Welcome to 4 Anniversary Gifts

There was a time when your 21st birthday seemed like the most momentus event ever and yet here you are celebrating 21 years of marriage! That’s fantastic and what an achievement in these days of fast weddings and even faster divorces? Statistically-speaking, your merry little union has survived twice as long as the average UK marriage. Well done you two!

Given that 21 years of marriage really is a massive achievement, have you considered how you are going to celebrate your 21st wedding anniversary? It certainly deserves to be celebrated. And we mean fully, whole-heartedly in a way that you will both treasure forever.

Or, so WE thought, at least. Because, looking into the traditions and customs of the 21 year wedding anniversary, we were disappointed (and fathomed) to discover that, traditionally at least, 21 years of marriage is considered no big deal?! There isn’t even a traditional gift or flower to give to mark this anniversary year. Isn’t that truly hard to believe? 21 years has to be worth more, right?

We think so, so we searched some more. It turns out that modern customs have been kinder on the big 21: a modern gift of nickel or brass should be given and any jewellery should feature Iolite. Yikes! Lolite? What on earth is that? And, when did you last buy a gift made of brass or nickel. In fact, what is nickel?

Well, fortunately (and, yes, conveniently) you can discover the answers to these questions right here, on our 21st Wedding Anniversary Gifts page.

Like all our anniversary year pages, we are constantly improving and adding to it. And, soon we will be integrating it with real gift choices for the 21st anniversary that you can buy online today. Meanwhile, do take a look. Who knows, it might give you just the anniversary gift inspiration you need!

Top of the 20th wedding anniversary present ideas is china, because it’s the traditional gift theme for the 20 year anniversary. AND, it’s one of the modern/ contemporary gift options too!

The choice of china for wedding anniversary presents might not be the most obvious to most people. In fact, you’re probably thinking “china? Oh that helps no end!”. But, before you rush out to buy a new dinner service and run the risk of having it thrown back at you plate by plate, listen to our ideas.

When it comes to china, most people think Wedgewood or Royal Doulton. That’s fine if she’s into china collectibles but, if not, she’s probably not going to appreciate your wall plate, vase or fine figurine.

The truth is, you can use the china theme to buy anything from a bone china mug up. So why not show a nod to tradition by giving her a humorous or loved-up mug, but pop something that’s really going to bowl her over inside? Something like an eternity ring, necklace or bracelet or designer watch. You could even hide the extravagant gift within by filling the mug with chocolates.

If this idea appeals to you then you’ll need the facts on the traditional anniversary jewellery for the 20th wedding anniversary. Emerald is the beautiful green gemstone that marks the 20th year. Rare (and, sadly, expensive) Emerald is also the birthstone for the month of May. If that’s your wife then you just have to get her emerald jewellery this anniversary.

If she doesn’t like emerald, yellow or golden diamonds are the alternative. Don’t confuse yellow with cheap, low-grade off-white white diamonds (m, n, etc). Intensely and genuinely coloured diamonds are very attractive, extremely rare and very, very expensive. Consider, for example, that the 616-carat Kimberley Octahedron — the largest diamond in the world — is yellow! Maybe you can convince her she likes emeralds after all!

Gifts aside, don’t forget the flowers. And, the customary anniversary flower for the 20th wedding anniversary is The Day Lily. It’s ideal for celebrating a 20th wedding anniversary, because it signifies the hope and enthusiasm a couple still have for each other — even after two decades!

The problem with the 19th wedding anniversary, is that there is no traditional present for this anniversary year. Sadly, there also isn’t a traditional flower to give either. So, a the easy route to anniversary gift inspirational looks like it’s closed. Or is it?!

Back in olden times, the 19th anniversary might not have seemed like a big deal but, thankfully, nowadays it is. In these times of soaring divorce rates and short marriages — the average in the UK now is a little over 11 years — every year over ten is a massive milestone. Perhaps recognising this, the authors of the modern/ contemporary alternative to the traditional anniversary year list, did bless the 19th year with a specific gift theme: bronze!

Bronze? Heck, do we even use that metal any more? Isn’t that just for statues. Correct me if I am wrong but bronze was at its peak about 3000 years ago — during the bronze age! What chumps came up with the idea of bronze for the 19th year? Just when it was looking easier, suddenly again it looks like the 19th anniversary present is going to be a problem!

But wait. There’s one more alternative. God bless the jewellers, because they too bothered to cover the 19th anniversary in their list of gemstones for anniversary years. And, thankfully, it’s beautiful and affordable ( and still in everyday use!) Topaz or Aquamarine! Yeah! Another anniversary present problem solved!

Wondering what to give her for your 18th anniversary? Well, somewhat unhelpfully, there is no traditional 18th anniversary gift. Obviously year 17 wasn’t consider very important. Ditto the flowers. No custom, so you can either default to a dozen red roses or go your own way with something more exciting.

Thankfully, there is a contemporary customary gift listed; it’s porcelain. Yikes, porcelain, you’re probably thinking. Can’t think of anything porcelain except toilet pans?! Let’s see if we can help…

Porcelain is the stuff that good quality mugs and cups are made out of. You could satisfy the custom by giving her a mug with a cheeky, funny or saucy message on it. By why stop there? Why not then pop a little treasure inside (like a gorgeous pair of earrings)?!

Bingo, you’ve got the customary 18th year anniversary gift in, something to make her chuckle that she can use every day and a heavenly surprise inside that to turn her heart gooey. What a combination!

Of course, on the subject of jewellery, you have the option of going this way and satisfying tradition and delighting your wife. Cat’s eye and opal are the traditional gemstones for 18th anniversary jewellery, so look for necklaces, earrings and bracelets featuring these stones.

Cat’s eye (or catseye) is green or yellow-green, yellow, or brown to yellow-brown. It is a rare and valuable gemstone, which is often underrated as being a “semi-precious” stone. Where as opal is a form or quartz but is not quartz as, strictly, speaking it’s a gel not a crystal! It comes in lots of colours and is best know for its brilliant flashes of many colours.

Hope this helps answer your conundrum about what to give her for her 18th anniversary gift!

The 17th anniversary year gift is a real dilemma. For a starters, there is no traditional 17th year anniversary gift. Wasn’t considered special enough, so they just didn’t bother to list one.  Next, you’ll find that the modern customary 17th year gift is furniture! Come again?! Furniture!? Most men will realise that if they bought their wife a chair or coffee table for her anniversary gift then it’s likely to wind up wrapped around their heads! Furniture is clearly a house present and not suitable as a gift to celebrate 17 years of marriage.

OK,  so traditional – nil, customary – no way, that leaves the flowers (guess what? None listed!) and jewellery. Well, thank goodness, when it comes to jewellery there is some sensible advice for the 17th anniversary year gift.  According to tradition you should buy jewellery featuring amethyst or citrine.  So, jewellery it is then!

Citrine is so named due to its lemon-yellow colour.  It has been worn as a protective talisman since ancient times and symbolises light-heartedness, joy and happiness — according to mythology and crystal therapy. Most women will just like its beautiful translucence though!

Amethyst is a semi-precious gemstone that comes in stunning shades of purple, lilac or mauve. The ancient Egyptians believed amethyst warded off negative feelings, while the Greeks thought it would helpprevent the wearer getting intoxicated.  Ideal if you wife likes a tipple or two or three (or four) then!

Amethyst and Citrine are feature in a wide range of jewellery from affordable up to highly exclusive handmade pieces. And, of course, there’s always the option of commissioning a custom piece with a designer/hand-maker. So there, you have it, giving jewellery is your route out of the 17th anniversary gift dilemma! Hoorah!

Find more on the 17th year wedding anniversary here