Anniversary's are a special time. In Wedding lore these items were chosen to help make those milestones memorable and attainable. In your first years of marriage money is tight and therefore the suggestions for a gift are less expensive. Now this does not mean CHEAP. Guys paper does not mean just a card or piece of paper with "love ya!" on it. Put some though into it. Also it is thought that each item was chosen for its integrity. For example paper wears out much sooner than steel.
Let these ideas be your inspiration and use that creative mind!! Creativity and thoughtfulness keep love alive!!!
Year and Suggested Item
Traditional Ideas
1st - Paper A watercolor painted on paper, or announce your love to your spouse with an article or ad in the paper, then have it special delivered to them at work or home.
2nd - Cotton Egyptian Cotton Sheets perfect for amore'
3rd - Leather This one could be fun! Use your imagintion or buy them a watch w/ an enclosed card that says "When I am with you time stands still" or engrave the message on the back of the watch.
4th - Flowers Blow her away ask the florsit to recreate her bouquet from your wedding. Ladies present him a bouquet of flowers featuring colors from his favorite sports team, throw a bag of assorted treats in there as well.
5th - Wood Carve your initials in a tree (make sure the tree is yours of course no vandalism please) or maybe relive your island honeymoon and create a romantic retreat your gift could be a bamboo flower vase with a romantic message carved or burned into it.
6th - Sugar Yumm, Have your wedding cake recreated. Surprise them with a second reception, include your bridal party for a night of fun.
7th - Copper Create an outdoor sign for your home. Copper takes on a lovely patina as it ages. Copper sheets are available at most craft or hobby stores. Have a photo from your wedding and a more recent photo of you and your spouse matted on a sheet of copper and then frame it.
8th - Bronze Bronzed baby shoes! A classic item in most homes. No baby ok have something memorable and precious bronzed. Be creative. I once saw a framed shadow box full of seashells that the husband snuck out and collected everyday the month before his 8th year anniversary. He had them all bronzed placed them in the shadow box and presented them to his seashell loving wife.
9th - Pottery Remember that scene in "Ghost" with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze creating the pottery together? Take your spouse to a ceramics or pottery class, see what you two can create together. Native Americans use a vase that is made of course of clay in thier traditional ceremonies. This vase hase two spouts one for the bride and one for the grrom. They take turns drinking from the vase as part of the ceremony. Present one to your spouse.
10th - Tin Use tin cans to decorate your table, tie some to your spouses car before they go to work or surprise them at work. Create a treat basket from a large clean coffe can (be suure to file edges done, no sharp edges please) or present a thoughtful gift in a tin can. Use an unused paint can. These can be purchased at home supply stores or paint stores.
11th - Steel A steel box filled with momentos or photos from your anniversaries pst or from the 11 years you have had together. Create a time capsule to be dug up on your 25th anniversary.
12th - Silk Embroider the wedding date on a silk bath robe, present the robe with a card stating you are taking your spouse to a lovely resort, or your favorite getaway spot.
13th - Lace Lace that is a hard one for a fella. But ladies think outside the box. Guys wear lace Shoe Lace that is! Get him a pair of walking shoes or golf shoes and go take him golfing. Gentlemen buy her something frilly make her feel as beautiful as you thougt she was the first time you saw her. And for extra brownie points mention it!
More ideas to come check back!!!!!!!!!!!
14th -Ivory
15th - Crystal
20th - China
25th - Silver
30th - Pearl
40th - Ruby
45th - Sapphire
50th - Gold
55th - Emerald
60th - Diamond
I forgot my Wedding anniversary this year what should I do ?
Pray for forgiveness!
If your partner is upset by this then we would recommend a period of groveling followed by a period of penance for no less than one month !!
In this day and age it is often easy to forget important days such as Anniversaries by all means use a reminder for example set up an account with a florist or gift service to have an appropriate gift sent each year, to help you remember and it is provided only for this purpose. Now yo still need to supply some thought and actually purchase another item or plan a special night.
What are the Anniversaries that are considered major ?
The most major anniversaries are the 25th & 50th, after these come 60th & 75th and then every 5th year (i.e. 5th,10th 15th etc.) with every 10th year being more important than every 5th year.
Q My problem is that I don't know exactly what our children are doing for us...we do know they are having some kind of a celebration but we do not know the particulars. SO, we want to be ready for what ever comes up and not have "egg on our face". I told them what ever they did, please state "No Gifts Please".
An invitation to a celebration does not confer an expectation that gifts are expected the persons company is considered gift enough.
Q Please help us find the right motif color for the 65th wedding anniversary of our grandparents.
A.Use the original wedding colors for this Anniversary. No idea or no actual wedding colors used well ok. Use colors found in the couples home. These are most likely colors they prefer. Take inspiration for beloved items such as a car or prized flower bed.
Q What do you do for the 100th year Anniversary?
A. A 100th Wedding Anniversary is a 10 carat Diamond anniversary. WOW I hope to see this anniversary!
Q I am giving my parents a surprise 25th anniversary party but I have a concern regarding gifts. my mother hates silver! what are some optional gifts i could suggest?
A. I'm afraid I can’t help you much on this one, all roads seem to lead to Silver on this anniversary. I thought that the Gem list for anniversaries may show a different material however this was sterling silver. One thing you could do is recreate the era when they got married and theme gifts on that era. I make it the 70’s which would either be the Glam Rock era or early Disco! Also try and make it a pesonal gift. Keep the decor minimal or no silver. Use themes to avoid your guests being caught in the silver trap!
Q Is there a traditional color for the bride of 50 years to wear?
A. As it is the Golden Anniversary the color is Gold, this doesn’t mean that the outfit has to be all gold you could choose just accessories or anywhere in between. One thing to remember however; is that it is your anniversary and thus etiquette allows you to decide what you want to wear and how you would like to celebrate.
Q What is the proper way to ask for monetary gifts on an invitation for my parents 40th wedding anniversary. They do not want to offend anyone by asking. How can this be placed on the invitation in a nice manner.
A. It's extremely difficult to ask for money on an invitation, most reference books on Anniversary Etiquette say that you should never ask for a monetary gift. One way I've seen round this and was successful was put on the invitation the reason for money, e.g. They are saving for a holiday of a lifetime or what ever the reason and that should you wish to contribute to this then there will be a collection box at the celebration that they can contribute. At the particular event I attended the box was placed prominently but discreetly in a corner of the room and thus you did not feel you had to contribute.
