Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year | 1st – 10th Year of Marriage
If you’re struggling to find cool wedding anniversary gifts by year, here’s the full list that corresponds to the symbolic meanings of each anniversary wedding years – from the very 1st to the mythic 100th.
The anniversary of marriage or the beginning of a relationship is a very special day. Its celebration is a unique way to turn the special date of each next year into a new sincere holiday. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and continues expanding worldwide since the tradition dates to the different meaning of each anniversary of the wedding and set specific ideas for wedding anniversary gifts by year.
I guess most of you know that every wedding anniversary is related to a specific symbol, theme, gemstone, and flower according to their meanings. Traditionally the couple exchanges or receive gifts of a specific material that symbolizes love on the anniversary. Those materials vary from the soft to the hardest.
In the following sequel, I’ve gathered helpful information about each of the wedding anniversaries, both the popular (the traditional ones) and the unconventional ones.
Check out the 1st part of my wedding anniversaries list – from the 1st to the 10th. Get some gift inspiration for your partner, or your celebrating relatives, friends, or parents.
1st Wedding Anniversary: Paper Anniversary
The first year of marriage is the most delicate moment when couples adjust characters, habits and adapt to the new situation of married people. Everything looks more fragile. The relationship is supposed to be unstable and easily ‘torn’. Just like the delicate paper material. So the anniversary is also called the thin paper.
- 1st Anniversary Flower: Carnation (check Carnation flower meaning here)
- 1st Anniversary Gemstone: Mother of Pearl
- 1st Anniversary Color: Yellow
1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts
- Traditional 1st Anniversary Gifts: Paper
- Modern 1st Anniversary Gifts: Clock
1st Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 1st anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 365 days (366 in a leap year!) or 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes, meaning over 31 million seconds!
- During this time the couple would have shared, on average, over 2,500 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or whole 80 continuous days!
Get more 1st wedding anniversary gifts inspiration here and follow my Paper anniversary Pinterest board.
2nd Anniversary: Cotton Anniversary
The soft cotton symbolizes the tender affection between the young couple. Use your imagination when thinking about cotton. Obviously, you’ll never be wrong if the gift is whatever you like from cotton fabric. But why not choose the cotton candy to add an extra sweetness to the celebration?
- 2nd Anniversary Flower: Lily of The Valley
- 2nd Anniversary Gemstone: Garnet
- 2nd Anniversary Color: Red
2nd Wedding Anniversary Gifts
- Traditional 2nd Anniversary Gifts: Cotton
- Modern 2nd Anniversary Gifts: China
2nd Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 2nd anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 730 days or 17,520 hours or 1,051,200 minutes meaning 63 million seconds!
- During these years the couple would have shared, on average, over 5,000 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or 228 continuous days!
Get more 2nd wedding anniversary gifts inspiration here and follow my Cotton anniversary Pinterest board.
3rd Wedding Anniversary: Leather Anniversary
The love of the two strengthens over time. The three years are an important step in marital relations. They have become strong enough, but still as flexible as leather. No wonder leather is the symbolic material for the 3rd year of marriage.
- 3rd Anniversary Flower: Sunflower
- 3rd Anniversary Gemstone: Moonstone
- 3rd Anniversary Color: Light Brown
3rd Wedding Anniversary Gifts
- Traditional 3rd Anniversary Gifts: Leather
- Modern 3rd Anniversary Gifts: Glass
3rd Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 3rd anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 1095 days or 28,280 hours or 1,576,800 minutes which is over 94 million seconds! Over 1,000 days marriage achievement!
- During this time they would have shared, on average, over 8,000 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or 342 continuous days.
Get 3rd wedding anniversary gifts inspiration here and follow my Leather anniversary Pinterest board.
4th Wedding Anniversary: Fruits & Flowers Anniversary
After four years, the relationship begins to blossom and ripen! Just like flowers and fruits! The 4th year anniversary theme is meant to symbolize the blossoming and the continual fruitfulness of the relationship. And it is such a fun theme, too!
- 4th Anniversary Flower: Hydrangea
- 4th Anniversary Gemstone: Blue Topaz
- 4th Anniversary Color: Green/Light Blue
4th Wedding Gifts
- Traditional 4th Anniversary Gifts: Fruits & Flowers
- Modern 4th Anniversary Gifts: Appliances
4th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 4th anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for1,460 days or 35,040 hours or 2,102,400 minutes which is over 126 million seconds!
- During these 4 years, the happy couple would have shared, on average, over 10,000 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or about 1 year 3 months!
5th Anniversary: Wooden Anniversary
There are a few reasons for a couple to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary, obviously reaching the first milestone of their big day, but also to look forward to the next five years. For this period (5 years, hooray!), the relationship has become mature enough to be associated with the stability of a tree. Therefore, the 5th wedding anniversary is popular as Wooden Anniversary. Strength and wisdom will continue to grow and flourish just like a tree and its roots continue to grow. This is actually the first anniversary to celebrate with guests. With a party held outdoors in nature.
