Every year, couples all over the world face the same dilemma. "What do I get my spouse for our anniversary?" Choosing the right anniversary gift can mean the difference between a romantic evening and a cold night spent on the couch, so it's best to shop with your heart and purchase something appropriate to the occasion.

For ideas, one can check with the wedding anniversary chart, which offers traditional suggestions for gifts for each year of marriage. These charts have also been updated to include more modern suggestions. Some suggestions for traditional wedding anniversary gifts, as well as more modern ideas are listed below.

First Anniversary 

 Traditional: Paper.

 Suggestions: Books, magazine subscriptions, framed poems, puzzles, board games, artwork, photographs

Modern: Clocks. 

Suggestions: Watches, mantle clocks, grandfather clocks, alarm clocks

Second Anniversary

Traditional: Cotton 

Suggestions: Clothes, pajamas, tote bags, tapestries, pillows, rugs, blankets, quilts

Modern: China

Suggestions: Plates, teacups, knick-knacks, jewelry

Third Anniversary:

Traditional: Leather

Suggestions: Jackets, belts, pocket books, wallets, shoes, slippers, briefcases, furniture, gloves, desk sets

Modern: Crystal or glass. 

Suggestions: Wine or champagne glasses, vases, knick-knacks, bowls, plates, serving trays.

Fourth Anniversary

Traditional: Linen or Silk, fruit or flowers, 

Suggestions: Bedding, table linens, lingerie, clothes, flowers, fruit trees, house plants

Modern: Appliances

Suggestions: Blender, toaster oven, microwave oven, food processor, dishwasher, bath spa

Fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Wood

Suggestions: Furniture, musical instruments, jewelry or trinket boxes, picture frames, hair accessories, woodcarvings, trees

Modern: Silverware

Suggestions: Forks, knives, spoons, cutlery, serving spoons and forks

Sixth Anniversary

Traditional: Iron

Suggestions: Candleholders, furniture, clocks, pots and pans

Modern: Wood objects

Suggestions: Jewelry or trinket boxes, knick-knacks, candle holders

Seventh Anniversary

Traditional: Wool or Copper

Suggestions: Clothing, hats, mittens, scarves, socks, pots & pans

Modern: Desk Sets

Suggestions: Pen & Pencil sets, bookends, globes, picture frames

Eight Anniversary

Traditional: Bronze

Suggestions: Statues, sculptures, knick-knacks

Modern: Linens, Lace

Suggestion: Bed linens, table linens, clothes, lingerie

Ninth Anniversary

Traditional: Pottery, China

Suggestions: Dishes, bowls, vases, flower pots, knick-knacks

Modern: Leather goods

Suggestions: Coats, furniture, wallets, briefcases, pocket books, shoes, belts, hair accessories, watches

Tenth Anniversary

Traditional: Tin, Aluminum

Suggestions: Pots and pans, clocks, watches, candle holders, vases, tableware

Modern: Diamonds

Suggestions: Jewelry, hair accessories, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Eleventh Anniversary

Traditional: Steel

Suggestions: Cutlery, pots and pans, clocks

Modern: Fashion jewelry

Suggestions: Fashion jewelry, hair accessories, cuff links, tie clips

Twelfth Anniversary

Traditional: Silk

Suggestions: Scarves, lingerie, underwear, bed linens, dress shirts

Modern: Pearls, colored jewelry

Suggestions: jewelry, tie clips, cufflinks

Thirteenth Anniversary

Traditional: Lace

Suggestions: Clothes, lingerie, tablecloths, doilies

Modern: Textiles, furs

Suggestions: Clothes, bed linens, coats, table linens, clothes, rugs

Fourteenth Anniversary

Traditional: Ivory

Suggestions: Candlesticks, jewelry, knick-knacks, sculptures

Modern: Gold jewelry

Suggestions: Gold jewelry, watches, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Fifteenth Anniversary

Traditional: Crystal

Suggestions: Glasses, vases, bowls, knick-knacks, candlesticks

Modern: Watches

Suggestions: Pocket watches, wrist watches, necklace watches

Sixteenth Anniversary

Modern: Silver hollowware

Suggestions: Tableware, pitchers, bowls

Seventeenth Anniversary

Modern: Furniture

Suggestions: Tables, chairs, desks, couches, 

Eighteenth Anniversary

Modern: Porcelain

Suggestions: Dishes, knick-knacks, teacups, candleholders, serving bowls, salt and pepper shakers

Nineteenth Anniversary

Modern: Bronze

Suggestions: Sculptures, statues, candle holders

Twentieth Anniversary

Traditional: China

Suggestions: Plates, serving bowls, tea pots, tea cups

Modern: Platinum

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links

Twenty Fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Silver

Suggestions: Jewelry, Serving plates, silverware, tea services, cuff links, tie clips

Modern: Sterling Silver

Suggestions: Jewelry, Serving plates, silverware, cuff links, tie clips

Thirtieth Anniversary

Traditional: Pearl

Suggestions: Jewelry, knick-knacks, jewelry boxes

Modern: Diamond

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, money clips

Thirty-fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Coral or Jade

Suggestions: Jewelry, sculptures, knick-knacks, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Modern: Jade

Suggestions: Jewelry, sculptures, knick-knacks, tie clips, cuff links, money clips

Fortieth Anniversary

Traditional: Rubies

Suggestions: Jewelry, cuff links, tie clips

Modern: Rubies

Suggestions: See traditional

Forty-fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Sapphire

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Modern: Sapphire

Suggestions: See traditional

Fiftieth Anniversary

Traditional: Gold

Suggestions: Jewelry, pen & pencil sets, cuff links, tie clips, money clips, hair accessories, knick knacks, letter openers, watches

Modern: Gold

Suggestions: See traditional

Fifty-fifth Anniversary

Traditional: Emerald

Suggestions: Jewelry, tie clips, cuff links, money clips

Modern: Emerald

Suggestions: See Traditional

Sixtieth Anniversary

Traditional: Diamonds

Suggestions: Jewelry, watches, hair accessories, tie clips, money clips, cuff links

Modern: Diamonds

Suggestions: See traditional