Year-by-year anniversary gifts, from first year to 47th milestone
Pick by year, then choose traditional, modern, or personal: paper for year one, silver for 25, and books or poetry for the 47th peace anniversary.
The custom began in Victorian-era United Kingdom in the 1800s before spreading to the United States.
1. First anniversary: paper
For the partner who saves every note, paper is the cleanest place to start, whether that means a handwritten letter, a custom photo book, or a framed vow excerpt. Expect about $20 to $100.
2. Second anniversary: cotton
Cotton works best for the person who loves comfort, so think monogrammed pillowcases, a soft robe, or a well-made throw. It usually runs $40 to $150.
3. Third anniversary: leather
Leather suits someone who likes objects that age well, such as a watch strap, valet tray, or notebook cover. Budget roughly $75 to $300.
4. Fourth anniversary: fruit or flowers
This is the year for freshness, so send a beautiful fruit basket, a favorite local bouquet, or both together. Around $30 to $125 buys something polished.
5. Fifth anniversary: wood
Wood is ideal for the partner who values permanence, whether that is a carved keepsake box, a serving board, or a slim picture frame. Prices often land between $40 and $250.
6. Sixth anniversary: candy or iron
Choose candy for the sweet tooth or iron for the cook, with a gourmet confection box on one side and a cast-iron skillet on the other. Most good versions cost $25 to $100.
7. Seventh anniversary: wool or copper
Wool says warmth, so a cashmere throw or a heritage knit is the right move for the person who always reaches for layers. Copper leans more sculptural, and a mug set or hammered vase usually falls in the $50 to $180 range.
8. Eighth anniversary: bronze or pottery
Bronze feels right for a homebody who likes decorative objects, while pottery suits the one who notices handmade texture. A bronze tray or a studio-made bowl set generally costs $60 to $200.
9. Ninth anniversary: pottery
A hand-thrown vase, a mug pairing from a local ceramicist, or a pottery class for two keeps this year personal. Most options sit around $50 to $220.
10. Tenth anniversary: tin or aluminum
Tin and aluminum are made for practical keepsakes, like a monogrammed box, a bar set, or a brushed-metal watch case. Budget $40 to $150.
11. Eleventh anniversary: steel
Steel is a natural choice for the partner who appreciates tools done well, from a chef’s knife to a steel-frame desk accessory. Expect $60 to $250.
12. Twelfth anniversary: silk or linen
Silk pillowcases, a slip dress, or linen bedding make this year feel quietly indulgent. Prices run $75 to $250.
13. Thirteenth anniversary: lace
Lace works best as an accent, not a costume, so think a lace-trimmed handkerchief, scarf, or heirloom-style lingerie piece. Around $50 to $200 buys something elegant.
14. Fourteenth anniversary: ivory
Because real ivory is not the answer, translate the theme into ivory-toned stationery, bone china, or mother-of-pearl details. Ivory-toned stationery, bone china, or mother-of-pearl details cost roughly $40 to $180.
15. Fifteenth anniversary: crystal
Crystal suits a partner who loves a polished table or a serious bar cart, so a decanter, vase, or engraved ornament is a strong choice. Most thoughtful versions cost $100 to $500.
16. Sixteenth anniversary: wax
Wax is the year for candles, but make them feel special with a custom scent label or a vessel they will reuse. Good options land around $25 to $80.
17. Seventeenth anniversary: furniture
This is the year for a useful piece of the home, like a side table, reading chair, or bench that fixes a space in one move. Expect $200 to $1,500, and contribution gifts work well if you are buying as a couple or family.
18. Eighteenth anniversary: porcelain
Porcelain is beautiful when it is used, so a tea set, catchall dish, or pair of decorative plates is more satisfying than a display-only object. A well-chosen piece usually costs $80 to $300.
19. Nineteenth anniversary: bronze
Bronze leans artful, which makes it ideal for a sculptural tray, frame, or small object that sits where they see it every day. Most pieces run $75 to $250.
20. Twentieth anniversary: china
China is the milestone for a dinner service, a pair of hand-painted plates, or a single statement serving piece. Around $100 to $400 buys something memorable.
21. Twenty-first anniversary: brass or nickel
Brass gives you warmth, nickel gives you polish, and both work well in lamps, bar tools, or desk accessories. Budget $50 to $250, then choose a shape that matches the room where it will live.
22. Twenty-second anniversary: copper
Copper feels especially good for someone who cooks or mixes drinks, so cookware, mugs, or a hammered bowl are all strong bets. Most gifts fall between $75 and $250.
23. Twenty-third anniversary: silver plate
Silver plate is made for trays, picture frames, and serving pieces that will come out for company. Expect $150 to $500.
