Gifts: Anniversary Gifts

The reason wedding anniversary gifts start simply and grow in value – paper for year one and gold for the 50th – is because the order of gifts reflects the investment that the couple puts into the marriage.

Today, there is a modern counterpart to every traditional gift, so you are limited only by your imagination. Clocks are the new paper for first anniversaries. What was once wood for the fifth anniversary is now silver. The eleventh anniversary used to call for steel, and now the modern alternative is jewelry. The latter is probably the biggest category for female recipients – from pearls and silver to diamonds.

Men, meanwhile, often enjoy gifts that engage their hobbies, from mountain biking to skiing and grilling. A rare or vintage wine from a meaningful year, such as your anniversary, would make an excellent addition to a wine collector’s cellar, as would a set of fine crystal stemware. Ultimately, the best anniversary presents are the ones the couple can enjoy together.