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Celebrate Love With These 33 Best Anniversary Gifts for Couples

Best Anniversary Gifts for Couples

Brides / Marcus Millan

Who doesn’t enjoy celebrating love? For partners, anniversary gifts reaffirm that they’re head over heels for each other and express gratitude for each other’s love, care, and time. For friends or family members, they are a great way to say, “I’m just as happy for you now as I was on the day you made it official.” But how do you find a gift that says all that? You can always consider the traditional anniversary gifts or a romantic date night. But don’t be shy about getting creative. You can give china jewelry rather than dinnerware or a leather watchband or bracelet with a secret message on the interior. Or, you can toss convention aside and choose a personalized anniversary gift. According to Katie Brownstein, resident wedding expert for Joy, that’s the critical element to focus on. “Personalization shows that you’ve put thought into the gift, making it more meaningful to the recipient,” she explains. 

To help you find the perfect gift, we spent hours researching the best online options for every kind of couple. With Brownstein’s expert insight, we made our final selection based on the materials, thoughtfulness, price point, anniversary theme, and overall quality.

Paper anniversary (aka, first anniversary) or not, this piece of art is the perfect way to commemorate all of the adventures a couple has shared. It features a sun above a mountain range made of map pieces from the places that are significant to them. Include as many as 10 mountains to display where they met, where they got engaged or married, where they took their first trip together, and beyond. This would be a fun gift to present while on a romantic getaway for your anniversary.

If you’re shopping for wine lovers celebrating a fifth or sixth wood anniversary, consider this birch and aspen wine box. Its engraved, tree-trunk design includes a heart with initials and anniversary date “carved” inside and has the words “love” and “adore” hidden in its bark. The box has three compartments so that they can celebrate the passing years with something that ages as well as their love for one another. If you aren't sure which wine to include in the box, consider a wine delivery service as an additional gift so you can try new wines throughout the years.

You won’t find a cuter way to celebrate a fifth or 25th anniversary than these handstamped, silver-plated spoons and forks that feature cheeky puns engraved in the center. The messages can also be personalized upon request if you prefer something like “Mr. Right” and “Mrs. Always Right” or “Forever” and “Always.”

Did you know fruit is one of the traditional gifts for the fourth anniversary? But why stop at fruit when you can send this mouth-watering gift box full of treats? The Founder’s Favorites box includes everything from juicy Royal Verano pears to gourmet chocolate popcorn, truffles, and raspberry galettes. It's a sweet (and salty) way to celebrate another year of love.

Clocks are the modern gift for the first anniversary, but, since every anniversary is a celebration of time spent together, this elegant display makes a meaningful gift any year. The piece consists of three clocks that record the years (clock 1); months and days (clock 2); and hours, minutes, and seconds (clock 3) since “I do.” It comes with a wooden base and a glass dome covering, and it plays the first dance song automatically on each anniversary.

For a delightfully unexpected 10th-anniversary traditional tin gift, consider this retro-style countertop juicer made from recycled aluminum cans. It requires very little force to operate—which means it’s easy on the wrists—and it’s equipped with a strainer that catches seeds and pulp, leaving nothing but fresh juice in the glass. Given how stylish and easy-to-use this is, we’re guessing the recipient will never buy OJ from the store again.

They say music is tied to memory more closely than any other sensory experience. If that’s true, this piece of art will have them humming their first dance song and replaying happy memories of their wedding day every time they see it. The design takes the shape of a vinyl record, with the couple’s names and wedding date at the center, surrounded by a spiral of their first dance song lyrics.

This photo display makes a thoughtful gift for any and every anniversary, but you can even choose the frame and materials to best fit the traditional theme. The display’s geometric, heart-shaped design is both trendy and heartfelt (literally), as it provides space for 30 photos of your choosing—we recommend selecting a variety of photos from your wedding day as well as special moments and memories throughout the years.

If you’re shopping for someone particularly dapper, these sleek, simple cufflinks are just what you’re looking for. Paper Anniversary makes a wide variety of stylish cufflinks, using materials suitable for different anniversaries: cotton, linen, silk, wood, leather, and paper. Many of them can even be customized with initials, anniversary dates, vows, song lyrics, or personalized messages.

