Guest post by Ben Allen
Wedding anniversaries are tricky things to mark. Some of them are more significant than others, for one thing; for another, there are a whole range of strange traditions that might provide inspiration, or constraints.
What Gift is Appropriate for Anniversary X?
When it comes to anniversaries, you might have different gifts recommended by different traditions and organisations. The first wedding anniversary, for example, traditionally calls for the gift of paper. Paper, much like a new marriage, is something that’s fragile, and which offers a whole universe of possibility – if you know how to write.
But if you ask a jeweller, they’ll probably tell you that the first anniversary is really ‘gold’ or ‘mother-of-pearl’. The same applies to the fifth anniversary – which, according to some, is not ‘wood’ but ‘rose quartz’.
Obviously persuading us all that certain gemstones correspond to some ancient tradition is a fantastic way to sell a lot of gemstones. And, given that you don’t want to look like you’re cutting corners, you might feel the urge to opt for the gemstone every year. But this shouldn’t be considered obligatory. You can find some fancy gifts that are made out of paper and wood.
Equally, you might decide that the traditional gifts are simply too restrictive, and that you have a much better and more personal idea for a gift that’s certain to go down well. That being the case, just go for it!
Which numbers are important?
We all know that one and fifty are worth celebrating – but most of them involve more awkward numbers like thirteen and twenty-one. How far out should the boat be pushed on these smaller occasions? The answer is: as far as you’d like. Eventually, you’ll come to a point where there’s no traditional name for every anniversary. The eight anniversary might be ‘salt’; the sixteenth is just the sixteenth.
What about other people’s anniversaries?
You obviously don’t need to push the boat out as far for other people’s anniversaries as you do for your own. But it’s still nice to mark the occasion to show that you’re thinking of the person. Framed photos from the wedding itself are a nice way to remind everyone what is being celebrated. Make sure it’s an obscure photo, as they’ll probably already have the big ones. At the same time, if you prefer buying a gift, there are a variety of little gifts that you can find. Gift stores such as Cardfactory have special gift ranges for specific occasions, including greetings cards that can be personalised with a special message – perfect for sending some goodwill during an age of coronavirus!
