Themes for modern wedding anniversary gifts come from a list of materials that are associated with each specific marriage year. Each year may have different themes or materials associated with it. Here we are just referring to the Modern Anniversary List. Other popular lists include the the Traditional, Gemstone or Flower lists. The general idea behind this is so that you can select a gift with the theme of the material mentioned for the year thus making it easier to select an appropriate gift.
The Modern Anniversary Gifts List
The Modern wedding anniversary list was first launched in 1946 into the one shown below. What’s more some of the years have variations on the theme depending upon who has published the list .
In short, it’s called the modern anniversary list because at the time it was first published it included modern gift ideas designed to encourage and promote sales of those items at a time of austerity.
The Modern Anniversary gift list has a theme for every year up to the 50th anniversary. Thereafter it’s only every fifth year up till the 75th Wedding Anniversary that has a theme.
Modern Anniversary Material List
| Year | Modern Material |
|---|---|
| 1st anniversary | Clocks |
| 2nd anniversary | China |
| 3rd anniversary | Crystal or Glass |
| 4th anniversary | Electrical Appliances |
| 5th anniversary | Silverware |
| 6th anniversary | Wood |
| 7th anniversary | Desk Set |
| 8th anniversary | Linen or Lace |
| 9th anniversary | Leather |
| 10th anniversary | Diamond Jewellery |
| 11th anniversary | Fashion Jewellery |
| 12th anniversary | Pearls or Coloured Gems |
| 13th anniversary | Textiles or Furs |
| 14th anniversary | Gold Jewellery |
| 15th anniversary | Watches |
| 16th anniversary | Silver Holloware |
| 17th anniversary | Furniture |
| 18th anniversary | Porcelain |
| 19th anniversary | Bronze |
| 20th anniversary | Platinum |
| 21st anniversary | Brass or Nickel |
| 22nd anniversary | Copper |
| 23rd anniversary | Silver Plate |
| 24th anniversary | Musical Instruments |
| 25th anniversary | Silver |
| 26th anniversary | Original Pictures |
| 27th anniversary | Sculpture |
| 28th anniversary | Orchids |
| 29th anniversary | Furniture |
| 30th anniversary | Diamond Jewellery |
| 31st anniversary | Timepieces |
| 32nd anniversary | Conveyances |
| 33rd anniversary | Amethyst |
| 34th anniversary | Opal |
| 35th anniversary | Jade |
| 36th anniversary | Bone China |
| 37th anniversary | Alabaster |
| 38th anniversary | Beryl |
| 39th anniversary | Lace |
| 40th anniversary | Ruby |
| 41st anniversary | Land |
| 42nd anniversary | Improved Real Estate |
| 43rd anniversary | Travel |
| 44th anniversary | Groceries |
| 45th anniversary | Sapphire |
| 46th anniversary | Original Poetry Tribute |
| 47th anniversary | Books |
| 48th anniversary | Optical Goods |
| 49th anniversary | Luxuries, any kind |
| 50th anniversary | Gold Jewellery |
| 55th anniversary | Emerald |
| 60th anniversary | Diamonds |
| 70th anniversary | Platinum |
| 75th anniversary | Diamonds |
Gift List Variations
We’ve listed the most popular theme/material first in the list above. If there are other themes or materials it’s because we have found references to these in various influential publications. Certainly there is no one definitive list.
Important Modern anniversary gifts
The modern wedding anniversary gifts list are the same as the Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts List on what are viewed to be the major anniversaries e.g 25th Anniversary is Silver, 40th Anniversary Is Ruby and the 50th Anniversary is Gold on both lists.