- 5th Anniversary Flower: Daisy
- 5th Anniversary Gemstone: Rose Quartz
- 5th Anniversary Color: Pink / Turquoise
5th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
- Traditional 5th Anniversary Gifts: Wood
- Modern 5th Anniversary Gifts: Silverware
5th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 5th anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 1,825 days or 43,800 hours or 2,682,000 minutes which is over 157 million seconds!
- During these 5 years, the couple would have shared, on average, over 13,700 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or about 1 year 7 months!
6th Anniversary: Iron / Candy Anniversary
The traditional symbol of the 6th wedding anniversary is Iron. The durable Iron is actually a good synonym for this anniversary – it means that the couple has resisted many family storms and various obstacles.
Personally, I like the candy topic even more. Because candy is yummy and serves as a reminder to keep the romance sweet and alive.
- 6th Anniversary Flower: Calla Lily
- 6th Anniversary Gemstone: Amethyst
- 6th Anniversary Color: White
6th Wedding Gifts
- Traditional 6th Anniversary Gifts: Candy / Iron
- Modern 6th Anniversary Gifts: Wood
6th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 6th anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 2,190 days or 52,560 hours or 3,153,600 minutes which is over 189 million seconds!
- During this time of 6 years, the couple would have shared, on average, over 16,400 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or about 1 year 11 months
7th Anniversary: Wool/ Copper Anniversary
This 7th anniversary is related with copper or wool. Both copper and wool are similar for their producing heat ability. Therefore, they both represent warmth and comfort, safety and security. Just like the necessary ingredients for a healthy marriage.
As we all know, the first seven years are very important to one person. Much as being true for the marriage union. Many people consider the first 7 years of a marriage being particularly critical in marital relationships. Meaning that if the marriage existed until this anniversary, there is no danger for the future family life (as a couple). And as a bet for the future happiness, the spouses exchange coins or vessels made of this precious metal.
- 7th Anniversary Flower: Freesia
- 7th Anniversary Gemstone: Onyx
- 7th Anniversary Color: Off White
7th Wedding Gifts
- Traditional 7th Anniversary Gifts: Copper/Wool
- Modern 7th Anniversary Gifts: Deskset
7th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 7th anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 2,555 days or 61,320 hours or 3,679,200 minutes which is over 220 million seconds!
- During this time the couple would have shared, on average, over 19,100 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or about 2 years, 2 months!
8th Anniversary: Bronze Wedding Anniversary
Bronze is a blend of copper and tin and symbolizes the union of two lives. Note also that the figure 8 (turned horizontally) becomes the infinity symbol!
- 8th Anniversary Flower: Lilac
- 8th Anniversary Gemstone: Tourmaline
- 8th Anniversary Color: Bronze
8th Wedding Gifts
- Traditional 8thy Anniversary Gifts: Bronze
- Modern 8th Anniversary Gifts: Linens
8th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 8th anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married for 2,920 days or 70,080 hours or 4,204,800 minutes. Meaning over 252 million seconds!
- During this time they would have shared, on average, over 21,900 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or about 2 years, 6 months!
9th Wedding Anniversary: Pottery Anniversary
All ceramic products (known as pottery) are molded from a lump of raw clay and turned into beautiful pieces of art. They are colorful, practical and charming. Much as a marriage is shaped by experiences to create a life together. But if we don’t take care of the ceramic goods the proper way, they can easily break. It is also a nine-year-old marriage – sculpting hard and looking stable, but it can easily crack. A representation of the marriage itself.
- 9th Anniversary Flower: Bird of Paradise
- 9th Anniversary Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli
- 9th Anniversary Color: Terracotta
9th Wedding Gifts
- Traditional 9th Anniversary Gifts: Pottery
- Modern 9th Anniversary Gifts: Leather Goods
9th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- On the 9th anniversary of a marriage, the couple would have been married f3,285 days or 78,840 hours or 4,730,400 minutes which is over 283 million seconds!
- During this time they would have shared, on average, over 24,600 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or about 2 years, 10 months!
10th Wedding Anniversary: Tin Anniversary
Did you know that tin was once used to protect iron from rust and corrosion? Similar, after the first Decade, a couple has proven their ability to protect each other and fight life’s battles together. The tin is also symbolizing how a successful marriage needs to be flexible, stable and can take hits of life without being broken
- 10th Anniversary Flower: Daffodil
- 10th Anniversary Gemstone: Crystal
- 10th Anniversary Color: Silver / Blue
10th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
- Traditional 10th Anniversary Gifts: Tin, Aluminum
- Modern 10th Anniversary Gifts: Diamond
10th Year Anniversary in Numbers
- The 10th anniversary of a marriage means a Decade of marriage which equates to about 3,652 days or 87,600 hours or 5,256,000 minutes which is over 315 million seconds.
- During this time they would have shared, on average, over 27,000 hours of snuggle time (sleeping!) or 1,140 continuous days!
The celebration of each anniversary of marriage (or the beginning of a relationship) in a special way is a medieval tradition, fortunately still alive. Not because of the marketing needs, but because of symbolizing love and affection.
Are you curious to find the meanings of the next 10 anniversaries – from the 11th to the 20th? Here we go!
Happy celebration!
Resource: Wikipedia, Infoplease, Smart Conversation calculator