Gift IdeasWedding anniversary gift ideas
An anniversary gift celebrates two people and their years together. For your own spouse, make it personal. For parents or friends, give something they can enjoy as a couple.
A handwritten letter
Say three specific things you are grateful for. It is kept longer than any object.
A framed photograph of the two of you
Choose a photo they have not seen for years. Print it larger than you think.
A bunch of fresh flowers
Ask the florist what came in today. Fresh and simple beats large and tired.
A photo collage printed as a poster
Collect pictures from friends and family first, then join them in any collage maker and print the result.
Breakfast in bed and a day without chores
Costs nothing and is remembered. Do the dishes too.
A book of messages from everyone
Pass a notebook around quietly, or collect messages on the phone and print them.
A playlist of songs that mean something to you both
Write a line about each song. Share it on the day.
A scrapbook of your time together
Tickets, photos, notes. It takes evenings to make and is never thrown away.
A meal you cook yourself
Their favourite dish, a set table, phones away.
A jar of notes
Fifty small slips, each with a memory or a reason you are glad of them.
A tree or fruit sapling
For someone with a garden. Planted on the day, it marks the year.
A shirt or kurta
Check the size from a shirt in his cupboard, not from memory.
A large printed family photograph
Get everyone into one picture, print it big and frame it.
A photo album you have filled yourself
Printed photos, with dates and names written underneath, in an album they can hold.
A day out together
A film, lunch and a walk. Put the phone away for the day.
A tea or coffee set
For a home that loves guests.
A scarf, tie or pair of cufflinks
Accessories need no size.
Earrings or a bracelet
Easier than a ring, because no size is needed.
A donation in their name
To a cause they care about. Give them the receipt in a card.
A wall calendar of family photos
A year of pictures on the wall, one for each month.
Their old photographs scanned and restored
Collect the family's loose prints, have them copied and give back both the originals and a new album.
A saree, suit piece or dupatta
If you do not know her taste, choose a classic colour and a fabric she already wears.
A handbag or wallet
Look at the one in use now, and choose the same style in better quality.
A wrist watch
A classic gift for a milestone: a first job, a wedding, a retirement.
A silver coin
A traditional token of good fortune at Diwali, weddings and the birth of a child.
Perfume or attar
Buy the one they already wear, or go together to choose.
Dinner at the place they keep mentioning
Book the table, arrange the travel, and pay before the bill arrives.
Tickets to a concert, play or match
For the fan of a band, a team or the theatre. Go with them.
A class or workshop
Pottery, cooking, music, dance, photography: something they said they would try one day.
A spa or salon voucher
For someone who looks after everyone except themselves.
A dinner set or a set of glasses
Plain white or clear glass fits any home.
A piece of gold or silver jewellery
Small and classic, such as earrings, a chain or a ring, is worn more often than large and elaborate.
A pilgrimage or a trip to their home town
Plan every detail: tickets, stay, a companion. For elders, the planning is the gift.
A weekend trip
Choose a place a few hours away. Two calm days are better than a rushed long journey.
A big family gift bought together
A television, a washing machine or a holiday, given by all the children or all the friends as one gift.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
Choosing a wedding anniversary gift
- For parents' silver or golden jubilee, a gift from all the children together, such as a trip, a party or a piece of jewellery, means more than separate gifts.
- Old photographs, restored and framed, are the classic anniversary gift.
- For your own anniversary, repeat something from your early days: the same restaurant, the same film, the same walk.
About the spending levels
This site does not quote prices, because prices change with the city, the shop and the year. Each idea is marked with one of four levels instead:
- Token: A small gesture: the cost of a snack or a few cups of tea.
- Modest: An everyday gift for friends and family.
- Generous: A special gift for someone close or a big occasion.
- Grand: A once-in-years gift, often given by a family together.
Questions people ask
What is a good wedding anniversary gift?
For parents' silver or golden jubilee, a gift from all the children together, such as a trip, a party or a piece of jewellery, means more than separate gifts. Two ideas from this page: "A framed photograph of the two of you" and "Earrings or a bracelet".
Is it fine to give money?
In India, money in an envelope is a normal and welcome gift on most family occasions, especially weddings and festivals. Add a line of blessing and your name. See our page on shagun.
Other occasions
Guides
- Shagun: giving moneyThe envelope, the extra rupee and how to decide the amount.
- Gifting etiquetteGiving, receiving, regifting and gifts to avoid.
- Return giftsIdeas for birthdays, weddings, pujas and housewarmings.
- Gift wrappingWrap a box neatly, or wrap without paper at all.
- Gift messagesShort lines to write on a tag or card, to copy.
- Secret Santa name drawerPair everyone for a gift exchange on one phone.