After the Wedding

Perfect Anniversary Gift Ideas For Your First 5 Years Of Marriage

One of the trickiest aspects of marriage is coming up with new ways to express your love. After all, there is only so much jewellery a girl can wear (or is there?!) With birthdays, Christmas, and anniversaries, it’s hard to come up with unique gifts year after year. Sound familiar? Well, we might just have the answer. Remember, every anniversary comes with a traditional gift associated with it. You may know that the 50th anniversary is celebrated with Gold, hence Golden anniversary. But did you know that it extends through every year? Here’s a complete list of the first five years, and some beautiful gift ideas to go with it.

Perfect Anniversary Gift Ideas For Your First 5 Years Of Marriage

1st Anniversary – Paper

Paper marks the first anniversary and, while it may sound unexciting, there are some great gift ideas. Our favourite choice is a stunning framed photograph. You can never go wrong with photos, especially from the wedding. Take this opportunity to frame your favourite wedding picture and present it to your loved one. When captured in photos, memories last forever. What better gift to give? If you’re looking for other ideas, why not write a love-letter or pass on your favourite book?

2nd Anniversary – Cotton

The cotton anniversary is a girl’s favourite. Why? Because it’s a chance to get more clothes! Well, that’s if you trust your husband to pick them out for you. Ladies, perhaps you can use this chance to buy a stylish new suit or shirt for your significant other? Guys, choose very, very carefully here. Perhaps it’s best to go on a shopping spree together! Alternative (more sensible) ideas include bed linen and towels. If you’ve bought a house together in your early married years, this could be a lovely choice.

3rd Anniversary – Leather

Another firm favourite for guys and girls here. Your options are essentially shoes, belts, wallets, and bags. What’s not to like? You could take a more function route and look for briefcases or perhaps a leather desk tidy. But, you’ve made it past the difficult three years, we think it’s time to treat yourself!

4th Anniversary – Fruit and Flowers

Your options are fairly limited at the four-year marker. Luckily, flowers are always a classic choice. An anniversary bouquet is a great way to express your love. Guys, let’s just hope this isn’t the first bouquet you’ve bought since the wedding! You can spice things up a little with a small fruit tree or a fresh fruit crate. We recently bought a fourth anniversary gift from The Gluttonous Gardener and it went down a treat! It’s perfect if you’re celebrating a summer wedding anniversary.

5th Anniversary – Wood

We know many couples that have pooled their ‘wood anniversary’ gift fund to buy furniture. It’s a great way to kit out the growing family home! You could get a little more creative and try carving a unique gift (good luck!) or making a pine-scented candle.

If you made it to the big five-year wood anniversary, congratulations! Don’t worry, you’re only 45 years away from that gold jewellery.