Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gift Idea Lists
The traditional anniversary gift lists date back well into historic times. It is events in history which often dictated the items representative of the union. Symbolic gift items were originally appointed to represent the milestone 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 40th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries. Today there are gift lists to represent and celebrate almost every anniversary year of marriage.
Anniversary Years |
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A Peek at the History of Wedding Anniversary Lists
It was the American National Retail Jeweler Association who in 1937 modified the anniversary list to include modern gift ideas for the missing anniversary years.
Each suggested traditional anniversary gift has a symbolic meaning which relates to the number of years that a couple have spent within their married union. Both the traditional and the modern gift lists were designed to help make shopping for these milestone celebrations a little easier. |
This is the First List and is Referred to as
The Traditional Anniversary List

Fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Wood.
Tenth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Tin
Fifteenth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Crystal
Twentieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: China
Twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Silver
Thirtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Pearl
Fortieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Ruby
Fiftieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Gold
Sixtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Diamond (Royalty)
Seventy-fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Diamond
Termed a Diamond jubilee the diamond was appointed to royalty in celebration of 75 years on the throne. For this reason couples also celebrated a diamond anniversary traditionally on the seventy-fifth year of their marriage.
During a period of unrest in England it was decided that Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee would be celebrated early at the 60 year mark.This set a trend for celebrating anniversary couples and future royalty to follow. The Diamond anniversary is now celebrated traditionally on the 75th anniversary but also on the 60th.
Tenth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Tin
Fifteenth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Crystal
Twentieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: China
Twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Silver
Thirtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Pearl
Fortieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Ruby
Fiftieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Gold
Sixtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Diamond (Royalty)
Seventy-fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Diamond
Termed a Diamond jubilee the diamond was appointed to royalty in celebration of 75 years on the throne. For this reason couples also celebrated a diamond anniversary traditionally on the seventy-fifth year of their marriage.
During a period of unrest in England it was decided that Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee would be celebrated early at the 60 year mark.This set a trend for celebrating anniversary couples and future royalty to follow. The Diamond anniversary is now celebrated traditionally on the 75th anniversary but also on the 60th.
This is the Traditional Anniversary Gift List After 1937.

The first anniversary gift list only took into consideration milestone anniversaries so to rectify this the list was updated in 1937 to include many of the missing years. Many of the anniversary years that had been missed on the first list were now appointed with symbolic gift ideas.
The long term anniversary years on the new gift list remained in 5 and 10 year segments but the anniversary list was increased to include gift suggestions for up to the 80th anniversary year.
First wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Paper
Second wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Cotton
Third wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Leather
Fourth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Flowers / Fruit
Fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Wood
Sixth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Iron / Candy
Seventh wedding anniversary gifts: Wool / Copper
Eighth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Bronze / Linen or Lace
Ninth anniversary gift suggestion: Pottery
Tenth anniversary gift suggestion: Tin
Eleventh anniversary gift suggestion: Steel
Twelfth anniversary gift suggestion: Linen / Silk
Thirteenth anniversary gift suggestion: Lace
Fourteenth anniversary gift suggestion: Ivory
Fifteenth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Crystal
Twentieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: China
Twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Silver
Thirtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Pearl
Fortieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Ruby
Fiftieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Gold
Sixtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Diamond
Sixty-fifth wedding anniversary gifts: Blue Sapphire
Seventieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Platinum
Seventy-fifth wedding anniversary gifts: Diamond and Gold
Eightieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Oak
The long term anniversary years on the new gift list remained in 5 and 10 year segments but the anniversary list was increased to include gift suggestions for up to the 80th anniversary year.
First wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Paper
Second wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Cotton
Third wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Leather
Fourth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Flowers / Fruit
Fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Wood
Sixth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Iron / Candy
Seventh wedding anniversary gifts: Wool / Copper
Eighth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Bronze / Linen or Lace
Ninth anniversary gift suggestion: Pottery
Tenth anniversary gift suggestion: Tin
Eleventh anniversary gift suggestion: Steel
Twelfth anniversary gift suggestion: Linen / Silk
Thirteenth anniversary gift suggestion: Lace
Fourteenth anniversary gift suggestion: Ivory
Fifteenth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Crystal
Twentieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: China
Twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Silver
Thirtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Pearl
Fortieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Ruby
Fiftieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Gold
Sixtieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Diamond
Sixty-fifth wedding anniversary gifts: Blue Sapphire
Seventieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Platinum
Seventy-fifth wedding anniversary gifts: Diamond and Gold
Eightieth wedding anniversary gift suggestion: Oak
The Modern Gift List is as Follows
1st year wedding anniversary gifts: Clock
2nd year wedding anniversary gifts: China
3rd year wedding anniversary gifts: Crystal / glass
4th year wedding anniversary gifts: Appliances
5th year wedding anniversary gifts: Silverware
6th year wedding anniversary gifts: Wood
7th year wedding anniversary gifts: Desk sets
8th year wedding anniversary gifts: Linen / Lace
9th year wedding anniversary gifts: Leather
10th anniversary gifts: Diamond Jewelry
11th anniversary gifts: Jewelry
12th anniversary gifts: Pearls
13th anniversary gifts: Textiles / Furs
14th anniversary gifts: Gold
15th anniversary gifts: Watches
16th anniversary gifts: Silver
17th anniversary gifts: Furniture
18th anniversary gifts: Porcelain
19th anniversary gifts: Bronze
20th anniversary gifts: Platinum
21st anniversary gifts: Brass / Nickel
22nd anniversary gifts: Copper
23rd anniversary gifts: Silverplate
24th anniversary gifts: Music
25th anniversary gifts: Silver
30th anniversary gifts: Diamond
35th anniversary gifts: Jade
40th anniversary gifts: Ruby
45th anniversary gifts: Saphire
50th anniversary gifts: Gold
55th anniversary gifts: Emerald
60th anniversary gifts: Diamond
70th anniversary gifts: Platinum
2nd year wedding anniversary gifts: China
3rd year wedding anniversary gifts: Crystal / glass
4th year wedding anniversary gifts: Appliances
5th year wedding anniversary gifts: Silverware
6th year wedding anniversary gifts: Wood
7th year wedding anniversary gifts: Desk sets
8th year wedding anniversary gifts: Linen / Lace
9th year wedding anniversary gifts: Leather
10th anniversary gifts: Diamond Jewelry
11th anniversary gifts: Jewelry
12th anniversary gifts: Pearls
13th anniversary gifts: Textiles / Furs
14th anniversary gifts: Gold
15th anniversary gifts: Watches
16th anniversary gifts: Silver
17th anniversary gifts: Furniture
18th anniversary gifts: Porcelain
19th anniversary gifts: Bronze
20th anniversary gifts: Platinum
21st anniversary gifts: Brass / Nickel
22nd anniversary gifts: Copper
23rd anniversary gifts: Silverplate
24th anniversary gifts: Music
25th anniversary gifts: Silver
30th anniversary gifts: Diamond
35th anniversary gifts: Jade
40th anniversary gifts: Ruby
45th anniversary gifts: Saphire
50th anniversary gifts: Gold
55th anniversary gifts: Emerald
60th anniversary gifts: Diamond
70th anniversary gifts: Platinum
Symbolic Wedding Anniversary Flower List
Symbolic 1st anniversary flower: Carnation
Symbolic 2nd anniversary flower: Lily of the Valley Symbolic 3rd anniversary flower: Sunflower Symbolic 4th anniversary flower: Hydrangea Symbolic 5th anniversary flower: Daisy Symbolic 6th anniversary flower: Calla Lily Symbolic 7th anniversary flower: Freesia Symbolic 8th anniversary flower: Lilac Symbolic 9th anniversary flower: Bird of Paradise Symbolic 10th anniversary flower: Daffodil Symbolic 11th anniversary flower: Tulip Symbolic 12th anniversary flower: Peony Symbolic 13th anniversary flower: Chrysanthemum Symbolic 14th anniversary flower: Orchid Symbolic 15th anniversary flower: Rose Symbolic 20th anniversary flower: Aster Symbolic 25th anniversary flower: Iris Symbolic 30th anniversary flower: Lily Symbolic 40th anniversary flower: Gladioli Symbolic 50th anniversary flower: Yellow Roses |