Every anniversary year has a traditional gift attached to it, a tradition that goes back further than most people realize. Paper for the first, wood for the fifth, tin for the tenth, all the way up to gold and diamond for the milestones everyone throws a party for. The list below is the version most commonly used in the US, though it does shift slightly depending on who published it. Use it as a starting point, not a rulebook.
The Traditional and Modern Anniversary Gift Chart
| Year | Traditional | Modern |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | Clocks |
| 2nd | Cotton | China |
| 3rd | Leather | Crystal, Glass |
| 4th | Fruit, Flowers | Appliances |
| 5th | Wood | Silverware |
| 6th | Candy, Iron | Wood |
| 7th | Wool, Copper | Desk Sets |
| 8th | Bronze, Pottery | Linens, Lace |
| 9th | Pottery, Willow | Leather |
| 10th | Tin, Aluminum | Diamond Jewelry |
| 11th | Steel | Fashion Jewelry |
| 12th | Silk, Linen | Pearl |
| 13th | Lace | Textiles, Furs |
| 14th | Ivory | Gold Jewelry |
| 15th | Crystal | Watches |
| 20th | China | Platinum |
| 25th | Silver | Silver |
| 30th | Pearl | Diamond |
| 35th | Coral | Jade |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby |
| 45th | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| 50th | Gold | Gold |
| 55th | Emerald | Emerald |
| 60th | Diamond | Diamond |
Your First Anniversary: Paper
Paper marks the first year because the marriage is still new, still being written. It is the easiest year to take literally, a card, a letter, something on actual paper, but it is also the easiest year to make more lasting. A name necklace or a ring carrying the wedding date holds the same idea, something new and personal, without disappearing the way paper does.
Your Fifth Anniversary: Wood
Wood represents a marriage sturdy enough to bend without breaking, five years in. It is one of the most searched anniversary years, and also one of the easiest to overthink. You do not need an actual wooden gift to honor the year. A personalized piece with both your names, or the date itself, marks five years the same way, just in something that will not warp or crack the way wood eventually does.
Your Tenth Anniversary: Tin, Aluminum, or Diamond
The tenth is one of the few years where the modern gift is already jewelry, diamond specifically. We do not set stones, names and dates are our specialty, but the instinct behind it is the same one that has held for a decade: something precious enough to last, with the two of you written into it directly rather than left to a card.
What If You Want Something More Personal Than the List
The traditional and modern lists are a starting point, not a requirement. A lot of couples read them, smile, and then choose something that actually means something to them specifically, a date, a name, an inside joke turned into a word on a ring. That instinct works for any year on the chart, the 3rd as easily as the 25th, and it tends to get kept long after a themed gift has been used up or packed away.
The same goes for anniversary gifts for parents celebrating a milestone of their own. The traditional material still applies, but a piece with their names or the year they married usually means more than the material itself.
Make It Yours
A custom name necklace or a custom name ring can carry a name, a date, or both, in 18K gold plating, Rhodium Silver or 18K rose gold plating. Every plated piece is made on a stainless steel base, not brass, so it is waterproof, durable and hypoallergenic, and backed by a 10 year warranty. Made for you in 7 to 10 days and delivered free within 1 to 2 weeks, anywhere in the world. Type it into our live preview tool first to see the exact design before you order.
If you'd rather have precious metal for a milestone year, most pieces also come in 18K Gold Vermeil: solid 925 sterling silver under real 18K gold. It comes off before swimming, and vermeil rings are made to size.
Shopping specifically for a wife or a husband? We covered personalized jewelry for wife and personalized jewelry for him separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the traditional gift for a 1 year anniversary?
Paper is the traditional first anniversary gift, symbolizing how fresh and new the marriage still is. Clocks are the modern equivalent, marking the time you have built together so far.
What is the traditional gift for a 5 year anniversary?
Wood is the traditional fifth anniversary gift, representing a marriage strong enough to bend without breaking. Silverware is the modern alternative.
What is the traditional gift for a 10 year anniversary?
Tin or aluminum is the traditional tenth anniversary gift, while diamond jewelry is the modern equivalent, making the tenth one of the few years where jewelry is the expected gift.
Do I have to follow the traditional material for the gift to count?
No. The anniversary gift list is a guide, not a rule. Many couples use it as inspiration and then choose something more personal, like jewelry with a name, date, or initial, regardless of that year's official material.
What is a meaningful anniversary gift that is not tied to a specific year?
A personalized piece, a name necklace, a date on a ring, or matching initials on two pieces, works for any year and tends to be kept far longer than a themed gift tied to that year's material.
How long does a personalized anniversary gift take to arrive?
Every piece is made for you in 7 to 10 days, then delivered free within 1 to 2 weeks.