Wedding Anniversary gifts are not a knew concept, but did you know that there is a theme to each year? This is one of the few traditions I absolutely adore (and my husband crushes each year).
The tradition goes each year is a new milestone that you have grown together and use as a theme to gift your spouse with.
Find your Wedding Anniversary year and see what your gift theme is!
Year 14 Wedding Gift Revised: Why It’s No Longer Ivory
Traditionally, the 14th wedding anniversary was associated with ivory, a symbol of rare beauty and strength. But times have changed, and thankfully, so have the traditions.
Ivory is no longer considered an appropriate or ethical gift due to the devastating impact of the ivory trade on elephant populations. In its place, a new theme has emerged: the elephant itself. Not as a material, but as a symbol—of wisdom, loyalty, and memory. It’s a meaningful shift that honors the spirit of the original tradition without the harm.
You might also notice that bronze appears more than once in the anniversary gift lists—typically in both Year 8 and again around Year 19. That’s no mistake. Bronze is known for how it develops character over time. The idea is that, just like your marriage, it becomes richer and more resilient the longer it’s weathered.
Many of these symbolic traditions trace back to the Victorian era, when romanticism and ritual were deeply woven into marriage culture—and anniversary milestones started to take on a life of their own.
Read more about the Ivory and Elephants here.
Fun Facts About Where Anniversary Gifts Came From
You know those traditional gift lists that say “paper for year 1” and “silver for year 25”? They didn’t just pop out of nowhere. The story behind them is actually pretty fascinating.
It goes way back.
The idea of marking anniversaries with symbolic gifts dates back to medieval Germany. Husbands would give their wives a silver wreath for their 25th anniversary and a gold wreath for their 50th. That’s where the terms “silver anniversary” and “golden anniversary” come from.
Read more
The Victorians made it a thing.
In the 1800s, when romantic traditions were all the rage, the Victorians started assigning symbolic gifts to more anniversary years—not just 25 and 50. This era helped standardize the idea that every anniversary should come with a special kind of gift.
Source
Modern lists got a glow-up.
In the 20th century, especially in the U.S., the gift list expanded even more thanks to—you guessed it—marketing. Jewelers and department stores started promoting gift guides that went year-by-year to encourage annual celebrating. Now we’ve got lists for each of the first 25 years and milestone years after that.
Learn more
Paper was first on purpose.
Year one is paper because it represents the blank page of your life together. It’s delicate but full of possibility—symbolic and a little poetic, right?
Yearly Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas
The original purpose of the yearly gift list? To spark inspiration, not stress. These symbolic materials are meant to help you think creatively about how to celebrate each year together. Here are a few fun and modern ways to bring those traditions to life:
- Paper (Year 1) – Frame a favorite photo or gift a personalized print.
- Cotton (Year 2) – Upgrade your loungewear game or buy matching robes.
- Leather (Year 3) – A luxe leather-bound photo album or a new bag/wallet.
- Bronze (Year 8 or 19) – Toast with bronze mugs and Moscow Mules.
- Wax (Modern Year 16) – A curated candle set, wax seal stationery, or even a visit to a wax figure museum for fun.
- Copper (Year 7) – If you’re feeling practical, upgrade your plumbing fixtures. (Hey, it’s romantic if it’s shared.)
- Pottery (Year 9) – Book a couples pottery class—or gift handmade ceramics.
- Wood (Year 5) – Tackle a home project like staining the deck or building something together.
- Coral (Traditional Year 35) – Take a trip somewhere tropical instead of gifting actual coral (which is endangered).
- Porcelain (Year 20) – Refresh your space with new porcelain bathroom fixtures or dinnerware.
Keep in mind, it’s less about sticking to the rules and more about making memories. A meaningful gift doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to feel like you!
“Get You to Your Gold”
One of my favorite phrases growing up was, “Get you to your Gold”—a heartfelt nod to reaching your 50th wedding anniversary, also known as the golden anniversary.
I remember hearing it from my grandparents, in old movies, and even in Sex and the City—like the scene when Charlotte marries Harry, and the sentiment of lifelong love takes center stage.
While many couples use their golden anniversary as a reason to host a vow renewal or throw a big celebration, I say: why wait? Every milestone—big or small—is worth celebrating. Whether it’s five years or fifty, your story deserves to be honored in a way that feels meaningful to you.
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