Every wedding anniversary is a chance to celebrate your story together, whether you're marking your first year of marriage or your 60th. Anniversary gift traditions give each year a special theme, from paper for the 1st anniversary and wood for the 5th to silver for the 25th and gold for the 50th.
If you're wondering what anniversary gift theme is associated with each year, use this anniversary gift guide for inspiration. You'll find gift themes for anniversaries from the 1st through the 60th, along with ideas for turning those traditions and themes into meaningful keepsakes.
At The Little Ornament Shop, we especially love anniversary gifts that commemorate a specific year, milestone, or memory. A personalized ornament can become a keepsake that comes back out every Christmas and reminds a couple of the year they celebrated together.
1st–5th Anniversary Gifts
- 1st Anniversary: Paper
- 2nd Anniversary: Cotton
- 3rd Anniversary: Leather
- 4th Anniversary: Fruit or Flowers
- 5th Anniversary: Wood
5th Anniversary Gift: Wood
The traditional 5th anniversary gift is wood, symbolizing strength, stability, and the roots a couple has built together during the first five years of marriage.
A wooden anniversary gift is especially fitting for couples who want something meaningful they can keep for years. A handmade wooden ornament can commemorate the milestone while also becoming part of their Christmas traditions each year.
6th–10th Anniversary Gifts
- 6th Anniversary: Candy or Iron
- 7th Anniversary: Wool or Copper
- 8th Anniversary: Pottery or Bronze
- 9th Anniversary: Willow or Pottery
- 10th Anniversary: Tin or Aluminum
11th–20th Anniversary Gifts
- 11th Anniversary: Steel
- 12th Anniversary: Silk or Linen
- 13th Anniversary: Lace
- 14th Anniversary: Gold Jewelry
- 15th Anniversary: Crystal
- 16th Anniversary: Wax or Silverware
- 17th Anniversary: Furniture
- 18th Anniversary: Porcelain
- 19th Anniversary: Bronze
- 20th Anniversary: China
21st–30th Anniversary Gifts
- 21st Anniversary: Fire (theme)
- 22nd Anniversary: Water (theme)
- 23rd Anniversary: Air (theme)
- 24th Anniversary: Stone (theme)
- 25th Anniversary: Silver
- 26th Anniversary: Art
- 27th Anniversary: Music
- 28th Anniversary: Linens
- 29th Anniversary: Tools
- 30th Anniversary: Pearls
31st–40th Anniversary Gifts
- 31st Anniversary: Travel
- 32nd Anniversary: Bronze
- 33rd Anniversary: Iron
- 34th Anniversary: Food
- 35th Anniversary: Coral
- 36th Anniversary: Antiques
- 37th Anniversary: Books
- 38th Anniversary: Luck (theme)
- 39th Anniversary: Laughter (theme)
- 40th Anniversary: Ruby
41st–50th Anniversary Gifts
- 41st Anniversary: Office or Desk Decor
- 42nd Anniversary: Clocks or Watches
- 43rd Anniversary: Entertainment (theme)
- 44th Anniversary: Electronics (theme)
- 45th Anniversary: Sapphire
- 46th Anniversary: Games
- 47th Anniversary: Garden or Plants
- 48th Anniversary: Home Improvement (theme)
- 49th Anniversary: Copper
- 50th Anniversary: Gold
51st–60th Anniversary Gifts
- 51st Anniversary: Photos or Cameras
- 52nd Anniversary: Bath or Spa (theme)
- 53rd Anniversary: Plastic
- 54th Anniversary: Glass
- 55th Anniversary: Emerald
- 56th Anniversary: Day (theme)
- 57th Anniversary: Night (theme)
- 58th Anniversary: Faith and Hope (theme)
- 59th Anniversary: Charity (theme)
- 60th Anniversary: Diamond
Anniversary gift themes can vary by source. This guide follows Hallmark's year-by-year anniversary list, which combines traditional gift ideas with newer themes for years without widely established traditions.
Our Anniversary Traditions
For our first anniversary, my husband and I took a trip to San Francisco and bought a trolley car ornament. It was the first ornament we purchased as a married couple, and we still hang it on our tree every Christmas. Since then, we’ve made it a tradition to buy an ornament on each trip we take together.
We also have the top tier of our wedding cake recreated every anniversary. We keep the same look on the outside but choose a different cake flavor each year.
Not every anniversary has been elaborate. Our fifth anniversary fell during COVID, and I was very pregnant, so we kept things simple. After 10 years of marriage, I’ve learned that the traditions and small keepsakes are often the things that end up meaning the most.
Celebrate Every Anniversary with Something Meaningful
Whether you're celebrating your 1st anniversary or your 60th, the best gifts are the ones that feel personal to your story. Traditional anniversary themes can be a helpful starting point, but the most meaningful gifts are often the ones that remind you of the memories, milestones, and life you've built together.
A personalized ornament can become a keepsake that comes back out every Christmas and reminds a couple of that special milestone. At The Little Ornament Shop, our handmade ornaments are designed to celebrate the people, places, and moments that matter most.
If you're looking for a special way to commemorate your anniversary, browse our handmade anniversary ornaments and find a keepsake that tells your story.