Pottery is a traditional gift for the eighth and ninth anniversaries. However, it makes a wonderful gift regardless of the year. Just as a piece of pottery begins as clay that must be shaped and fired by loving hands, a couple’s relationship, at first unformed, must be sculpted into something lasting and beautiful. And if you want lasting and beautiful, it doesn’t get better than Justina Blakeney’s stunning Kaya pots, which come in 10 striking colors and patterns.

Here’s a perfect way to bust out of a date night rut—and capture some fun memories in the process. This scratch-off book holds 50 unique date ideas and activities (none of which cost more than $50). It also comes with an instant camera so that you can document said new adventures and experiences, then put it all inside the book for a sweet keepsake.

Commemorate every day of your married life with this unique gift. Simply set your wedding date and the book is custom printed with the front page of The New York Times from your big day up through your most current anniversary. We love it as an option for big milestone anniversaries, or as a nod to the traditional first anniversary theme of paper.

Mix up game night with this thought-provoking, conversation-starting card game. Created by a relationship expert, it’s meant to spark meaningful discussions—and laughs, too. It’s great to play as a couple, but it's also fun with family and friends on future game nights.

Consider this proof positive that a beautiful piece of personalized jewelry doesn’t have to break the bank. (And remember, personalization is always the way to go.) The gold plate can be engraved with initials, a special date, meaningful phrase…you name it, you can add it.

Treat them to this set of luxe, unisex bath and body essentials. There’s a body wash, body lotion, and body serum, all of which are gentle and deeply hydrating. And we’d be remiss not to mention the sophisticated and minimal packaging, too.

Make any coffee aficionado extremely happy with this souped-up espresso machine. It boasts a built-in milk frother that can be tailored to your preferred temperature and style, meaning it can even be used to create latte art. Wannabe baristas are sure to appreciate that fun feature.

An adorable gift for a couple, this stainless steel dish features two joined hearts. A brass inlay adds a touch of glam, and the small size is perfectly practical for holding jewelry, change, or other small miscellaneous items.

Another great pick for a one-year, paper-themed anniversary gift, this hardcover journal is the perfect place to document all kinds of shared goals, plans, and things to check off your bucket list. It also comes with helpful prompts and extra pages to add things like ticket stubs, photos, and more.

Think of this as the personalized version of Connect Four. It can be customized with names, a special date, or short message, and it makes for not only a fun game, but also a cute décor piece to display.

For those looking for a gift that’s similar to flowers but offers slightly more longevity, a plant is the perfect alternative. Particularly when it’s this bamboo plant, which not only is incredibly resilient and long-lasting, but also comes in an adorable heart shape.

A splurge-worthy piece of luggage is one of those gifts that strikes the unique balance between being both practical (you’re guaranteed to get plenty of use out of it) and special enough to be a meaningful gift. That holds even more true when it’s this suitcase, an Italian-made aluminum hard shell carry-on that’s equal parts durable and very aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re looking for a smaller gift to give a couple, these handcrafted glass candle holders are it. Give one, or mix and match a few of the unique shapes and colors to create a beautiful array that looks gorgeous as a table centerpiece, on a mantle, or on a bookshelf.

In the world of jewelry gifts, a simple gold cuff is the equivalent of a little black dress—something everyone can use and will get plenty of wear out of it. But this one feels even more special and anniversary appropriate since it can be personalized with your significant other’s name.

Fashion meets function in this vintage-style electric kettle that’s perfect for whipping up your morning cup of tea. And sure, it will look pretty on the counter, but it also boasts nice features such as a 360-degree swivel base and water-level indicators.

Fun and whimsical, these art deco-inspired salt and pepper shakers make a great addition to any table. We especially love the combination of black, white, and gold accents.

Tell your wife how you really feel about her with this adorable trio of succulent pots that read "best wife ever." Each is handcrafted, has a built-in drainage hole, and is the ideal size for displaying on a window ledge or small side table.

Make no mistake about it, this isn’t your average box of chocolates. They’re all handmade, filled with delicious ganache, and beautifully decorated with unique designs that truly make this look more like a piece of art than anything else.

Whether the couple has recently tied the knot or they've been married for decades, unique homeware items like these glasses are always appreciated. This set of four glasses have an unexpected ripple shape and come in cool colors. They're both heat- and cold-resistant, so they'll get plenty of use.

