Your anniversary: The one date other than her birthday that you are absolutely required to remember, and the date that will absolutely put you in the doghouse if you forget. While showing your love and appreciation year round is the most important, tangible gifts are just nice — and anniversary gifts can be crucial to keeping the mystery and romance alive. Whether your sweetheart wants gadget gifts or customized presents, we've got you covered.
The hard part: Being in a long term relationship means a lot of gifts over the years, and finding ways to keep gifts unique might start feeling difficult.
The easy part: Well, it's pretty much a given that the longer you've been together, the nicer the presents get. Plus, anniversaries come with loose guidelines to at least give you a push in the right direction. There will be a traditional theme and a modernized theme for each year (you've probably heard of older couples celebrating a silver or a gold anniversary) but some of them probably shouldn't be taken super literally. Just because your current anniversary's theme is wood does not mean your wife wants a hand-carved rocking chair.
The themes are pretty helpful in getting the creative juices flowing and steering clear of clichés, but where you may need a hand is turning those themes into something she'll actually want — don't worry, we're on top of it. (If nothing else, she'll be impressed by your research.)
Of course, we'll throw in some some non-themed gifts like an iPhone or laptop, because sometimes, proving that you've been listening to her complain about her shitty old device is better than some mushy thing she didn't ask for. Either way, you're bound to have a ton of ideas.
If you've been together for one year:
The traditional theme is paper, and the modern theme is clocks.
The first anniversary is big and new, and sets the precedent for how the rest will go. You get to have one of these every year for the rest of your life, and that is surely something to celebrate. Hitting the sweet spot is crucial here, but there's room to be a little less serious than you could be with more years under your belt.
If you've been together for 2-5 years
Two years: The traditional theme is cotton, the modern theme is china.
Three years: The traditional theme is leather, the modern theme is crystal and glass.
Four years: The traditional theme is fruits and flowers, the modern theme is appliances.
Five years: The traditional theme is wood, the modern theme is silverware.
If you've been together for 6-9 years
Six years: The traditional theme is candy, and the modern theme is wood.
Seven years: The traditional theme is copper, and the modern theme is a desk set.
Eight years: The traditional theme is bronze, and the modern theme is linens and lace.
Nine years: The traditional theme is pottery, and the modern theme is leather.
More than 10 years
10 years: The traditional theme is tin and the modern theme is diamond jewelry.
11 years: The traditional theme is steel and the modern theme is fashion jewelry.
12 years: The traditional theme is silk and linens and the modern theme is pearls.
13 years: The traditional theme is lace and the modern theme is textiles and furs.
14 years: The traditional theme is animal print and the modern theme is gold jewelry.
15 years: The traditional theme is crystals and the modern theme is watches.
Ten years is the first double-digit anniversary, and that's a pretty big "holy shit" moment. While you've loved growing closer and making big life decisions together over the past decade, it's still a decade — and it might have you feeling a bit rusty. Perhaps a better idea for this milestone anniversary is to give your relationship a little facelift through glamorous gifts and spontaneous adventures.
If you've been together for more than 20 years
20 years: The traditional theme is china and the modern theme is platinum.
25 years: Both the traditional and modern themes are silver.
30 years: Both the traditional and modern themes are pearl.
40 years: Both the traditional and modern themes are ruby.
50 years: Both the traditional and modern themes are gold.
60 years: Both the traditional and modern themes are diamond.
Congrats — you two are killing it at the whole "marriage" thing (and that's a pretty big feat nowadays.) But themes aside, when you've been married for 20 plus years, anything is on the table as long as it's lavish. Just shower that woman in diamonds, or anything that she's mentioned wanting but dubbed "too expensive." No amount of money can show her how you truly feel about her after all of those wonderful years together, but it sure does help.
Just need a regular, non-anniversary gift? Check out our guide on the best gifts for her.
