News / gifts for married couples

Marriage is one of the most important and exciting relationships in life. It's a unique bond that can only be sustained by continual effort on both sides. In order for your marriage to thrive, it's essential that you keep it healthy with thoughtful gestures and gifts that show your significant other how much you care about them. Anniversary presents are symbolic of your love for one another, so don't just buy something off Amazon—go big or go home!

1st Year Anniversary Gift: Paper

In the first year of marriage, paper is often a symbol of new beginnings. In this case, you might want to get your spouse-to-be some paper that they can use to make something. Here are some ideas: a paper airplane kit a paper chain kit a book of blank pages with instructions on how to make various things out of them (a paper doll, for example) an origami book that includes instructions on how to make flowers and other 3D objects. 

At Wattle Designs we have tonnes of anniversary gifts that are paper as you would expect! Click here to view our anniversary gifts!

2nd Year Anniversary Gift: Cotton

Cotton is the traditional second anniversary gift, and for good reason. It's a symbol of love and unity, as well as growth and fertility. Cotton is a renewable resource that grows from the ground—it's one of humankind's earliest cultivated crops! You can celebrate your commitment to each other by gifting cotton-based items with this meaning behind them: Blankets Pillows T-Shirts.

We have a best second wedding anniversary gifts blog post all around our best second anniversary gifts. Read more here. 

3rd Year Anniversary Gift: Leather

If you're looking for a classic, versatile gift that can be used for years to come, you may want to consider leather. It's a traditional third anniversary gift and has a number of associations that make it an excellent choice: Durability. Leather is durable and long-lasting. Strength & Success. Many people associate the color black with strength and success (think the color of Darth Vader’s suit), which makes it an ideal material for accessories like wallets and belts that are worn every day by your partner or significant other.

Wealth & Status/Elegance. In our world today, leather is often associated with wealth and status; think of pricey designer shoes or handbags made from this material! Buying a piece of leather gear such as luggage or slippers will show your loved one how much you value their time together—and how much longer the relationship might last!

4th Year Anniversary Gift: Fruit & Flowers, or Linen & Silk

For your fourth anniversary, the traditional gift is fruit and flowers. However, you can also get creative and give your partner a gift of linen or silk. 5th Year: Wood For the fifth anniversary, wood is the traditional gift. Wood is symbolic of strength and stability, making it a great choice for your fifth anniversary. You can get wood art as a gift, or you can make your own wood gift by carving your initial into a piece of wood and giving it to your significant other. You can also buy many different kinds of wooden furniture—it's one of those gifts that has endless possibilities! See our personalised floral gift cards here. 

6th Year Anniversary Gift: Candy or Iron

If you're on the fence about what to get your sixth-anniversary partner, consider an iron or a box of candy. Both are traditional gifts for the sixth anniversary, and both are sweet. Iron is a metal, and candy is made from sugar—so they're both kind of like chocolate, which is another common gift for this milestone. And if you're into puns, they also both have "six" in their name: iron and candy!

The sixth year has long been known as an auspicious one—because it's divisible by two (and three!) numerically significant numbers: 1+2+3 = 6! Couples often celebrate their sixteenth wedding anniversary by renewing their vows or going on vacation together; but if those aren't options for you right now and your relationship has been feeling less than stellar lately anyway (or perhaps even if it hasn't), then maybe just giving each other something small will be enough to brighten up your day without breaking any bank accounts open.

7th Year Anniversary Gift: Copper, Wool, or Brass

As the seventh year of marriage approaches, you might have already begun to think about what gift to give your spouse. If so, it may be tempting to reach for something traditional and expected. But there’s no reason why you can’t still surprise them with a lovely gift that also reflects their personal taste and interests. Here are some unique anniversary gifts by year: The seventh anniversary is traditionally associated with copper, wool, and brass—all symbols of love and loyalty. Copper is said to represent the warmth of a home and our relationship when it's at its strongest; wool represents comfort; while brass signifies prosperity! If any of these apply to your relationship then these beautiful gifts would make delightful additions to your home or wardrobe!

This image comes from the Spruce website here. 

8th Year Anniversary Gift: Bronze or Pottery

Bronze, a metal alloy that typically consists of copper, tin and zinc (though there are other variants), is traditionally given as an eighth anniversary gift. Pottery, a ceramic material made from clay and plastic, is also often chosen for an eight-year anniversary gift.

9th Year Anniversary Gift: Pottery or Willow

The ninth year is a time of celebration, and a pottery or willow gift can be an apt symbol for the occasion. Willow is a plant that represents long life, so it's perfect for a wedding anniversary. Shop Willow gifts here. 

Pottery is linked to fertility, which makes it ideal for couples trying to start or expand their family. If you choose pottery as your ninth-year gift, make sure you choose something practical like dishes or bowls that can be used every day by your friends or family members. If they don't have any of these items yet in their home (or if they need an upgrade), then this could be just what they need!

10th Year Anniversary Gift: Tin, Aluminum, and Diamond Jewelry

10th Anniversary: Tin, Aluminum and Diamond Jewelry Tin is a soft, malleable metal that is resistant to corrosion. Aluminum is a light, strong metal that has good thermal and electrical conductivity. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. These three elements come together to create amazing jewelry for your 10-year anniversary! You can find a great list of 10th anniversary gifts here. 

11th Year Anniversary Gift: Steel and Fashion Jewelry

The 11th year is the year of the sheep, which means a lot to you both. You met in college, and your relationship was built on mutual interests and respect. You've been together for eight years now, but it feels like yesterday that you first laid eyes on each other. As couples get older, it can be difficult to find gifts that express how much their partner means to them—especially when there are so many anniversaries between the traditional two-year mark and 20th wedding anniversary! So instead of stressing over what kind of gift would be appropriate this year, why not settle on something quick and easy? A fashion jewelry piece is exactly that: It's something fun that shows off your personality while also expressing what kind of person he/she is. They'll love opening up their present and knowing that you took time out of your day just to make them smile!

12th Year Anniversary Gift: Silk and Linen

For the 12th anniversary, silk and linen are traditional gifts. Silk denotes the tenderness of your love; linen represents the strength of your commitment. This is a great time to get creative with your gift-giving by making a quilt out of silk and linen fabrics, or embroidering a message onto an existing piece that you have at home. You could also go for something more traditional—like a new pair of sheets or bedding—that would represent both elements equally as well—with one being softer than the other! Cotton is the traditional second anniversary gift.