Oversized and luscious, this stunning bouquet comes with 35 stems of flowers plus tons of foliage. It’s statement-making and special, the type of flowers that really show you care.

Far from your ordinary candle, this one's floral scent is inspired by the French Riviera. Its neutral, chic packaging will add a nice touch to their décor and the scent will elevate the mood in their home.

With freshwater pearls and a sterling-silver olive branch charm, this bracelet makes a beautiful gesture to the happy couple. Designed by Paloma Picasso, it's sure to become a treasured heirloom.

Ibiza Bohemia by Maya Boyd and Renu Kashyap hardcover book
PHOTO: Courtesy of Assouline

A perfect gift for the couple who loves to travel together, this coffee-table book features vibrant photography and travel insights about happening Ibiza. They'll have a blast exploring the famed party island together in this colorful book.

Gift this romantic heart tag necklace to someone special on their anniversary, The key ring-inspired design is both timeless and unique, and it will be a poignant symbol of their love.

What to Look for in an Anniversary Gift

  • Personalization: According to Brownstein, this is the most important aspect of an anniversary gift. No matter whether you’re shopping for your spouse or purchasing a gift for friends, personal touches make all the difference. Some things to consider: Adding your wedding date, monogramming, engraving, and more. For a 19th-anniversary gift, you can even have custom detailing done in bronze or a bronze color, for example, to match that year's theme.
  • Sentimental Value: “Look for a gift that holds sentimental value,” Brownstein suggests. “This could be an item that either has special memories for both of you together, or symbolizes something significant in your relationship,” she adds.
  • Quality: While it’s of course the thought that counts (and great anniversary gifts are available to fit every budget), Brownstein says it’s still worth paying attention to the quality of the gift. “It reflects the effort and care you've put into selecting it. High-quality items also convey a sense of value and importance in your relationship, showing that you consider your partner worthy of only the best,” she explains. For an avid cook, something like top-of-the-line cast iron cookware would fit perfectly with the theme of iron gifts for a sixth anniversary.
FAQ
  • What are some creative or unique anniversary ideas?

    If you’re one of those fortunate, artsy people, something handmade would make an incredibly touching gift. You could use the material associated with a specific anniversary (paper, cotton, leather, wood, etc.) or work in whatever medium is most comfortable for you. If you’re less crafty but still want to give something personal, consider making a scrapbook or using one of the many online services available to create and print a photo album.

    If you have video editing skills, a short film composed of snippets from past events and/or clips of loved ones expressing their good wishes would definitely bring on the waterworks. For less sentimental but still out-of-the-box ideas, consider classes couples can take together—such as cooking classes or photography classes—to explore a shared interest or develop a new one. Or, create an opportunity for silliness and/or adventure. Pay for a visit to a trampoline park, panic room, ax-throwing facility, or something similarly out of the ordinary. 

    You can also do something that they’ve been wanting to try for a while. Surprise them with a dinner reservation at that restaurant they’ve been talking about—or with takeout from there. Take them hiking on that trail they’ve been sending you pictures of. Or schedule a quick weekend trip to a place they’ve been wanting to explore.

  • What are the main anniversary gifts by year?

    This list of traditional anniversary gifts by year will share the traditional gifts, modern gifts, and gemstones that correspond with each anniversary year. Here are a few to reference. First anniversary: paper; 10 year: tin or aluminum; 25 year: silver; 30 year: pearl; 50 year; gold. “While it can be fun to follow the guidelines for each year, it's not required—what matters most is the thoughtfulness and sentiment behind the gift," says Brownstein.

Why Trust Brides?

Brides contributor Mckenzie Eggers has over seven years of writing experience and holds a PhD in English literature from Penn State University. For this article, she researched the best anniversary gift options online and narrowed them down based on materials, price, thoughtfulness, customization options, and overall quality.

Brides contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of journalism experience covering the beauty and lifestyle space for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s written countless gift guides across a wide array of topics and categories. (She also prides herself on being an excellent gift-giver.)

For this article, the Brides team spoke with an industry expert for their valuable insight:

  • Katie Brownstein is the resident wedding expert for Joy, a wedding planning and registry website.

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