What Are the Best Gift Ideas for Each Wedding Anniversary Milestone?

Anniversaries are a time to celebrate love, cherish relationships, and reflect on the beautiful memories we've created—and will continue to create—with the person we've chosen to share our lives with.

While gifts aren't always necessary for every anniversary, it's common to give them, and certain years are traditionally associated with specific gift themes. We have some suggestions for how to incorporate jewelry into each of these themes, and we think you (and your spouse) are going to really love them. 

1st Anniversary: Paper

Traditionally the first anniversary is the gift of paper, and this can be interpreted in a variety of different ways. A few obvious examples of a paper anniversary gift are: greeting card, notebook, book, or money. But if you’d like to incorporate jewelry into the paper anniversary, we have some suggestions. A beautiful piece of jewelry can be accompanied by a greeting card or letter and wrapped in wrapping paper. You can also send your spouse a paper invitation to join you for a date night, where you will present them with the jewelry. 

2nd Anniversary: Cotton

The traditional gift for the second anniversary is cotton, which represents comfort and the joining of your lives together. To gear this towards a jewelry gift, you can give your spouse the jewelry inside of a cotton pouch, or you can gift a watch with a cotton band. You can even craft a handmade bracelet with cotton string and beads, customizing it for your relationship with initials and symbols that elicit beautiful memories you’ve shared. 

3rd Anniversary: Leather

The third anniversary gift is typically leather, which is often seen in the form of briefcases, purses, wallets, keychains, or belts. It's also easy to incorporate leather into a jewelry gift. Similar to cotton, there are many bracelets and watch bands crafted from leather, which make wonderful gifts for the man in your life. There are also leather cords that can be used to wear a pendant or a charm on a bracelet. Another option would be to give your spouse a leather jewelry box to store their jewelry collection. 

5th Anniversary: Wood

Wood is the traditional gift for the fifth anniversary, symbolizing the strength and roots of your relationship. Common choices include customized cutting boards or coasters, wood art, and decorated boxes. A few jewelry options for the wood anniversary are wood bracelets, jewelry with a wood inlay, or a wooden jewelry box.

10th Anniversary: Aluminum

The 10th anniversary is the gift of aluminum, which usually takes the form of a trinket, such as wall art, a keychain, or other household items that can be made of this material. While aluminum is not used much for jewelry, you can consider jewelry with a metal that has a similar look to aluminum, such as white gold, silver, or platinum. Another option would be a jewelry box made of aluminum, but lined in a soft material to keep the jewelry safe from damage. 

15th Anniversary: Crystal

The 15th anniversary is the year of the crystal, which tends to be one of the most popular for jewelry, naturally. Diamond rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets remain some of the most common choices for this gift. A more budget friendly option would be jewelry adorned with Swarovski crystals or cubic zirconia. A good gift option for men would be cufflinks or a watch with crystal details on the face. 

20th Anniversary: China

The 20th anniversary gift is china, which usually means that the couple will select a set of china dishes together for when they host formal meals at their home. This is a bit of a dated tradition, as nowadays it is less common for people to have fancy china. A more modern way to interpret this into jewelry would be to select a piece that features ceramic accents or patterns often found on china.

25th Anniversary: Silver

The 25th anniversary is called the silver anniversary. It is one of the most obvious when it comes to what type of gift to buy. Of course, when it comes to silver there are many options. You could choose to purchase a set of silverware made of real silver to go with the china you purchased on your 20th anniversary. But if you’re geared towards jewelry, the options are endless–a silver ring, necklace, bracelet, earrings, keychain, locket. Or for him, consider cufflinks, a watch, or bracelet interwoven with leather or other materials.

30th Anniversary: Pearl

The traditional gift for the 30th anniversary is pearls, which symbolize timeless beauty and enduring love. Pearl jewelry is available in endless options, so you’ll find plenty to choose from. Available in a variety of colors—white, gray, gold, black, and even green—and styles like Tahitian or Freshwater, pearls offer incredible versatility. They also come in different shapes, from classic round to unique baroque or drop shapes, and in various lengths, making them ideal for layering or matching any wardrobe.  

40th Anniversary: Ruby

Ruby is the suggested gift for the 40th anniversary and is the perfect way to represent the passion in your relationship. Ruby earrings, a pendant, or ring can be a beautiful choice. Even more special is a custom ruby jewelry piece, designed by you with the assistance of a master jeweler. 

50th Anniversary: Gold

The 50th anniversary is the golden anniversary–and rightly so! Any type of gold jewelry would be a beautiful and significant way to honor the 50 years you’ve spent with your partner. Consider a gold ring, bracelet, or pendant. For the man in your life, we can suggest a gold watch or tie bar. This may even be a fun time to design gold anniversary rings together that can be worn as an alternate option to your regular wedding rings. 

Anniversary milestones are important to celebrate with the one you love, and the most meaningful part is simply spending it together. The traditional milestone gift suggestions are simply a broad guideline and can be interpreted in any way that is the most meaningful for your specific relationship. Whether you choose a more traditional approach or incorporate jewelry into your milestone gift, either way will be beautiful. And if you choose to create a new tradition all on your own, even more perfect!