Anniversary Gift Giving

Wedding gifts are easy. Most prospective bride and grooms have a wish list registered somewhere that provides a guide to what they would "love" to have.

But when it comes time to buy that anniversary gift, it's more difficult to choose the perfect thing that will make them ooh and aah. Gift certificates to a favorite restaurant or even a couple of tickets to a nearby theatre can fill the bill. There's always, of course, a bottle of wine or champagne for them to toast the glad occasion.

But for those who enjoy commemorating a wedding anniversary with gifts chosen from the "traditional anniversary gift list", there's a new option. A more moden updated gift suggestion list has been created. In case you are thinking that it's taboo to break tradition, you might be surprised to learn that the "traditional" list is really not all that old. A part of it has existed since medieval times when medieval Germany celebrated the 25th and 50th year of marriage with garlands made of silver (25th) or gold (50th).

But the remainder of the list, as we know it today, was first published by the American National Retail Jeweler Association in 1937. That list is:
1. Paper
2. Cotton
3. Leather
4. Fruit/Flowers
5. Wood
6. Candy/Iron
7. Wool/Copper
8. Bronze/Pottery
9. Pottery/Wilow
10. Tin/Aluminum
11. Steel
12. Silk/Linen
13. Lace
14. Ivory
15. Crystal
20. China
25. Silver
30. Pearls
35. Coral
40. Ruby
45. Sapphire
50. Gold
55. Emerald
60. Diamond

It's unclear who created the modern list but, as with the traditional one, each year the gifts grow more expensive. It has always been a challenge to create a useful gift idea from some of the listings on the traditional list, but when you are sucessful, the effort is appreciated. One suggestion would be to merge the two lists and create a gift that combines the traditional thought with the modern practicality. The modern list of suggestions is:
1. Clocks
2. China
3. Crystal/Glass
4. Appliances
5. Silverware
6. Candy/Iron
7. Desk Sets
8. Bronze
9. Linen/Lace
10. Leather
11. Jewelry
12. Pearls
13. Textiles/furs
14. Gold Jewelry
15. Watches
20. Platinum
25. Silver
30. Diamonds
35. Jade
40. Ruby
45. Sapphire
50. Gold
55. Emerald
60. Diamond Jubilee

Reading through the list makes me wonder if perhaps you might want to jump back and forth between list. For example, if you give your wife an appliance for the 4th Anniversary from the modern list, you sure had better add the flowers from the traditional list. Ivory, from the traditional list will probably be difficult to find since ivory imports are now illegal. A piece of unique gold jewelry from the modern list can fill the void.

And, of course, with just about any gift that you choose, what could be a more appropriate presentation than either hiding the gift inside or accompanying the gift with a gourmet gift basket that both of you can enjoy on this special occasion?
Joyce Reid
Creative Gifts To Go LLC
http://www.shopcreativegifts.com
http://www.giftbasketnetwork.com