Wedding anniversary gifts by year: traditional ideas for him or her for the first 10 years of marriage

Wedding anniversaries are special - and whether you’re celebrating the first year or the tenth year since you married your husband or wife, they call for a special gift.
Wedding anniversary gifts for your husband or wife by yearWedding anniversary gifts for your husband or wife by year
Wedding anniversary gifts for your husband or wife by year

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

No matter which gift you choose to give to your other half, it’s a lovely gesture to give them something meaningful to mark your memorable day.

With one gift for the first ten milestone anniversaries, we’ve rounded up some of the best present options for both him and her below.

How is each wedding anniversary celebrated?

Each wedding anniversary is celebrated with its own material, and it is traditional to buy your beloved something made out of that.

Here is how each year is symbolised.

  • First year: Paper
  • Second year: Cotton
  • Third year: Leather
  • Fourth year: Flowers
  • Fifth year: Wood
  • Sixth year: Sugar
  • Seventh year: Wool
  • Eigth year: Salt
  • Ninth year: Copper
  • Tenth year: Tin

Below you can view our gift guide, and buy the product of your choice with just a few clicks.

If you’re planning a wedding, then take a look at our guide to the best high street wedding dresses, for some beautiful (but affordable) inspiration for the most important dress you’ll ever buy, and also beautiful gowns for your bridesmaids to suit every colour scheme and body shape.

Or, if you’re planning to propose to your beloved, take a look at our affordable and stylish engagement rings, which all cost less than £800.

One year on from your memorable wedding day, what better way to mark your first anniversary than with a personalised piece of wall art you can hang in your home for many years to come?

This is a timeless design incorporating the words of a special song, be it your song or the song you had your first dance to.

It can be finished off with their name and significant date, and the song title or personal message. Or it can be left blank if you want the words themselves to be the focal point.

This product is available framed or as a print for you to frame yourself.

Each item is custom prepared by a graphic designer.

    Think cotton can’t be glamorous? Think again.

White Company’s unisex ‘Hydrocotton’ robes take the simple fabric and make it utterly luxurious. With ‘low twist’ technology, the robes are thicker and softer than traditional cotton, but dry fast, wick moisture - and, forgive the cliche - feel buttery soft on the skin.

This over-sized unisex style features a cosy hood, making it extra snuggly. If you’re feeling particularly decadent, buy a matching pair and enjoy lounging with your lover in comfort.

What better way to celebrate your wedding anniversary than to plan a romantic trip together?

Handcrafted from the finest full-grain leather and lined in contrasting suede, this eye-catching travel accessory features a slip pocket for securely storing your boarding pass stub and a grosgrain ribbon page marker.

Multiple colours and designs available, including blue patent croc (pictured), orange lizard, peppermint saffiano, deep shine penelope pink small croc. Priced betwen £18 and £70, depending on the colour chosen.

Aspinal has an excellent range of leather gifts that can be personalised, from wallets, hip flasks, to mobile cases - see here.

The orchid is an exotic and graceful flower which represents love, luxury, beauty and strength, so it’s a perfect flower to choose for your 4th wedding anniversary present.

As an alternative to a fresh bouquet, an artifical flower would make for a brilliant present because - much like the love you share - it’s enternal and will last forever.

Elegantly presented, this stunning pink orchid plant features delicate flowers designed with a beautiful detailing.

Stylishly presented in a decorative silver pot, this artificial plant offers realistic finish and will look gorgeous in any room.

This is also available with a white orchid.

Give them a sweet and meaingful gift, and settle that never ending arguement of who loves who the most (in a light-hearted way, of course), with this wooden plaque.

There’s also eight wooden clips attached to the bottom of the plaque so you can also relive eight precious memories through beloved photos. The hardest thing will be choosing which photos to include.

The heart element also lights up so it can also provide some ambient mood lighting, or you can turn the light off for a classic decorative piece.

Made of high quality wood, this wooden photo holder frame has an elegant wood texture and beautiful rustic style.

A sugary sweet chocolate selection of treats to coat in warm, melted chocolate - all to share with your husband or wife - is the best way to mark your 6th wedding anniversary.

This is a glorious array of chocolate and nibbles has everything you need to dip, crunch, and snack your way to chocolatey heaven.

You’ll each be able to able to indulge in four dipping pots of our premium white, milk, dark, and caramel chocolate and plenty of sweet and savoury nibbles to dunk in - including gianduja balls, panned Brazil nuts, marshmallows, almond biscuits, mini grissini and Florentines.

Also add a personalised message card for free at the checkout.

Lightweight and cosy, you’ll want to curl up with your other half under this wool throw as soon as your other half gives it to you.

Wool is the symbol of the 7th wedding anniversary because it connotes feelings of warmth and fuzziness - which is exactly what your love makes you feel. This throw’s exactly what your space needs for added warmth and comfort.

Available in six colours, including earl grey (pictured), dusky pink and dark mustard, this will look just as at home on the sofa as it will on the bed.

While salt is the traditional symbol of the eight year wedding anniversary, a bottle of traditional table salt - or even sea salt - from the kitchen wouldn’t be the best gift, let’s be honest.

Take inspiration from the fundamental ingredient with these luxurious bath salts.

This set includes three 290g jars of relaxation, lavender and de-stress pink himalayan bath salts infused with aromatherapy essential oil blends, specially formulated for a relaxing and soothing bathing experience.

You can surprise your other half by running them a relaxing bath, or even share a bath with them.

A beautiful way to display a cherished photo, complete with your own text and personal message, this is the ideal way to mark nine wondeful years with your husband or wife.

This solid metal photo print will look sleek and stylish alongside the photos of you and your beloved. The metal has a brushed finish which are printed directly onto the frame, so your photos will look great.

The prints are waterproof and highly scratch resistant too so they really will stand the test of time, and you can look back on this with fondness for many more anniversaries ahead.

Choose from two sizes, medium and large, with prices starting at £24.

This lovely tin planter can be used with decorative flowers, dried flowers or small potted plants.

You could full the planter with your partner’s favourite flowers, or for another super romantic gesture you can plant some seeds for flowers and plants and encourage them to use the matching watering can to watch them grow and blossom in the following weeks and months.

The decorative floral design is also a pretty touch that will look equally as lovely in your garden, your conservatory or your living room - wherever you decide to place it.