24. Twenty-fourth anniversary: musical instruments
This year rewards the music lover, whether you buy the instrument itself, a lesson package, or a beautifully made accessory. Prices range from about $100 to $600.
25. Twenty-fifth anniversary: silver
Silver remains one of the most meaningful milestones, so jewelry, cufflinks, or a refined serving piece all fit. Budget $150 to $1,500.
26. Twenty-sixth anniversary: pictures
Think framed photographs, a curated album, or a commissioned print that turns a memory into décor. Around $40 to $200 is enough for something elegant.
27. Twenty-seventh anniversary: sculpture
Sculpture is for the partner who likes art with presence, whether that is a small bronze form, a ceramic figure, or a custom piece. Prices commonly sit between $100 and $500.
28. Twenty-eighth anniversary: orchids
Orchids are the rare flower year that can last, which makes them feel more considered than a standard bouquet. A beautiful plant or long-lasting arrangement usually costs $60 to $250.
29. Twenty-ninth anniversary: furniture
This is another home-centered year, so choose a lamp, accent chair, or storage piece that solves a real problem. Expect $300 to $2,000.
30. Thirtieth anniversary: pearl
Pearl is elegant without trying too hard, which is why earrings, a strand, or mother-of-pearl accessories remain such reliable gifts. Budget $150 to $700.
31. Thirty-first anniversary: timepieces
Timepieces are an especially fitting choice here, since this year is about marking the time you have built together. A watch or tabletop clock generally costs $100 to $600.
32. Thirty-second anniversary: bronze
Bronze returns with a more mature eye, so think art objects, bookends, or a desk piece that looks better with age. Most options fall between $75 and $300, and the finish should feel substantial rather than shiny.
33. Thirty-third anniversary: iron
Iron is strong and straightforward, which makes it a good match for cookware, fireplace tools, or forged décor. Around $60 to $250 buys quality.
34. Thirty-fourth anniversary: opal
Opal works best in jewelry, where its color shift can do the talking. Expect $100 to $400.
35. Thirty-fifth anniversary: coral
Because natural coral deserves care, treat this year as coral-colored or coral-inspired rather than literal reef material. A bracelet, scarf, or home object in that palette usually costs $80 to $300.
36. Thirty-sixth anniversary: bone china
Bone china is the year for a tea service, dessert plates, or a single elegant vase with real heft. Most gifts run $100 to $400.
37. Thirty-seventh anniversary: alabaster
Alabaster shines as a lamp, bowl, or decorative vessel because the material’s softness is the point. Budget $75 to $250.
38. Thirty-eighth anniversary: beryl
Beryl is one of the more interpretive years, so lean into beryl-toned jewelry or a gem-hued object in green-blue shades. A thoughtful piece usually costs $100 to $500.
39. Thirty-ninth anniversary: lace
Lace returns with more restraint, so consider a refined scarf, table linen, or framed textile detail. Around $60 to $200 is enough.
40. Fortieth anniversary: ruby
Ruby is a major milestone and deserves real presence, whether that means ruby jewelry, a red stone accent, or a watch with a deep garnet dial. Expect $250 to $3,000.
41. Forty-first anniversary: land
Land is symbolic more than literal for most couples, so a garden plan, a framed map, or a contribution to a cabin dream makes sense. If you are making a real purchase, the range can start around $100 and move far higher.
42. Forty-second anniversary: improved real estate
This is the year to improve the home you already share, with a renovation contribution, a new backsplash, or a bathroom refresh. Budgets vary widely, but $250 and up is a reasonable starting point.
43. Forty-third anniversary: travel
Travel gifts should make the next trip easier, from a weekend booking to a leather passport holder and custom itinerary box. Expect $100 to $2,500 depending on whether you are gifting a small escape or the whole itinerary.
44. Forty-fourth anniversary: groceries
Groceries may sound humble, but they make a lovely gift when the basket is filled with exceptional pantry items, wine, olive oil, or a month of delivery credit. Around $75 to $250 is enough.
45. Forty-fifth anniversary: sapphire
Sapphire is deep, elegant, and unmistakably milestone-worthy, so jewelry is the natural route, though a navy leather accessory can also work. Budget $200 to $5,000.
46. Forty-sixth anniversary: poetry
A signed collection, a custom poem, or a handwritten anthology of lines that mean something to your relationship gives this year real intimacy. Most gifts cost $50 to $200.
47. Forty-seventh anniversary: books, the Peace anniversary
The 47th wedding anniversary is often called the Peace anniversary, and books or poetry are the traditional gift. A first edition, a curated shelf of favorite titles, or a bound collection of letters usually runs $25 to $150.
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