We've compiled romantic anniversary ideas and gift ideas for each anniversary year. We even include ideas specific to your anniversary year such as flowers, gemstones, and ideas from the equivalent British anniversary gift list. You'll also see plenty of romantic ideas for spending that special day together.
While we humans have been known to celebrate almost anything, one of our earliest known celebrations is the anniversary celebration. Anniversary celebrations began when weddings began, but the practice of anniversary gift-giving came later as the rules of social etiquette changed.
As traditions and social practices changed over the years, new rules of etiquette were established. One of these was the creation of an anniversary gift list, to be used as a gift giving guide for wedding anniversary celebrations. Today, we know of this popular list as the traditional anniversary gift list. While the specific origins aren't known, we do know that Emily Post expanded and approved the list in the early 1900's.
Alternatively, as social practices changed through the 20th century, a newer modern anniversary gift list was established to help guide couples. This newer list features more modern luxuries, while the traditional list focuses more on things to help a couple build a life and home together.
In addition to the traditional and modern anniversary lists, there are several other lists in circulation. One such list starts with more frequent, but less expensive gifts in the early years of marriage and higher valued gifts in the later years of marriage. Also, many retailers, who saw profit in encouraging anniversary gift-giving, created their own gift lists. The most popular is the list of anniversary gemstones, endorsed by Jewelers of America. There is even a list of flowers to give for each specific anniversary!
Anniversary Gift Giving
While anniversary gift-giving has become a somewhat mandatory practice, it doesn't mean that you have to follow the gift lists. While these lists are helpful for sparking ideas, it's more important to give a gift that expresses your love for your partner and comes from the heart.
If you're crafty, you could try creating your own homemade anniversary gifts that's personal, unique, and from the heart.
Whatever you do, remember that anniversaries are a reason to celebrate and rekindle those feelings that made your decide to get married in the first place.
More Anniversary Ideas
Romantic Anniversary Ideas - Say goodbye to the pressure of romantic anniversary ideas. We've done the work for you! Anniversary Trivia - Unusual and fun facts about anniversaries from around the world.
