TRADITIONAL (UK) ANNIVERSARY GIFT LIST

This list has gifts for all wedding anniversaries up to the 15th, then every 5 or so years from thereon. It is probably the easiest list to get ideas for and is definitely contemporary.

FIRST YEAR - COTTON

Cotton has a number of options. You could get bathrobes, towels, cheesy t-shirts with photos of yourselves and all those kind of things.

With all those options, you could get some from where you stayed with your partner for your honeymoon or other significant occasion.

SECOND YEAR - PAPER

Paper is a pretty ambiguous gift, which means you can think outside the square a little more!

Does your partner have a specific and complicated coffee order? Like: "Tall, skinny, extra hot, flat white"? Why note get them some business cards and/or stationery with the order on it as well as their name? There are some good deals on sites like Vistaprint and PhotoBook.

If your partner is more of a sentimental kind of person, what about getting a photo book of the last year? With Vistaprint, and other similar sites, you can upload pictures from your Facebook albums. If you don't already have an album, why not create one and use that to select the photos for your first anniversary photo book?

What about a magazine or newspaper subscription or even a book series?

THIRD YEAR - LEATHER

Leather can range from handbags, wallets, belts, jackets. Fashion items, pretty much. You could even look at leather wrist bands for watches.

FOURTH YEAR - FRUIT

This is probably the simplest one - choose a few of your partner's favourite kinds of fruit and put together a gift basket. You could take it a step further and go for a picnic. You could combine this with the Modern list (Electrical Appliances) and get a chocolate fondue set and have a romantic dinner/desert.

FIFTH YEAR - WOOD

This year, why not try something different and make your partner something out of wood. Other ideas can be those statues from Willow Tree, bookshelves or anything wood!

Or what about taking your partner to a sauna?

SIXTH YEAR - SUGAR

Sugar. What else can I say? Chocolate, lollies, sweets, candy, cakes, cupcakes... let your imagination run wild!

Why not get a cake in the shape of your partner's favourite object, or a model of where you got married, had your honeymoon or in the shape of the flower for the sixth anniversary (Cally Lilly), or with a favourite photo, etc.

SEVENTH YEAR - WOOLLEN

Along the same lines as the Traditional US list, there are many woollen products around.

An alternative could be to go to a sheep shearing farm or display.

EIGHTH YEAR - SALT

This is a different kind of gift. As suggested in the intro, you could go to a seafood restaurant or a restaurant that has salt in the title... otherwise you could get antique or modern salt shakers/grinders.

Alternatives would be having a nice picnic on the beach or out on the salt plains!

NINTH YEAR - COPPER

Like the 7th anniversary gift in the Traditional US list, copper is the gift in the Traditional UK list. You could go down to an antique store and look for copper pots, pans and other old-school items.

As an alternative, you could go to a brewery and have dinner (don't forget the Bird of Paradise :)

TENTH YEAR - TIN

Like the Traditional US list, tin is the gift for this year. You could go to an antique store and grab some collectibles or make something out of tin.

You could also do something different, like get some Tin Whistle lessons (you could be the next pied piper or Riverdance lead whistler!).

FIFTEENTH YEAR - CRYSTAL

If you haven't already got crystal from the Modern list way back on your third anniversary, then this may be the gift for you! You could go for crystal in the traditional sense with glasses and other drinking thing, alternatively you could go for crystal jewellery like Swarovski (perhaps you could combine Ruby and crystal to make it extra special).

The Waterford crystal quality and range speak for themselves and would be a great and lasting surprise.

TWENTIETH YEAR - CHINA

Like the Traditional US list, china is the gift this year. If you have already got china from the Modern List (second anniversary), you may want to think outside the square on this one and maybe see a Chinese theatre production or Chinese-related activities.

TWENTY FIFTH YEAR - SILVER

There are a number of options for Silver with the most obvious being jewellery.

Other options can be silver cutlery (if you haven't already got some from your 5th anniversary [Modern list]) and other silver goods like antiques.

If travel is an interest, why not take them to a place with Silver in the name? If comics and characters are an interest, why not the Silver Surfer in pure silver? How about a Silver car (Aston Martins are nice :)?

Use your imagination and make sure that it will last and be memorable.

THIRTIETH YEAR - PEARL

If you haven't already got Pearl from your previous anniversaries (Third anniversary in Jewellery and Twelfth anniversary in Modern), the Pearls are a relatively simple thing to get. Jewellery is the most obvious choice, but you could go Pearl diving in Japan or if making music is an interest you could buy drums made by Pearl (brand).

FORTIETH YEAR - RUBY

There are a few options for Ruby with the most obvious being jewellery. If Ruby was a choice from your 15th anniversary (Jewellery list), try to get something a little different!

If travel is an interest, why not take them on the Ruby Princess for a Cruise?

Ps. If you forgot to get a gift for your 35th anniversary, Ruby and Emerald go well together on a ring or other jewellery!

FORTY FIFTH YEAR - SAPPHIRE

Sapphire comes in a range of jewellery options. If you got Sapphire jewellery on your 5th anniversary (Jewellery list), then get something different!

If travel is an interest, the Sapphire Princess cruise ship may be an option. Otherwise you could always go to your favourite restaurant and organise flowers (as in the case of other anniversary suggestions); try Gladiolus (40th anniversary) for a low allergen option.

An alternative is to curl up and cuddle on the sofa watching "The Sapphires".

FIFTIETH YEAR - GOLD

There are many options with Gold. Jewellery being the most obvious, but plenty of other items and collectibles come in Gold too. If Gold was a choice from your 1st anniversary (Jewellery list) or 14th anniversary (Modern list), try to get something a little different!

What about a nice gold leaf cake at your 50th dinner, along with the Gold gift and yellow roses and violets.

If you forgot your 40th and 45th anniversary, ruby and sapphire along with white gold work well!

SIXTIETH YEAR - DIAMOND

Diamonds are a staple of the anniversary and general gift lists all over the world. Try to think right outside the box on this one as I'm sure diamonds have been part of previous gifts. Go to a jeweller who can custom-make items, not just rings.

SIXTY FIFTH YEAR - BLUE SAPPHIRE

Blue Sapphire is a relatively common gemstone, but, make sure that whatever you get, it's nowhere near common!

SEVENTIETH YEAR - PLATINUM

If you haven't already got something platinum from your 20th anniversary (Modern list) or want to get something else, platinum is a relatively easy thing to get made up in jewellery.

Alternatives are to join and/or go to "Platinum" memberships or clubs (like at the MCG).

EIGHTIETH YEAR - OAK

Oak is an interesting gift item! If you were future planning way back when, you could go back to the original place of planting and show the labours of your fruit, so to speak.

Alternatively, you could get something made from Oak, whether it be furniture, antiques, statues or a portrait carved out of Oak.

EIGHTY FIFTH YEAR - WINE

If Wine is something enjoyed, then try to go for an appropriate one - absolutely best case would be one from the original anniversary date, if not, don't hold back and get a top notch wine.

NINETIETH YEAR - GRANITE

Granite is an interesting anniversary gift. Significant objects could be made from this mineral or visit places that have significant granite statues.