedding anniversary gift theme: linens
  • 29th wedding anniversary gift theme: tools

Anniversaries 26-29 Gift Themes and Ideas

30th wedding anniversary gift theme

  • Traditional theme overall: pearl
  • Color for 30th anniversary gifts: green
  • Flowers for 30th anniversary gifts: lily or sweat pea
  • Jewelry for 30th wedding anniversary gifts: pearl

appropriate, for instance.

Wedding anniversary 31-34 themes

To clarify, with wedding anniversaries for years 31 through 34, there is a single gift theme only. Therefore, here they are, in a bulleted list:

  • 31st wedding anniversary gift theme: travel
  • 32nd wedding anniversary gift theme: bronze
  • 33rd wedding anniversary gift theme: iron
  • 34th wedding anniversary gift theme: food

31-34 Anniversaries Gift Themes and Ideas

35th traditional wedding anniversary theme 

  • Traditional theme overall: coral
  • Color for 35th wedding anniversary gift: coral
  • Flowers for 35th wedding anniversary gift: African violets
  • Gemstone for 35th wedding anniversary gift: emerald

Traditional wedding anniversary themes for 36-39

For 36 to 39 years of marriage, there are single themes once again. Here they are:

  • 36th wedding anniversary gift: antiques
  • 37th wedding anniversary gift: books
  • 38th wedding anniversary gift: luck
  • 39th wedding anniversary gift: laughter

36-39 Anniversaries Gift Themes and Ideas

40th traditional wedding anniversary gift theme

  • Traditional theme overall: ruby
  • Colors for 40th anniversary gift: ruby red
  • Flowers for 40th anniversary gift: gladiolas or nasturtium
  • Gemstone for 40th anniversary gift: ruby

Wedding anniversary 41-44 themes

With wedding anniversaries for years 41 through 44, there is a single gift theme only. Here they are, in a bulleted list:

  • 41st wedding anniversary gift theme: office
  • 42nd wedding anniversary traditional gift theme: clocks and watches
  • 43rd wedding anniversary gift theme: entertainment
  • 44 year wedding anniversary traditional gift theme: electronics

45th traditional wedding anniversary theme

  • Traditional theme overall: sapphire
  • Color for 45th anniversary gift: sapphire blue
  • Flower for 45th anniversary gift: blue iris
  • Gemstone for 45th anniversary gift: sapphire

Wedding anniversary themes 46-49

To clarify, in years 46-49, you have only one gift theme per year of marriage. Therefore, here are the themes, in a bulleted list:

  • 46th wedding anniversary gift: games
  • 47th wedding anniversary gift: garden and plants
  • 48th wedding anniversary gift: home improvement
  • 49th wedding anniversary traditional gift: copper

50th traditional wedding anniversary theme

  • Traditional theme overall: gold
  • Color for 50th anniversary gift: gold
  • Flower for 50th anniversary gift: yellow roses and/or violets
  • Jewelry for 50th anniversary gift: gold

Wedding anniversaries 51-54 themes

So, with wedding anniversaries for years 51 through 54, there is a single gift theme only. Therefore, here they are, in a bulleted list:

  • 51st wedding anniversary gift theme: photos and cameras
  • 52nd wedding anniversary gift theme: bath and spa
  • 53rd wedding anniversary gift theme: plastic
  • 54th wedding anniversary gift theme: glass

55th traditional wedding anniversary theme

  • Traditional theme overall: emerald
  • Color for 50th anniversary gift: emerald green
  • Flower for 50th anniversary gift: calla lily

Wedding anniversaries 56-59 themes

Similarly, these later-in-life wedding anniversaries have a single theme only. Therefore, here is a bulleted list of gift themes for years 56 through 59 of marriage:

  • 56th wedding anniversary gift theme: day
  • 57th wedding anniversary gift theme: night
  • 58th wedding anniversary gift theme: faith and hope
  • 59th wedding anniversary gift theme: charity

60th wedding anniversary traditional theme

  • Traditional theme overall: diamonds
  • Color for 50th anniversary gift: diamond white
  • Flower for 50th anniversary gift: orchids

Final thoughts on traditional wedding anniversary gift themes 

In conclusion, I hope this comprehensive list of traditional wedding anniversary gift ideas by year and theme was helpful to read. In short, I do believe it provided excellent suggestions for easy anniversary gifts.

However, let me know if you’ve got additional suggestions. At the same time, comment with experiences based on gifts you bought or have received. Finally, please post a comment to let me know.

2 Comments

  1. Every other site I’ve looked at said furniture was the traditional gift for the 17th, but this one says wine and spirits? Uh…

    1. Let me double check my facts…well according to the traditional card companies, it IS wine and spirits. However, the wedding sites all say furniture. So now even *I’M* confused.

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