Choosing Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Weddings, as they say, are made in heaven. But we here on earth must labour to make a marriage work. If a partnership has lasted for twenty five years it is surely an occasion to celebrate. But should it be a celebration of togetherness? Or, should it be an occasion to show gratitude towards your spouse for patience, love and affection showered upon you over the years through thick and thin? Or, should it be an occasion to disappear down memory lane and relive those magic moments of years gone by?

Togetherness

If you feel that it should be an occasion to celebrate togetherness, then you may decide to go for a beautifully crafted pair of glasses which can be enjoyed only when both of them are together! These are usually made of lead cut crystal and exquisitely designed. Or you could choose some ornate champagne glasses fluted from the base along the stem right up to the lip.

Family life

If you wish to make a bolder statement of the joys of family life, you could perhaps choose bone china or glistening bronze statuettes -- perhaps of a pair of swans or a man and a woman holding their baby.

Gratitude

If you feel that the twenty fifth wedding anniversary should be an occasion to express gratitude to your spouse for the years spent together, you could consider silver music boxes or heart-shaped trinket caskets which will not usually cost you an arm or leg and which would speak volumes about your commitment. Some of these can be further personalised with an engraving.

Memory lane

Many people, however, feel that this occasion should be about memory lane and about turning the clock back in time. In these cases, a gift of an original newspaper published on the day the wedding took place, may be ideal. If you complement this with a bottle of good champagne with a personal label, the effect could be superb.

Perhaps more classically, you could opt for beautiful photo frames (some are even capable of holding more than one photograph) made of silver, pearl or even gold. Attractive as they are, a digital photograph frame has something of a 'technical' feel and is probably not in keeping with the sentiment of the moment. Some classical frames allow you to make a collage of smaller photographs with a particularly special one in the middle. Such a photo frame kept at the head of the bed will always remind any couple of the togetherness they’ve shared through two and half decades.

Conclusion

So, before you tear out your hair over what to buy, decide on the primary sentiment you need your gift to convey. That decided, the selection of an appropriate item should be far less of a challenge. Ultimately, celebrating this occasion is about a gathering of close family and friends: a well-chosen gift is the icing on the cake. 

Courtesy of Kate Davis

Published 7th Jul 2010

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