Finding the very best gift for a treasured couple for their wedding or wedding anniversary can be a difficult and daunting task! You want your gift to be meaningful and special, as special and unique as they are to you and to one another. Hopefully this quick guide to the best wedding/anniversary gift ideas can help you consider some options that perhaps you didn’t think of, but that are sure to impress the wonderful couple for whom you are shopping, whether you are parents shopping for your child’s wedding day or a friend looking to celebrate a first or even 50th wedding anniversary!
The obvious place to start if you’re shopping for a wedding gift is to see if the couple has a wedding registry. Wildly popular nowadays, wedding registries are curated lists provided by the couple at one or more specific stores, often shoppable online or in store using the couple’s last name and wedding date. The couple has already done the work of picking out the things that they really want or need for starting their new lives together, and it makes the job of choosing the right gift much easier. When something is purchased it is removed from the list so you know you won’t be buying something that someone else has already gifted. It might not be as big of a surprise, but it is still fun to go through and pick the thing that you think they'll love the most of all the pieces they have already told you they want. A win-win!
When you are thinking about a lovely wedding anniversary gift a great place to start is to align it with a traditional materials by year guide - for instance, the first year of marriage traditionally calls for paper gifts, the second for cotton, the third for leather, and so on and so forth. Taking that moment to get something that is in accordance with their year of marriage is a sweet nod to the investment they have made in each other, and to your own pride in their relationship longevity. It adds an extra layer of thought and care.
Consider getting them something decorative and special for the home that they are about to share, or in cases of anniversaries, already share with one another - home gifts don’t have to be boring towels or pots! A universally great gift for celebrations is the Bubbly Spiritile by Houston Llew that can hang or stand in any home as a reminder of their special day. Think about the places that are the most special to them as a couple and celebrate one of those locations with a stunning Nautical Wood Map. It will be a beautiful reminder of somewhere that means a great deal to them every time they look at it. Maybe you just want something as individual as they are, like a Kinetic Sculpture that moves seamlessly, just as your dear friends have intertwined their own lives with one another's.
If you are looking for something practical, but also want to make a big splash (and they are too), then consider pooling resources with friends and getting them something totally unique and an insane conversation piece like a Qlocktwo (a completely customizable, hand-made clock) or Kinzig Lamp (heirloom quality, handmade light fixtures). Pieces like this are a lasting delight that are both functional and beautiful; they are also appropriate for any stage of marriage.
Personalized pieces are always a wonderful gift for couples. There are myriad options for places that will etch or engrave anything from champagne flutes to picture frames. Another sweet personalized option is to commission a portrait - this is not nearly as expensive as it sounds! Traditional and digital artists draw from pictures and generally offer these pieces at a very affordable rate. Something that has been personalized shows extra time and care has been put into the gift - these are the kinds of keepsakes that really make a mark. You could also provide them with an awesome subscription to something they love - the options for subscription boxes are endless and will show that you took an interest in what they would appreciate.
Give the gift of memories! Leather bound journals are lasting pieces that allow the couple to document their days together and make note of the things they want to remember most in any year of their marriage. They will be able to come back to them endlessly and relive those memories together. Another way to gift memories is to get them a shared experience that you know they’ll love. It can be as simple as an evening at the fanciest restaurant in town that they’ve always wanted to go to, or as elaborate as a hot air balloon ride! How about some cooking lessons, art classes, dance lessons, or maybe a local wine tasting? Think about things that they will be able to do together that they will remember and cherish forever.
Give the gift of positivity and self-reflection for every day of their first year (or any year) of marriage with a Gathered Truths Box. This is a wonderfully thoughtful present of 365 curated quotes from wise men and women that are designed to inspire, encourage, and educate. The lovely couple can read one together each day and ruminate on the content and what it means to them - what an awesome way to continue to grow as a couple at any stage of coupledom.
When all else fails, if nothing quite fits the bill, browse our curation of Wedding/Anniversary Gifts or give them a gift certificate to get something they really want for themselves. This is an especially good gift for younger couples who are just starting out - they can use the cards for whatever they want, even things like groceries, bills, or making their home more cosy. Having said that, it is a surefire win for everyone. People tend to think that gift cards are impersonal, but the truth is, you really never know when something like a debit, grocery store, or box store gift card could help someone out of a bind or allow them to get something they perhaps wanted most of all but didn’t receive. If you wanted it to be more special or specific, you could get them a certificate to a jewelry store or local boutique.
Hopefully these suggestions helped to make things easier for you when choosing the perfect gift for the next wedding you go to. So long as you are considering who you are buying for and doing your best to make them happy, whatever you get is sure to be hit!
