Traditional Gifts for Wedding Anniversaries

In 1922 Emily Post wrote her first etiquette book in which she suggested traditional anniversary gifts for the first, fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth and fiftieth wedding anniversaries. Realizing the importance of wedding anniversaries and the growing trend for family and friends to give traditional anniversary gifts, in 1957 Ms. Post expanded the list to include more anniversary years. The gift list has not changed very much during the past 50 years. It suggests recommended gifts for the first 15 years and for every five years after that. As evidenced in the list below, traditional anniversary gifts for the early years of marriage are inexpensive and more practical than gifts for the later years. Whether giving a token gift of cotton (2nd), wood (5th), iron (6th) or tin (10th), or a more luxurious traditional anniversary gift of silver (25th), gold (50th) or a diamond (60th), acknowledging a couple's anniversary is what really matters.

One of the most celebrated anniversaries is a couple's first anniversary.  It marks the end of a year filled with new discoveries and begins a new year of continued hopes and dreams for the future. 

The traditional anniversary gift for the first year is paper.  Paper has been used for centuries to communicate and impart information.  In the context of a 1st anniversary gift, paper can be used for a photograph of a couple on their anniversary day, perhaps at their favorite restaurant.  Having a photo of their first apartment or house also will be fun to look back on when they celebrate future anniversaries.  Stationery is a traditional paper gift for a 1st anniversary.  Most importantly, paper can be used to convey a message of love to a husband or wife on a very special day of their lives. 

For a perfect gift to celebrate a paper anniversary, visit our 1st anniversary section. You will find personalized love poems specifically for a 1st anniversary.  Each poem is presented on 8 x 10 parchment paper and is printed in calligraphy style lettering.  If you would like to have the Poetry Gift framed, there are stylish frames to choose from:  silver metallic, modern black wood, and acrylic musical frame.  There is also an optional cut out opening for a treasured photograph.  Make sure you see the poetry rose domes - glass dome on wooden base with a personalized poem surrounded by preserved real roses. The best thing about a Poetry Gift is that it can be framed and displayed so that a husband or a wife can read it time and time again and feel the love long after their anniversary is just a sweet memory.