TRADITIONAL (US) ANNIVERSARY GIFTS

This list has gifts for all wedding anniversaries up to the 25th, then every 5 years from thereon.

FIRST YEAR - PAPER

Paper is a pretty ambiguous gift, which means you can think outside the square a little more!

Does your partner have a specific and complicated coffee order? Like: "Tall, skinny, extra hot, quarter strength flat white"? Why not get them some business cards and/or stationery with the order on it as well as their name? There are some good deals on sites like Vistaprint and PhotoBook.

If your partner is more of a sentimental kind of person, what about getting a photo book of the last year? With Vistaprint, and other similar sites, you can upload pictures from your Facebook albums. If you don't already have an album, why not create one and use that to select the photos for your first anniversary photo book?

What about a magazine or newspaper subscription or even a book series?

SECOND YEAR - COTTON

This is another one which has a number of options. You could get bathrobes, towels, cheesy t-shirts with photos of yourselves and all those kind of things.

With all those options, you could get some from where you stayed with your partner for your honeymoon or other significant occasion.

THIRD YEAR - LEATHER

Leather can range from handbags, wallets, belts, jackets. Fashion items, pretty much. You could even look at leather wrist bands for watches.

FOURTH YEAR - LINEN / SILK

Why not get the bed-set that you slept on for your honeymoon or other special occasion with your partner? What about a nice silk blouse or shirt? Or combine both linen and silk and get a silk bed-set.

FIFTH YEAR - WOOD

This year, why not try something different and make your partner something out of wood. Other ideas can be those statues from Willow Tree, bookshelves or anything wood!

Or what about taking your partner to a sauna?

SIXTH YEAR - IRON

If your partner is into golf, you could get some brand new clubs. Other ideas could be iron bedheads, iron artwork or for the complete lateral thinker, donating blood.

SEVENTH YEAR - WOOL, COPPER

Scarves, wool jumpers, wool socks, Ugg Boots and other nice and warm clothing is always good.

The alternative in this list this year is Copper. You could go down to your local antique store and take a look at copper statues, pots & pans for display, works of art and things like that.

For the lateral thinker, you could do something to do with the police, like the Victoria Police Museum or a ride-along with your local police (more common in the US).

EIGHTH YEAR - BRONZE

You could go down to your local antique store and take a look at bronze statues, works of art and things like that.

Alternatively, you could arrange a tanning session.

NINTH YEAR - POTTERY

There are a few options with this one, including traditional pottery like clay statues, garden pots and coffee mugs. An alternative could be to go to a pottery class either together or on your own and make a special something.

TENTH YEAR - TIN, ALUMINIUM

There are two options for the Traditional US list - tin and aluminium.

For tin, you could go to an antique store and look for some tin collectibles.

There are jewellery options for aluminium like necklaces and bracelets - maybe even combine it with Lapis Lazuli and diamonds! You could also make your own jewellery like using aluminium can tabs.

FIFTEENTH YEAR - CRYSTAL

If you haven't already got crystal from the Modern list way back on your third anniversary, then this may be the gift for you! You could go for crystal in the traditional sense with glasses and other drinking thing, alternatively you could go for crystal jewellery like Swarovski (perhaps you could combine Ruby and crystal to make it extra special).

The Waterford crystal quality and range speak for themselves and would be a great and lasting surprise.

TWENTIETH YEAR - CHINA

If you haven't already got china from your second anniversary (Modern List) or want something different, you could always travel to China, maybe on a cruise. As mentioned in the intro, you could go to a Chinese restaurant and combine one or more of the other gifts from the lists (except Traditional UK which is also china!).

TWENTY FIFTH YEAR - SILVER

There are a number of options for Silver with the most obvious being jewellery.

Other options can be silver cutlery (if you haven't already got some from your 5th anniversary [Modern list]) and other silver goods like antiques.

If travel is an interest, why not take them to a place with Silver in the name? If comics and characters are an interest, why not the Silver Surfer in pure silver? How about a Silver car (Aston Martins are nice :)?

Use your imagination and make sure that it will last and be memorable.

THIRTIETH YEAR - PEARL

If you haven't already got Pearl from your previous anniversaries (Third anniversary in Jewellery and Twelfth anniversary in Modern), the Pearls are a relatively simple thing to get. Jewellery is the most obvious choice, but you could go Pearl diving in Japan or if making music is an interest you could buy drums made by Pearl (brand).

THIRTY FIFTH YEAR - CORAL, JADE

Coral and Jade are the flavours for this year. As mentioned in the introduction, you could always go for something lateral like snorkeling at a Coral Reef and get a jewellery gift of Jade.

Jade has a number of options like statues, jewellery and hand-made items.

FORTIETH YEAR - RUBY

There are a few options for Ruby with the most obvious being jewellery. If Ruby was a choice from your 15th anniversary (Jewellery list), try to get something a little different!

If travel is an interest, why not take them on the Ruby Princess for a Cruise?

Ps. If you forgot to get a gift for your 35th anniversary, Ruby and Emerald go well together on a ring or other jewellery!

FORTY FIFTH YEAR - SAPPHIRE

Sapphire comes in a range of jewellery options. If you got Sapphire jewellery on your 5th anniversary (Jewellery list), then get something different!

If travel is an interest, the Sapphire Princess cruise ship may be an option. Otherwise you could always go to your favourite restaurant and organise flowers (as in the case of other anniversary suggestions); try Gladiolus (Flowers 40th anniversary) for a low allergen option.

An alternative is to curl up and cuddle on the sofa watching "The Sapphires".

FIFTIETH YEAR - GOLD

There are many options with Gold. Jewellery being the most obvious, but plenty of other items and collectibles come in Gold too. If Gold was a choice from your 1st anniversary (Jewellery list) or 14th anniversary (Modern list), try to get something a little different!

What about a nice gold leaf cake at your 50th dinner, along with the Gold gift and yellow roses and violets.

If you forgot your 40th and 45th anniversary, ruby and sapphire along with white gold work well!

FIFTY FIFTH YEAR - EMERALD

If you haven't already got Emerald from your 35th anniversary (Jewellery list), then here's the gift for you! There are a number of options for Emerald, including the obvious - Jewellery. Other options are hand-made goods like figurines and statues.

SIXTIETH YEAR - DIAMOND (YELLOW)

Yellow Diamonds can be obtained from reputable jewellers, so find the right one and get a design that will leave an impression. Being together for Sixty years deserves something extra special!

SEVENTY FIFTH YEAR - DIAMOND, GOLD

Diamond and Gold gifts scattered throughout the previous years' lists. Thinking of something very different at this stage may be a little difficult, so you could revert to a more traditional approach with rings, bracelets or necklaces.

An alternative is to go on a cruise on the Diamond Princess or something along those lines.

EIGHTY FIFTH YEAR - MOONSTONE

Moonstone is a relatively easy gemstone to get - check out your local jewellery store and get something spectacular made up. Maybe combine Moonstone with Diamonds and Sapphires (Modern list).