We must be having fun. Our first year of marriage flew by in an instant. What better way to celebrate your first year? Fly a kite!
Hubby surprised me with a 5-foot "paper" airplane kite. Pretty good twist on the traditional paper gift for the first year. That's why I married the guy!
How have you skewed the fine lines of the traditional or expected anniversary gift-giving? Below is the "guide" from anniversarygift.org.
Hubby surprised me with a 5-foot "paper" airplane kite. Pretty good twist on the traditional paper gift for the first year. That's why I married the guy!
How have you skewed the fine lines of the traditional or expected anniversary gift-giving? Below is the "guide" from anniversarygift.org.
| Anniversary | Traditional Gift Ideas | Modern Gift Ideas |
| First | Paper – a personalized love poem or invitation, scrapbook of mementos from your first year, or a bouquet of paper flowers | Clocks- there are many clocks and watches to fit any budget |
| Second | Cotton/Straw – Bed linens, placemats, terrycloth bath robes, crazy tee shirts or my favorite a hammock are good cotton gift choices; straw hats or placemats or how about a hayride for straw gift options | China – a set of China dinnerware, china serving dishes or china figurines would make a wonderful gift |
| Third | Leather – depending on your budget consider a gift of a leather bag or leather luggage, leather jackets, skirts, pants, or a leather hat or belt | Crystal/Glass – crystal glasses or vases, stemware or if you are feeling really creative how about a stained glass window |
| Fourth | Books/Fruit/Flowers – if your significant other is a book lover this is a great category and flowers are a romantic gift for any occasion. Fruit sounds a bit mundane but a bowl of colorful Mexican made paper mache fruit would make an unusual and attractive gift | Linen/Silk – these are two of the finest fabrics made so finding a silk scarf, lingerie, blouse, suit, pillow cases or an arrangement of silk flowers should be an easy assignment. A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens |
| Fifth | Wood – study and strong wood is a great symbol for a fifth anniversary. You could choose from as diverse gift choices as planting a tree, giving a cord of wood, or objects made of wood, for example a salad bowl, candlesticks, jewelry, furniture or how about a totem pole | Silverware – there is the obvious table settings of silverware or you could go with something more exotic like a bracelet made from an old silver fork or sticking with a silver theme maybe a silver dollar or silver picture frame |
| Sixth | Sugar/Iron – How about a box of candy or sugar cookies. More creative you could take a vacation to Hawaii or Puerto Rico to visit the sugar cane fields or if the season is right head up to maple syrup country. Iron offers a lot of variety for example wrought iron furniture, BBQ tools, a iron wine rack, tools or how about going with a pumping iron theme and getting him or her a membership to the local gym or a set of bar bells | Wood – study and strong wood is a great symbol for a fifth anniversary. You could choose from as diverse gift choices as planting a tree, giving a cord of wood, or objects made of wood, for example a salad bowl, candlesticks, jewelry, furniture or how about a totem pole |
| Seventh | Wool/Copper – for wool you can go with a sweater, hat or gloves or the yarn to make any of the above, a wool suit or jacket would make a special gift for him or her. | Desk Sets – For a professional a leather, wooden or brass desk set would be an appreciated gift your spouse would use everyday |
| Eighth | Bronze/Pottery – Bronze sculptures, plaques and bells or wind chimes are good ideas as are pottery bowls, pitchers, clay figures, hand painted clay tiles and for the personal gift you could always go to a pottery studio and throw your own bowl for your special gift | Linens/Lace – A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens. Or a lace pillow case, table cloth or a lace camisole or slip all would make a good gift choice |
| Ninth | Pottery/Willow – pottery bowls, pitchers, clay figures, hand painted clay tiles and for the personal gift you could always go to a pottery studio and throw your own bowl for your special gift. Willow offers the option of willow furniture, wreaths, baskets and distinctive willow frames | Leather – depending on your budget consider a gift of a leather bag or leather luggage, leather jackets, skirts, pants, or a leather hat or belt |
| Tenth | Aluminum – Aluminum cans are made into some great jewelry, or there are artists who specialize in large aluminum sculptures, aluminum watches and sunglasses you can even find aluminum sundials | Diamond Jewelry- diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift |
| Eleventh | Steel – durable and strong steel is symbolic of a relationship that has lasted eleven years-you could go with stainless steel pans or kitchen accessories or steel knives, there are also stainless steel jewelers and sculptors who make great gifts | Fashion Jewelry – is a fun and inexpensive gift you can find at any department store or online |
| Twelfth | Linen/Silk – these are two of the finest fabrics made so finding a silk scarf, lingerie, blouse, suit, pillow cases or an arrangement of silk flowers should be an easy assignment. A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens. | Pearls – Natural or cultured pearl jewelry or for a unique gift a mother of pearl inlaid jewelry box |
| Thirteenth | Lace – a lace pillow case, table cloth or a lace camisole or slip all would make a good gift choice | Textiles/Faux fur – There are thousand of faux fur gifts including pillows, throws, jackets and coats or cute little furry animals. If you are looking for textiles you can find rugs, tablecloths, scarves, aprons or fabric art and quilts |
| Fourteenth | Ivory – this is tricky because of the ban on selling ivory to protect the elephants. There are alternatives to animal ivory such as “vegetable” (also called tagua nut) ivory and “mandarin” ivory from which many beautiful carvings and ornaments and even a watch are made | Gold Jewelry – you can find beautiful manufactured gold chains, rings, bracelets and pins or you can go the handcrafted gold jewelry route and choose an original jewelry piece from an artist |
| Fifteenth | Crystal – crystal glasses or vases, stemware will be an appreciated and treasured gift | Watches – this is a great category for any spouse you can get sports watches, dress or casual watches. How about a classic Disney watch or a gadget watch that does everything and tells time too |
| Twentieth | China – a set of China dinnerware, china serving dishes or china figurines would make a wonderful gift | Platinum – there are wonderful platinum jewelry choices, platinum dipped roses, or you could get your significant other a platinum CD set |
| Twenty-five | Silver – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts | Silver – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts |
| Thirty | Pearl – Natural or cultured pearl jewelry or for a unique gift a mother of pearl inlaid jewelry box | Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift |
| Thirty-five | Coral – this is a tough category if you are concerned about the destruction of the coral reefs coral jewelry is probably not an option, consider as an alternative a trip to a coral reef for some great snorkeling or choosing a gift that is coral in color | Jade – jade jewelry or sculptures are a beautiful choice or you could go for a jade plant if you are buying for a plant lover |
| Forty | Ruby – ruby jewelry is the most common choice but you could also go for the Ruby Ulander pattern of Wedgwood China or a Ruby Bone China Tea Set, or some of the beautiful ruby colored glasses or stemware | Ruby – ruby jewelry is the most common choice but you could also go for the Ruby Ulander pattern of Wedgwood China or a Ruby Bone China Tea Set, or some of the beautiful ruby colored glasses or stemware |
| Forty-five | Sapphire – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color | Sapphire – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color |
| Fifty | Gold – gold jewelry, gold plated roses or seashells, a gold handbag | Gold |
| Fifty-five | Emerald – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts | Emerald – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts. |
| Sixty | Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift | Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift |
| Sixty-five | Blue Sapphires – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color | Blue Sapphires – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color |
| Seventy | Diamond/Platinum – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift. Platinum jewelry or platinum picture frames that you add the photographs to are a special gift | Platinum –platinum jewelry or platinum picture frames that you add the photographs to are a special gift |
| Seventy-five | Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift | Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift |
