Anniversary Countdown & Gift by Year
Enter your anniversary or the day you got together to see exactly how long until the next one, and the traditional gift for that year.
Traditional anniversary gifts by year
These are the classic themes most couples follow. You don't have to stick to them, but they're a handy starting point. For the first year in detail, see our 15 paper gift ideas, or browse our personalised anniversary gifts.
| Year | Theme | Gift ideas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper | A handwritten love letter or a jar of open-when notes · A printed photo book of your first year · Tickets to a show or gig, the paper is the ticket |
| 2 | Cotton | Soft cotton bedding or a picnic blanket for summer · A pair of matching cotton robes · A custom embroidered pillowcase with your date |
| 3 | Leather | A leather journal with a note on the first page · A good leather wallet or card holder · A leather luggage tag for your next trip |
| 4 | Fruit & flowers | A fruit tree to plant at home · A bouquet of their favourite flowers, delivered · A farm visit to pick fruit together |
| 5 | Wood | An engraved wooden serving board · A wooden photo frame with a picture from your fifth year · A weekend in a cabin among the trees |
| 6 | Iron | A cast-iron pan and a recipe to cook together · Wrought-iron garden decor or a plant stand · An iron key ring with your initials |
| 7 | Wool | A merino throw for winter nights · A knitted beanie or scarf in their favourite colour · A woollen picnic rug for the boot of the car |
| 8 | Bronze | A small bronze sculpture or bookends · A bronze-toned watch · A bronze plant pot with a new plant |
| 9 | Pottery | A pottery class together · A handmade mug set from a local maker · A ceramic vase with their favourite flowers |
| 10 | Tin | A vintage tin filled with ten notes, one for each year · A tin-framed photo print · A tin of their favourite tea or biscuits with a letter |
| 11 | Steel | A quality steel chef's knife · An engraved steel bracelet or cufflinks · A steel water bottle for adventures together |
| 12 | Silk | A silk scarf or tie · Silk pillowcases · A silk eye mask and a weekend sleep-in |
| 13 | Lace | Lace-trimmed homewares · A framed piece of vintage lace · A lace bookmark in a new book |
| 14 | Ivory | Gold jewellery, the usual modern swap for ivory · Ivory-coloured stationery for a letter · Cream or ivory-toned homewares |
| 15 | Crystal | A pair of crystal glasses for celebrations · A crystal vase · A crystal pendant or earrings |
| 16 | Silver hollowware | A silver serving dish or tray · A silver photo frame · A silver-plated candle holder |
| 17 | Furniture | A reading chair for two · A handmade side table · A bench for the garden or balcony |
| 18 | Porcelain | A porcelain tea set · A porcelain figurine or vase · Fine porcelain dinner plates for special nights |
| 19 | Bronze | A bronze-cast handprint of you both · Bronze candlesticks · A bronze garden sculpture |
| 20 | China | A china dinner set for entertaining · A vintage china teacup and a picnic · A china ornament from a place you love |
| 25 | Silver | Silver jewellery engraved with your date · A silver photo album of 25 years · A celebration dinner with friends and family |
| 30 | Pearl | Pearl earrings or cufflinks · A trip to the coast · A string of 30 memories, one note for each year |
| 40 | Ruby | Ruby jewellery · Ruby-red roses and a dinner out · A vintage bottle from the year you married |
| 50 | Gold | Gold jewellery or a gold watch · A golden anniversary party · A family photo book of fifty years |
Want to know how many days it's been so far? Try the days together calculator.
Questions
What is the traditional gift for each anniversary?
The traditional list starts with paper for the first anniversary, then cotton, leather, fruit and flowers, and wood for the fifth. Later milestones include tin (10), crystal (15), china (20), silver (25), pearl (30), ruby (40) and gold (50). The full table is on this page.
What if our anniversary is on 29 February?
In years without a 29 February, the countdown uses 28 February, so you still get to celebrate every year.
Is the shared countdown link private?
The link holds your date and names in the address itself. Nothing is saved on our servers, and shared links are kept out of search engines, but anyone you send the link to can see it.
What does the reminder do?
It downloads a small calendar file with two all-day events: one 14 days before your anniversary, so there's time to order a gift, and one on the day itself. Open it to add both to your calendar.