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Wedding Anniversaries

Anniversary

Wedding anniversaries exist to celebrate another year of marital commitment. Celebrating anniversaries is a great way to keep a long-lasting love feeling fresh and new. Anniversaries are a great time to reflect and reinvigorate marriage relationships. Anniversaries allow you and your significant other to focus on the love you share and the life you’ve built together.

 

Anniversary Gift-Giving

Year

US

UK

Modern List*

1

Paper

Cotton

Clock

2

Cotton

Paper

China

3

Leather

Leather

Crystal, Glass

4

Fruit & Flowers

Linen, Silk

Appliances

5

Wood

Wood

Silverware

6

Iron

Sugar

Wooden Objects

7

Wool, Copper

Woollen

Dest Sets

8

Bronze

Salt

Linens, Lace

9

Pottery

Copper

Leather Goods

10

Tin/Aluminum

Tin

Diamond Jewelry

11

Steel

Steel

Fashion Jewelry

12

Silk

Silk, Fine Linen

Pearls, Colored Gems

13

Lace

Lace

Textiles, Fur

14

Ivory

Ivory

Gold, Jewelry

15

Crystal

Crystal

Watches

20

China

China

Platinum

25

Silver

Silver

Silver

30

Pearl

Pearl

Diamond

35

Coral, Jade

Coral

Jade

40

Ruby

Ruby

Ruby

45

Sapphire

Sapphire

Sapphire

50

Gold

Gold

Gold

*curated by the Chicago Public Library

 

The tradition of giving yearly gifts has evolved over the years. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval times when the Germans would present their wives with silver and gold wreaths on the 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. The 20th century ushered in the nuclear family, and with it came a more exhaustive list of yearly gift ideas. Giving an anniversary gift from the traditional list can be a fun, but the pressure to give good gifts can understandably become overwhelming. Focusing on intentional intimacy is perhaps the most priceless of all gifts.

 

Anniversary Travel Trend

A recent travel trend seems to be taking hold with young marriages. Many couples are foregoing the traditional list and creating their own destination celebration lists. Each couple is unique so a list of places to visit based on years wouldn’t work so well. One way to create a travel anniversary list might be to start with a place that has sentimental connection for both individuals, then make separate lists of places near and far. Compare the lists and determine what locations both parties wish to include. Have fun with it and don’t feel pressured to spend more than you can afford.

 

Celebrating anniversaries is a great way to keep a long-lasting love feeling fresh and new. While it’s true that you should value your spouse every day, it’s easy to fall into a comfortable routine. Anniversaries allow you and your significant other to take a step back and remember why you’re in love and celebrate all that you are and all you do for each other.

 

 

Content Editor: Bethany Bayes

 

Anniversary