Last week I wrote about how couples can take 'time out' together to reconnect. This week I'd like to follow up with a few suggestions for anniversary gifts to help celebrate your years together.
Wedding anniversaries symbolize a married couple's renewing of vows, each and every year, commemorating the depth of their commitment to each other. Historians have traced the origins of silver and golden anniversaries to medieval Germanic Europe, where silver and gold garlands were presented by the husband to the wife to celebrate the 25th and 50th years of marriage.
In 1937 the American National Retail Jewelry Association issued a list of gifts for all the traditional wedding anniversaries for each year up to the 15th Anniversary and then every fifth year after that up to the 60th. The traditional list which includes things like paper, aluminum and wood may not meet with your partner's enthusiastic response. Consider putting a twist on tradition to come up with the perfect anniversary gift that is sure to charm your loved one. Below I have listed the "rule" for a few anniversaries and then our suggestions on how to jazz things up while still following tradition.
1st Anniversary: Paper
A gift made of paper is the traditional gift for the first anniversary. To represent the interlocking bond you share, we suggest personalized stationery.
5th Anniversary: Personalized platter
A personalized platter or other serving item is a lovely and practical gift, especially if you both enjoy entertaining.
10th Anniversary: Aluminum
This is an example of where we suggest thinking outside the box! Instead of aluminum, we recommend sterling silver! For him, perhaps a striking pair of monogrammed cuff links; for her, a monogrammed necklace.
15th Anniversary: Crystal
Personalized crystal flutes add a nice flair the traditional crystal gift or even a crystal wine bucket for entertaining.
All of these items - and over a thousand more! - can be found at A Gracious Plenty!
