NIU

Anniversary Gifts

Posted by Stacy on Monday, November 24, 2008 10:42 AM

I found out a few years ago that there is actually a list of gifts that are traditional for anniversaries. I think it is kind of cute and romantic to do something traditional to celebrate your marriage. I also saw though that there is a list of more modern anniversary gifts that go off of the more traditional list.

The first year is paper, which from what I have seen usually includes pictures or scrapbooks from the year and wedding. I really like this idea. I don't think people spend enough time collecting their pictures and displaying them. Too often you see people who don't even print off their pictures or when they do they put them off into a box or leave them in the envelopes somewhere. I think having pictures around of special moments or of family and friends cheers you up.

What I thought was interesting what the more modern take on the first year gift: clocks. I'm not sure how they get clocks from paper, but I do think it is a really good idea as well (not as good as the pictures or memory books) but I guess it all depends on the kind of couple you are what you your likes are.

Some of the other traditional gifts for the next few years to come include: cotton, leather, fruit/flowers and wood. These seem kind of weird to me, like the leather gift, but at the same time the tradition part is nice to follow. The more modern takes on those same years are: china, crystal, appliances and silverware. Which I think is much more practical, but maybe not as cute or meaningful in the traditional sense.

I think the higher you get the more expensive the gifts seem to get, but it is also cute how they progress from smaller to bigger, kind of like your relationship. It is nice to see that the list goes up to 60 years of marriage. Not as often anymore do you see marriages lasting that long (sadly) but when they do, it really is something special and meaningful. My grandparents just celebrated their 50th anniversary last May and they renewed their vows and we all went out to dinner as a family. The whole experience was really touching to see my whole family their supporting them and celebrating with them in the church that they got married in. I just hope that one day I can make it to the 60th year (diamonds!!!).