Often, a spouse, when at a loss for great Anniversary gift ideas, will just grab the closest card, a bouquet of flowers and some type of cute stuffed animal. While there is nothing inherently wrong with these gift choices, they are gift ideas that could be given for any type of occasion.
A Wedding Anniversary gift should be special and it should be significant to you as a couple. It should also be something that will either last or that will produce a lasting memory.
Anniversary Gift Ideas for Him and Her
Both men and women can have trouble coming up with Anniversary gift ideas. It's not that they don't want to give their spouses the perfect gift, it is that they can't narrow down the perfect gift out of all the Wedding Anniversary gift ideas.
Luckily, there are excellent choices in the traditional vein that have been updated for a modern approach. The Anniversary milestones that are celebrated the most are:
- The 1st Anniversary Gift Idea - Paper
- The 5th Anniversary Gift Idea - Wood
- The 10th Anniversary Gift Idea - Tools or Bakeware
- The 20th Anniversary Gift Idea - China
1st Anniversary Gift Ideas
The 1st Anniversary is special because it marks the first year that a couple has lived together as husband and wife. Traditionally, 1st Anniversary gifts are those made of paper. A modern approach on the 1st Anniversary calls for the giving of clocks. Clocks are thought to be a good gift because they mark the passage of time.
Giving clocks as gifts isn't hard to do. There are a wide variety of ornamental clocks available for gifting. For those wishing to give a traditional Anniversary gift, poems that are embellished with a photo of the two of you, concert tickets to some type of special event, or a special scrapbook are great paper Wedding Anniversary gift ideas.
5th Anniversary Gift Ideas
The 5 year Anniversary is considered the first major Anniversary for a couple. The traditional 5 year Anniversary Gift is made of wood. Wooden furniture that both spouses can enjoy is a great 5 year Anniversary gift idea.
For example, rocking chairs for a porch or deck are both practical and romantic. Welsh love spoons are a good decorative wood idea and can hang on the wall reinforcing the couples love for each other.
Hope chests or wooden storage or keepsake boxes are other traditional 5 year Anniversary gifts. For a more modern twist, consider planting a tree together. This is not only a green 5 year Anniversary gift, it is also one that you and your spouse can enjoy for years to come.
10th Anniversary Gift Ideas
Traditionally, couples gave each other tools or bakeware made of tin for their 10 year Anniversary Gift. This is because anniversary gifts were originally designed so that couples could outfit their homes as needed.
For a more modern twist on the tin anniversary, consider giving a piece of art or sculpture to your spouse made of tin. Garden decorations, wind chimes, or accessories for the fireplace are great ideas for both spouses.
If he is an outdoorsman, consider fishing gear as a 10 year Anniversary gift. For her, decorations for the home or cooking and bakeware are still good traditional Anniversary gift choices.
20th Anniversary Gift Ideas
The 20th Anniversary is very special. To be married for 20 years says that a couple are in love and are committed to one another. The 20 year Anniversary is considered to be the china Anniversary.
Traditional 20 year Anniversary gift choices for the china Anniversary include sets of fine china, pieces of antique china, or china figurines for the home.
For a modern twist, consider planning a trip to China for your 20 year Anniversary. If a trip to China is beyond your budget, how about a day spent in the nearest Chinatown neighborhood? You could then enjoy a Chinese meal together as your 20 year Anniversary gift to each other.
If you are looking for an anniversary gift for someone else, either parents, friends, or family, personalized gifts might be something worth considering. Picture frames, crystal, and photo albums all make wonderful personalized gift ideas for people celebrating their anniversaries.
If are looking for your parents, or an older couple, family photos are almost always cherished keepsakes.
Choosing the perfect traditional Anniversary gift is not difficult as long as you are able to get some good Wedding Anniversary gift ideas. I hope that some of these suggestions have helped so that you and your spouse can have a perfect, romantic day that celebrates who you are as a couple.