A wedding anniversary is a moment to celebrate the love you and your other half share. Of course, there are many ways to show your love for each other, but the gift you choose is the perfect chance to deeply, and sincerely show just how much you care. Unfortunately, it can be hard to figure out what gift to get, what theme to choose or even what flowers to pick. This complete guide offers advice for choosing any anniversary gift, no matter how hard your partner is to shop for!

Milestones

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to anniversary gifts. The first thing to consider is the year. Certain years are considered special milestones with specific gifts related to them, whilst other years are more flexible. For example, in the first and second year, the traditional gift is either cotton or paper, but in the modern era, this can fall a little flat as a special gift. It’s only in the 15th year that milestones start to get more special. Here is the traditional list for 15th-50th anniversaries:

• 15: Crystal
• 20th: Porcelain
• 25th: Silver
• 30th: Pearl
• 35th: Coral
• 40th: Ruby
• 45th: Sapphire
• 50th: Gold

Themes

Milestones are all well and good, but what do you do in the intervening years when there is no traditional gift? The best thing to do is stick to a theme. What does your spouse really like? For example, if they have always loved a particular film, TV or book series, you could get them something new based on that series each year until they have a whole collection to be proud of. Alternatively, you could commit to one new item of furniture per year to help build your home together. After only a couple of years, that could be four beautiful new items for your home for you to enjoy.

Colors 

If you’re on a tighter budget, your theme could simply be a color. This means that you can buy anything as long as the color is perfect. Conveniently, this can be your spouse’s favorite color, making it extra special to them no matter what it is.

Flowers

Flowers have been seen as symbolic for centuries. The tradition of giving flowers on wedding anniversaries dates to Ancient Rome, and although the tradition faded away, the symbolism of flowers quickly came back into fashion in Victorian times. Flowers represent beauty and love, but some flowers have even more meaning. Here are the 1st– 10th anniversary flowers and their meanings:

• 1st: Carnation – Admiration and innocence
• 2nd: Lily of Valley – Purity and devotion
• 3rd: Sunflower – Strength and loyalty
• 4th: Hydrangea – Understanding and beauty
• 5th: Daisy – Forever love (think daisy chains!)
• 6th: Calla – Growth and appreciation
• 7th: Freesia – Trust and faithfulness
• 8th: Lilac – First love and enchantment
• 9th: Bird of Paradise: Freedom and joy
• 10th: Daffodil – Happiness and future

These flowers are perfect for the non-milestone years, acting as great fillers that show your appreciation without breaking the bank. When you make it to 50 years, the symbolic flowers are violets and yellow roses. Violets symbolize humility and commitment, whilst yellow roses represent prosperity. After 50 years, it’s probably about time that you get your partner two types of flowers!

Your wedding anniversary is a day to celebrate your love for your spouse. Choosing a gift for your partner should be easy, and it should reflect the kind of relationship you have. Your partner will probably appreciate a thoughtful, personal, and unique gift. Flowers are always a welcome addition to any anniversary gift, but make sure to think of something unique too!